What Does Sharp Mean In Sports Betting and Wagering?

by Doc's Sports - 10/11/2014

The sports betting term “sharp” is more than just a word to describe a person who refers to themselves as a professional bettor. It is what all rookie bettors aspire to become and it’s a sort of philosophy of betting that rookie bettors try to incorporate into their betting mentality. People who are considered “sharps” are typically ghosts in the sense that they make their plays without attracting any attention to themselves. They love being on the opposite side of the general betting public, which is usually how money is made. Sharp bettors are also referred to as a “wise guy” and the different between sharps and squares (the general betting public) is night and day.

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Sharp Methods

A sharp bettor is very strategic in terms of who he bets on and how much he wagers. Obviously, the goal for a sharp bettor is to make money but they will refrain from betting just because they want action on any given day. If there is a solid bet to be made, they make it. If not, they will sit tight and protect the bankroll instead of forcinga wager they don’t absolutely love. Sharp bettors also stick to their guns and strategies and very rarely (if ever) stray from the end goal. Sharp’s have a solid money management plan and value that above everything else. This helps them tonever chase losses, something that square bettors do.

Sharp bettors rely on much more than just their gut or instincts when placing bets. They rely on detailed analysis regarding math, stats, video replays, tried and tested angles, or any other approach they have developed during their time in the betting business. Sharps leave the betting hunches to rookie bettors and typically avoid betting on a game that involves a team they root for.

Sharp Money vs Public Money

Sharps like to get their action in as soon as lines are released while squares wait closer to game time to make their plays. Because of this, sharps get much truer lines and leave the adjusted/inflated lines to the betting public to hash out.

Sharp bettors also understand the importance of shopping around for the best line and will make sure the return on their investment is as high as it could possible be. Square bettors place bets wherever they can, often time siding with convenience rather than quality.

How Do Sharps Effect the Sportsbooks?

Sharp bettors have a much bigger impact on the way sportsbooks are maintained. When a sharp bettor makes a play, the books will take note and sometimes move the line in response to the sharp’s action. A square bettor could make a much larger play on the opposite side and the books would hardly flinch.

Sharps generally stick to the simplest form of betting – sides and totals. They believe parlays and prop bets are for the suckers, which is why square bettors love them. Sharp bettors need to see significant value in a betting opportunity whereas squares are attracted to the potential of a massive payout.

Long Term Goal of Sharp Bettors

Sharp bettors know that a great handicapper is going to lose about 45 percent of his play. Anything higher than a 55 percent winning clip will make you money over the long run. That is the goal and unfortunately for square bettors they fail to realize this. Squares believe they can win 70 percent of the time, which is how they end up with no bankroll. The more plays you make, the higher the losing percentage goes. It really is simple math and squares have yet to figure that out.

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What Does Sharp Mean In Sports Betting and Wagering?

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