What exactly makes a Diamond the better table??

C

Cmbeers

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I shot quite a few games today on both a 7 ft and 9ft Diamond tables. Sure the tables were nice, but I didn't think that the rails were "super quick" like I have heard. I still think a nice GC shoots just as well.

So what exactly is it about the Diamonds that make them a better table? I'm just curious because for my money, I like the GC better.
 
You get a GREENIE for a Great Question. IMHO Diamoinds are ALL HYPE. Most Bars have Valley of the Sun have Valley's, and our Community Room has 29 GOLD CROWN III.

Honestly if you want Pockets Shimed, or Shapped a CERTAIN WAY. Hire a good mechanic to do the work, and make the Gold Crown, or Valley your WAY!!!!
 
Cmbeers said:
I shot quite a few games today on both a 7 ft and 9ft Diamond tables. Sure the tables were nice, but I didn't think that the rails were "super quick" like I have heard. I still think a nice GC shoots just as well.

So what exactly is it about the Diamonds that make them a better table? I'm just curious because for my money, I like the GC better.
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You are not alone. Quite a few pros prefer the GC-Rodney for one!
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
You get a GREENIE for a Great Question. IMHO Diamoinds are ALL HYPE. Most Bars have Valley of the Sun have Valley's, and our Community Room has 29 GOLD CROWN III.

Honestly if you want Pockets Shimed, or Shapped a CERTAIN WAY. Hire a good mechanic to do the work, and make the Gold Crown, or Valley your WAY!!!!
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Have you ever played on a diamond??
 
I like both. If I was building my own pool room, a public place, I'd go with Gold Crown's. If I was building my home room I'd go with the Diamond. Why? I think the GC's are great tables, my favorite is the GCIII, and they look great in a pool room. The Diamond has a really rich look though that would really make a home room look really nice. I wouldn't waste my time shimming pockets though. I don't like tough tables. I think if a ball hits the inside of the pocket it should fall. I hate on a really tight table how it can hit the inside of the pocket, ricochet into the other side of the pocket and then either stop right there or bounce out. I do not see the attraction. I also like to be able to cheat a pocket if need be. And yeah, I'll admit, my accuracy isn't what it used to be and tight tables aren't good for that.
MULLY
 
Cmbeers said:
I shot quite a few games today on both a 7 ft and 9ft Diamond tables. Sure the tables were nice, but I didn't think that the rails were "super quick" like I have heard. I still think a nice GC shoots just as well.

So what exactly is it about the Diamonds that make them a better table? I'm just curious because for my money, I like the GC better.
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The standard Diamond and standard Gold Crown are not hugely different. As far as strickly play goes, I like factory Diamond tables better than the factory Gold Crowns. They have a tougher pocket cut - you have to pay attention to the shots. The cushion action is more what I prefer. Sal Butera has 4 9' Diamonds out here and we go there to use them when we can.

However, that being said the way the Gold Crowns out here have been modified by Ernesto, I will take those tables any day. Typically he cuts Artemis Gum Rubber cushions to his tight pocket style, and covers the table with perfectly stretched Simonis. I've seen him painstakingly spend hours getting a table perfectly flat and properly covered. The rails take more time.

I have a modified Brunswick Gibson at home and it plays like all Ernesto tables - tight but fair. Hollywood Billiards and Hard Times tournament room feature these tables, as do many rooms with tournament areas.

Chris
 
they just are

I have a GC III and would love to sooner or later have a nice diamond table.I
think what makes a diamond so good is the cut of the pockets,the
rails and the over all sturdy feel of the table.I had the opportunity to play
on a gabriel and thought it was even a notch above that as far as a sturdy
feel.Also I believe diamond tables are made for pool players by pool players ...
 
the Diamond are much quieter than the Gold Crowns. The professional has 1 1/4" thick slate, you can't enough here the ball roll. With all the metal on the Gold Crown's it vibrates when the ball hits the rails and rings the metal.
 
the one piece slate that's available on the Diamond with the leveling system is amazing. the tables can be dialed in to tighter specs and at anytime not only when the cloth is removed.
 
the one piece slate that's available on the Diamond with the leveling system is amazing. the tables can be dialed in to tighter specs and at anytime not only when the cloth is removed.
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I could see that being a nice feature....but if you had a GC set up by a good table mechanic, wouldn't the level be the same? And couldn't you set the pockets up just as tight on a GC? How often would you really have to relevel your table anyhow?

I'm not saying the Diamonds are bad, but judging by the play I had on them today, I cannot see how they are a "better" table.
 
Why does one have to be best?

I like them both, but when people try to convice you that something is the "best" I tend to disregard what they have to say.
They both are good tables.
 
And as far as sturdyness goes; GC's are in pool rooms where they get alot of abuse and they seem to hold up very well.

I like them both, but when people try to convice you that something is the "best" I tend to disregard what they have to say.
They both are good tables.
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I think that this is the best answer.
 
I don't think it would be fair to say one is better than the other, they're different and some will prefer the GC and others will prefer the Diamond. My personal opinion, if Brunswick would put the leather over the pocket edges like Diamond does, that would be the best of both worlds to me. I think Diamond outshines Brunswick in the looks by a mile.
MULLY
 
Several pool halls around here were opened with GC IIIs about fifteen years ago when those tables had horrible quality control issues. Really, really bad problems. Fifteen years later we are still suffering from those problems. Maybe Brunswick has fixed those problems or maybe not -- I have no newer GC III to compare to. So first: stay away from the GC III.

Gold Crowns through the III have multiple significant design problems. As an engineer I tend to get very irked by stupid, obvious design errors. There are times when it's a good thing I don't have quick access to an ax, or I would fix some of the problems permanently, one table at a time. Diamond doesn't have those problems. The only design issue I know of with Diamonds is that pocket color comes off on the balls.
 
Cmbeers said:
I could see that being a nice feature....but if you had a GC set up by a good table mechanic, wouldn't the level be the same? And couldn't you set the pockets up just as tight on a GC? How often would you really have to relevel your table anyhow?

I'm not saying the Diamonds are bad, but judging by the play I had on them today, I cannot see how they are a "better" table.
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you still need your table set up by a good mechanic whether its one or 3 pc slates. Haven't you ever been in a pool hall were the table rolls off or when the pool hall moves the table for new carpet or special event, this is no problem with a one piece slate. The pockets can be made just as tight with Gold Crown but the shelf is shorter making the pocket easier, what you can't have with the Gold Crown is a tight pocket and deep shelves. I make a living working on Gold Crowns and Diamonds, usually the work I do on Gold Crowns will cost from $1000 to $1200 maybe more if I travel. With the Diamonds all I can do is relevel and recover, there's nothing for me to do, everything is already done at the factory. And they do a job. These tables are not perfect, and the Gold Crown is a great table. You asked a question and I gave you a reply
 
What's wrong with the III, Bob? The GCIII has always been my favorite table. Other than those crappy pocket liners that sit 15 inches above the table and leave black lines down your shaft if you're not careful.
MULLY
 
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