- Like most professional athletes, pool players must be dedicated to a daily routine of training and practicing. Billiard players can choose to turn pro through a league such as the United States Professional Pool Association and receive funding through tournament play and sponsorships. Others prefer to earn their living by hustling the sport in poolrooms, casinos and bars across the country. A professional pool shark is one who plays under the radar for the most part. Unbeknownst to other players, the shark is waiting for a player who thinks he can beat everyone. Pool sharks sleep in because they stay up late shooting pool. The pool shark shows up at the pool hall early in the day, typically before noon. He may watch a few of the regulars to see where the show-offs are playing.
- A pool shark moves through the clientele as they come and go. When working a busy pool hall, he may play a few early games and sit out for a while, eating lunch and watching the games. The full-time pool shark paces himself and by late in the evening has a waiting list of players who want to try to beat him. As long as there is new competition for him, a pool shark remains at the same location.
- A pool shark travels for his profession. Once known in one pool hall or tournament circuit, he must move on to find new prey. While a pool shark may have a home base, he typically plays out of town for long stretches of time, staying in a local motel while the playing is good. A pool shark spends much of his workday, when not hustling, looking for the next location and traveling to it. The home base is used for practice and sharpening his skills.
- Many pool sharks work at day jobs to fund their hobby and roam the pool halls by night. These pool sharks easily can fool the players who spend all day around the table. They come in after their day in the office, dressed in a shirt and tie, putting off the professionals with their seeming lack of experience. A part-time pool shark often has a pool table at home on which she can practice long into the night. Weekends and evenings not spent playing in a pool hall for money and prizes is wisely used in practice, working on difficult shots and perfecting the game.
