Promise...last time about Ridgeback Rails

[Johnnyt]

I promise this will be the last time I write a thread on Ridgeback rails for a Valley or other brands of bar box tables. I bought and installed Ridgeback Rails on my Valley table about 6 months ago. The table immediately played a lot better. Banking off the rails became a lot more lively and way more consistent than the stock Valley rails that were only a few weeks old and they were installed right. But what got harder, and I mean a lot harder was pocketing balls. Completely different stroke needed with the Ridgebacks. Balls that could be hit hard and hit the mouth of the pocket and go in will not go now. No more slow rolling a ball and hitting the rail 6” from the pocket and it goes in. The rails are very bouncy like a Diamond.

I took the Ridgebacks off and put the stock Valley Rails back on about 2 weeks after I installed them. I couldn’t believe that the rails were the reason I rattled so many balls and could no longer beat the 9-ball ghost w/o bih. But as soon as I put the Valley rails back on I beat the ghosts a$$ again easy. The rails get better and better as the rail and bed cloth wear in. The side pockets are torture with the Ridgebacks. I took the Ridgebacks off again a few days ago as the table seemed to be playing harder or if it was more mental with me…it’s not mental, they play much tougher but fair and true.

I guess I can see where a bar that has mostly bangers not wanting to switch to the Ridgebacks, after all they don’t want players missing a lot of shots. They want the game over fast and a new $1 put in the table (can’t blame them). But for a bar, sports bar, or poolroom that has Valley’s and good players and can’t afford or don’t want to switch to Diamonds this is the next best thing IMO. Johnnyt

 

[elvicash]

What does a set of Ridgebacks cost. I replaced a set with OEM Valleys about 2 yrs ago, and I think it was $150 or so they came covered. I would have bought the ridgebacks if I knew about them at the time.

Off the subject but a problem I see on bar boxes is uneven rail ht and the balls hop when a rail is too low. The cue ball comes off low rails pretty hot and it makes ball speed a little tough to judge.

 

[Neil]

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[Johnnyt]

What does a set of Ridgebacks cost. I replaced a set with OEM Valleys about 2 yrs ago, and I think it was $150 or so they came covered. I would have bought the ridgebacks if I knew about them at the time.

Off the subject but a problem I see on bar boxes is uneven rail ht and the balls hop when a rail is too low. The cue ball comes off low rails pretty hot and it makes ball speed a little tough to judge.

$145.00 uncovered. You would need to ask how much extra to cover. www.ridgebackrails.com

On Valley's in a lot of bars the rails are not installed right or sat on. From table bed to cushion nose should be 1 7/16". Johnnyt

 

[Marie's husband]

JohnnyT,

Now I am not a regular player on Diamond tables but a few weeks ago I had the chance to play on 9 foot pro ams over a two week time frame and it was a bear getting used to how to bank on them. Seemed like the rails would really grab the spin off the object ball from wither the need to cut the ball in order to have the proper angle to bank it, or from the spin on the cue ball. I am not used to adjusting to this since only thing in our area have been 4x8 Bar Box Valleys for the last 20 years and the rails dont grab the ball nearly like a Diamond does.

I am wondering if the Ridgeback rails play like that or not?

I understand what you are saying about the Ridgeback rails making it harder to hit rail first prior to the pocket and how they are more active to the bounce of the ball, but I was wondering if they "grab" the ball more?

Thank You

 

[Johnnyt]

JohnnyT,

Now I am not a regular player on Diamond tables but a few weeks ago I had the chance to play on 9 foot pro ams over a two week time frame and it was a bear getting used to how to bank on them. Seemed like the rails would really grab the spin off the object ball from wither the need to cut the ball in order to have the proper angle to bank it, or from the spin on the cue ball. I am not used to adjusting to this since only thing in our area have been 4x8 Bar Box Valleys for the last 20 years and the rails dont grab the ball nearly like a Diamond does.

I am wondering if the Ridgeback rails play like that or not?

I understand what you are saying about the Ridgeback rails making it harder to hit rail first prior to the pocket and how they are more active to the bounce of the ball, but I was wondering if they "grab" the ball more?

Thank You

On grabing the rail more I'm really not the right guy to ask for that. The humidity changes so quickly most days where I have my table, I really couldn't tell you for sure. All I can say is the ball comes off at the same angle on all the rails and if anything I would say they play a little shorter than stock Valley rails the are installed right, but much, much more livlier. Johnnyt

PS: If you e-mail or PM Kerry at Ridgeback or Glen on here I'm sure they can and will answer your question.