What he's writing about is how the house "top sticks" will not dare play anyone better than them unless its in a game that is to their advantage.
I've heard one of the house "top" stick tell a person, after being asked to play some 8 ball for money, that his 8 ball game was too good. This was after they had just finished playing some 1 pocket for money.
No one wants to play against someone better anymore. There has to be some angle to their favor before they'll play. Asking for weight is the most common form.