Nice job Dr Dave, to a topic near and dear to me
I knew you would like it. Thanks.
Is this really the first time you got to play on Blue labels? Or just the first time you were able to carefully test them? They've been out since 2010.
This was the first time I got a chance to test brand new Diamond tables (both sizes) with brand new cloth, and in my town.
I'm actually surprised the Blues were that close to true. I wonder what they will be like in 6 months in that same room when the cloth is worn?
They will definitely play shorter after they are played on and wear in some.
Was the prior test you did 10 or so years ago on Reds on brand new cloth or worn cloth?
The previous test was on a Red Label.
You mentioned at the end you are in dry Colorado. The worst ones I played on were in Tunica Mississippi for the spin-off of the DCC Diamond had for a couple years around 2013. I watched a Banks action match for 3k between Shannon Murphy and Manny Chau, and both players were having the balls bounce off the rails airborne it was so bad. During the main tournament, one of the pros went up to the tournament desk and said his table was bad. I saw Paul Smith (the main Diamond tech) go check the table and of course nothing was wrong with it. I think he just went to appease the player.
I too have played on Diamonds in humid environments with dirty conditions that played shockingly short. I remember thinking that I had to aim a Diamond long on the Diamond table!
Also of note, them playing short affects every single shot, not just kicks and banks. They affect position, which is an even bigger issue. Kicks and banks is a good way to test them.
Good point.
Do you have any comments on the speed off of the cushion, in addition to the angle off the cushion? In my experience, the Diamond cushions (both 7' and 9') bounce harder.
They seemed a little fast to me, but I have not played on the tables yet to know better. Al I had time for was the test shots filmed for the video.
Another question... you tested with a dead ball. I fully agree with that for testing purposes. In position play, the CB almost always has spin on it. Do you know (or can theorize) if playing a position route on a Diamond vs a GC would have a larger error or a smaller error when the CB has spin on it, compared to the error in the dead ball bank and kick you tested? Let me rephrase: let's say a 2 rail out of the corner route with low outside. Play the same shot on a Diamond and a GC. Will the CB end up in a much different place, or just an inch apart at the end of the shot?
Sorry, but I don’t have enough playing experience on Diamonds to give an educated answer.
FYI, I did test 2-rail and 3-rail kicks with running spin on the various tables (including the Red Label Diamond) in my earlier video:
IDK how Diamond came up with these rails, especially the Red label for 20 years. They were out from about 1990 until the redesign in 2010, 20 years! Their slogan "designed by players for players" was a bunch of bs. There is no player alive that liked the Red label cushions when they came out. How that table took hold is still beyond me.
As you probably know, I’m with you on this. Although, otherwise, they are quality products.