What exactly makes a Diamond the better table??

We were just having this same discussion over in the Mechanics thread... it is a good question...a great one in fact.

And my answer is the same... sometimes I appreciate people offering advice, or even an "informed opinion"... but to me that's not quite reliable enough to be called fact. In other words, if Diamond is the best, it's not just because your buddy said so, there would be proof to back it up.

What I'd really like to see is a side by side comparison of some different table brands features and quality, with real world specs, as opposed to sales-pitch specs.


Slate thickness: Table A: = X Table B: = XX Table C: = XXX
Center weight test -
offset weight test -
footprint -
etc...
you get the idea.

I think maybe I'll invite a Diamond rep to lunch, and then secretly invite a Brunswick rep too. And see if I can get them to duke it out in the parking lot :slap:
 
Put it this way, the fact that Diamonds and Gold Crowns are always being compared to each other should tell you just about all you need to know. Suffice to say they are both great tables, the two best tables made probably.

The mechanics prefer one or the other for their reasons, including some GC models over others, but that is their concern, not mine as a player. For example, the mechanic may like the 1 piece slate Diamond for it's ease of leveling. As a player I don't really care about that, that's what I hire the mechanic for. I just care that when he's done, it's level.

Another factor is that so much of this discussion involves factory spec tables but that is not always the case in the real world. For instance, the pockets are bigger on the stock GC than the factory Diamond. But the pockets on my GC aren't. The Artemis rubber on the Diamond is suppposedly higher quality than the superspeeds on the GC, but my GC has top of the line Artemis rubber, not superspeed cushions.

Cost is a factor in favor of the Diamond if you consider that a brand new GC is significantly more expensive than a Diamond. But that's only if you are buying brand new. In the used market there are so many more Gold Crowns out there to be had cheap I think that generally a used GC is significantly less expensive than a Diamond, especially the further west you go.

There are some differences in the way they play, primarily related to the deep shelves on the Diamonds, but it really comes down to a matter of personal preference, not absolute fact.
 
I love Diamond tables. I hate awkward shots on a goldcrown where your shaft rubs against metal. Either the pocket covers or the game counters. Every diamond I've played on had perfectly cut pockets and the deep shelf keeps your stoke honest. Love 'em.
 
If manufacturing of tables stopped and only those two are left, I wouldn't beech about it.
 
I just had a brand new Diamond Pro-Am installed in my house by Jay Spielberg (sp?). This table absolutely reinforces every reason why I wanted one. Very tough but fair pockets, super smooth ball return and a one-piece slate. I have logged quite a few hours since I have had it (about 3 weeks) and thoroughly enjoy its high quality construction.


Good Luck in your search for opinions but you should make you own decision based on playing on both.


Chris
 
match them up

A few months ago there was a thread comparing jb cases and justis cases in fact I believe jb did a you tube and broke down both cases. Maybe someone could do the same with 9' gc vs 9' diamond and post on here. Maybe Realkingcobra could do something like that. jmho

Chad
 
barber23 said:
A few months ago there was a thread comparing jb cases and justis cases in fact I believe jb did a you tube and broke down both cases. Maybe someone could do the same with 9' gc vs 9' diamond and post on here. Maybe Realkingcobra could do something like that. jmho

Chad
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Alright, after I take a shower and eat dinner I'll give all of you a complete break down on the differences between the Diamond/Brunswick tables....as I work a LOT on both tables, actually more than anyone out here does...and for Mr. Bond....I'll make it fact based...from the floor up to the top of the rails....and everything in between;)

Glen
 
It would be nice if at the next BCA show they put the Diamond booth next to the Brunswick booth and let everyone compare the two. I have not played on the GCV yet. I do know that I love our Diamond Professional one pocket table. Not really fair to compare GC3 to new Diamonds. Those tables are pretty beat down at this point in time.
 
realkingcobra said:
Alright, after I take a shower and eat dinner I'll give all of you a complete break down on the differences between the Diamond/Brunswick tables....as I work a LOT on both tables, actually more than anyone out here does...and for Mr. Bond....I'll make it fact based...from the floor up to the top of the rails....and everything in between;)

Glen
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I will read your reply in the a.m.
 
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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Here's my .02................when I ordered my table back in August of 2007, this is what I wanted.
1) 9ft table with 4.5 in. pockets.......no shims

I first went to the local Brunswick dealer and inquired, the GC4 was the latest model at that time, priced at $8300. Brunswick told me they had no option to get 4.5in. pockets. They told me to have somebody shim the pockets.

I have played on many tables with shims and I can tell you that there is a major difference when playing 1 pocket and you bank a ball off the corner of a shim. UGH!!!

Next I went over to a friends house who had a 9ft. Pro Am with the Pro cut pockets (4.5in)
We played for about 3 hours and I absolutely loved how the table played. The only thing I noticed was how the rails played a little bit shorte on some bank shots.r

I contacted Diamond billiards and checked out their website. I didn't care for the look of the Pro Am so I ordered a Diamond Pro with the pro cut pockets (no extra charge by the way).

The price of the Diamond Pro at the time was $6150. To sum it up, I don't mind how the Brunswick plays, but they did not offer smaller pockets at the time and their table was about $2000 more. I went with the Diamond and so far, everybody that comes over to play loves it.

Nowadays the GC5 is supposed to be a little different. I beleive they come with smaller pockets, which by the way just means they put longer rails. It should not cost them any more money, but I beleive they charge a little extra for these. Not sure but I think they do.

Anyway, that's it for me.
 
mullyman said:
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
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It should be the other way around Mullyman. The Diamond Wood is dent and burn resistant. Your pool room would stay looking good for years.
 
The cool thing about the leveling system on the Diamond's is that it can be fine tuned whenever needed. If the table is going from a humid to dry climate or vise versa, the table will adjust to the climate after a little while and may not be as level as when it was first installed.
 
Not to mention if comparing an 8ft. Diamond to a 8ft. GC, the Diamond takes the cake. My bad for all the post, I just like Diamonds alot.
 
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Cajun Kid said:
It should be the other way around Mullyman. The Diamond Wood is dent and burn resistant. Your pool room would stay looking good for years.
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If I had a pool room it would be no smoking and if I did break down and allow smoking I surely wouldn't allow smoking over the tables.
MULLY
Yes, I smoke.
 
@topic,

in my opinion there are several tables which are built with much more quality than diamond-tables. Diamond tables are for sure not bad. But if you re watching for craftmanshop and *long-life-usability*, there would be several more tables who would be far better.
For reasons just talk to a table-mechanic, and i m sure he ll agree with my opinion :o). To descibe exactly the technical things unfortunatly my english wold be a bit too low and i don t want to write someting wrong caused by conversion problems.

And: a new installed table, installed by a good table mechanic is always a nice table...but for how long...that is the key imo^^

lg
Ingo
 
Cajun Kid said:
The cool thing about the leveling system on the Diamond's is that it can be fine tuned whenever needed. If the table is going from a humid to dry climate or vise versa, the table will adjust to the climate after a little while and may not be as level as when it was first installed.
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Why would you buy an 8 footer? That would be like going to Harley-Davidson and buying a Sportster. Hehe!

As for the leveling, the GC's have the foot adjusters now so that's a non-issue.

But don't take me wrong, I love Diamond tables too. Just being fair.
MULLY
 
mullyman said:
Why would you buy an 8 footer? That would be like going to Harley-Davidson and buying a Sportster. Hehe!

As for the leveling, the GC's have the foot adjusters now so that's a non-issue.

But don't take me wrong, I love Diamond tables too. Just being fair.
MULLY
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I have a 8ft. Pro Am because I can't fit a 9ft. in my dedicated pool room. I have owned a GC 8 footer before and I like the Diamond much better than the GC. But thats just my opinion. Besides the quality of the table, I like the way Diamond treats there customers.

P.S. Diamonds are a mans best friend.
 
Totally understand about not having the space for a 9 footer. I just wanted to use the Sportster line. Haha! Yeah, man, I can totally understand wanting a Diamond in your home. They are gorgeous tables that play really well. But I still like the GC's. I think highly of both tables. There's a place not too far from here that has a GC5. I've only been there once and didn't get close enough to it to check it out properly. Looked nice from a distance though.
MULLY
 
Diamonds are the nuts! Super quiet, and gorgeous (my two favorite features in women also).
 
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