Pursuit of the Perfect Table

GoldCrown said:
A room in Santa Monica. If you think this is wacky you should see the level. It was great for trick shots. Shoot down the table from the corner and the ball would make a u turn to the opposing corner pocket
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That is horrible, I feel sorry for anyone that is too far away from another place forced to play there.

There is a room near me where the pockets were too low, the top was even or under the rail. If you shot at any sort of speed, the ball would skim over the leather top of the pocket and fall on the floor LOL

Another place had two 8 foot bar box like things, on one of them the side pockets were not aligned, one was 6 inches off from the opposite side. They must have used the wrong rail or something when building it. Funny part till I pointed it out, no one seemed to realize it was like that.
 
Better mechanics would help a lot, but I'm not sure how anyone will ever find a way to ensure that.
 
hang-the-9 said:
That is horrible, I feel sorry for anyone that is too far away from another place forced to play there.

There is a room near me where the pockets were too low, the top was even or under the rail. If you shot at any sort of speed, the ball would skim over the leather top of the pocket and fall on the floor LOL

Another place had two 8 foot bar box like things, on one of them the side pockets were not aligned, one was 6 inches off from the opposite side. They must have used the wrong rail or something when building it. Funny part till I pointed it out, no one seemed to realize it was like that.
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The room was a drunks best friend. It was an insane. Looked like Times Square on NYE. Loud obnoxious music as if a parade was happening. Televisions all over the place. We were in and out like duck mating. Went to a different room in Korean Town ( they called it). Upstairs at a small strip with all kinds of shops. I got sharked by 2 gigantic roaches. Aside from the dust the table played ok.
 
buckshotshoey said:
The perfect table is like a woman... its all in the eyes of the beholder.

I have my perfect table (and my perfect wife). It's a 9 foot Gold Crown 3 with 5 in pockets. It's all I ever wanted, and all I'll ever need. I will be happy with it for the rest of my life.

But that doesn't mean I won't see other tables on the side! 🤨
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There was a time not too long ago, when that's all anyone wanted. Gold Crowns were enjoyed by everyone. Now they're clearly playing 2nd fiddle as they've fallen out of favor. I'm not even saying Diamonds aren't technically better tables, but I do think there's a herd mentality among pool players, and this plays a big part in table preferences. This herd mentality is on full display,, when I talk to a player that I've never seen run a single rack and they are talking about pocket sizes.
 
BasementDweller said:
There was a time not too long ago, when that's all anyone wanted. Gold Crowns were enjoyed by everyone. Now they're clearly playing 2nd fiddle as they've fallen out of favor. I'm not even saying Diamonds aren't technically better tables, but I do think there's a herd mentality among pool players, and this plays a big part in table preferences. This herd mentality is on full display,, when I talk to a player that I've never seen run a single rack and they are talking about pocket sizes.
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Agreed.
I just like a well tuned table.
A well set up GC is a joy to play on.
A well set up Diamond is a joy to play on.

Brunswicks are second fiddle today because the Brunswick company chose to be second fiddle.
They stopped promoting their billiard business and threw their promotions, research and development, hence their dollars,
into their other businesses.
Diamonds are in the pool business and only in the pool business.

Brunswick Corporation, formerly known as the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, is an American corporation that has been developing, manufacturing and marketing a wide variety of products since 1845. Today, Brunswick has more than 13,000 employees operating in 24 countries. Brunswick owns major boating brands, including Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, Bayliner, Mercury Marine, Attwood, Lund, Crestliner, Mastervolt, MotorGuide, Harris Pontoons, Freedom Boat Club, Princecraft, Heyday, Lowe, Uttern, Quicksilver and CZone, among many others. In 2021, Brunswick reported sales of US$5.8 billion. Brunswick's global headquarters is in the northern Chicago suburb of Mettawa, Illinois. On October 4, 2021, Brunswick Corporation announced that it has completed its acquisition of Navico, a global leader in marine electronics and sensors for $1.05 billion, adding to Brunswick the industry leading Navico brands of Lowrance, Simrad, B&G, and C-MAP.

www.brunswick.com

World-Leading Marine Brands

Brunswick owns world-renowned brands in boating, marine propulsion and technology, including Boston Whaler, Sea Ray, Mercury Marine and Freedom Boat Club.
www.brunswick.com www.brunswick.com
 
BasementDweller said:
There was a time not too long ago, when that's all anyone wanted. Gold Crowns were enjoyed by everyone. Now they're clearly playing 2nd fiddle as they've fallen out of favor. I'm not even saying Diamonds aren't technically better tables, but I do think there's a herd mentality among pool players, and this plays a big part in table preferences. This herd mentality is on full display,, when I talk to a player that I've never seen run a single rack and they are talking about pocket sizes.
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I know you are saying that as a general statement. I'm not a herd follower. I travel my own path. Don't care where everyone else is going. Never did.

I don't see myself ever saying "I should have got the Diamond. Nope.

I agree with the statement by Philly. Brunswick became second fiddle because they chose to be second fiddle. They pretty much abandoned the pool players of the world. Maybe it was the right decision for them. Not for me to judge.

I suppose the perfect table could be described in one word.... Happiness.
 
Don't know if there is a perfect table.
For me it almost always about how the rails play.
After all, the rails are your friend.
The rails can speed the cue ball up or slow the cue ball down.

I will say this.
The room I currently play in has replaced almost all of their 9 foot GC's with 9 foot Diamonds
and were set were up by a terrific mechanic.
Two tables are dedicated one pocket tables with very tight pockets.
All have Simonis cloth.
The lighting has been replaced with Predator Arena lights and these lights are absolutely amazing.
Can't ask for much more than that.
 
Chip Roberson said:
He stated he wanted toe xperience the course as it should be played. Guess some folks just like the brutality of it
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The course should be played by someone who can reach the green in three strokes.

As far as tight pockets are concerned, how many of us are running out so much we need them to make the game interesting? I do appreciate stingier pockets when practicing. It's nice when you think you missed and the ball drops instead of the pocket spitting out what you thought was a good shot.

The perfect table? Anything that's reasonably well made, set up, and maintained is fine. I think tables should play different but there is a range, Judy like not all golf courses have the same speed greens.
 
philly said:
Don't know if there is a perfect table.
For me it almost always about how the rails play.
After all, the rails are your friend.
The rails can speed the cue ball up or slow the cue ball down.

I will say this.
The room I currently play in has replaced almost all of their 9 foot GC's with 9 foot Diamonds
and were set were up by a terrific mechanic.
Two tables are dedicated one pocket tables with very tight pockets.
All have Simonis cloth.
The lighting has been replaced with Predator Arena lights and these lights are absolutely amazing.
Can't ask for much more than that.
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The room: check
Tables: check
The terrific mechanic: check
Clientele: check
Fun Room to play at. I commend the owners/staff for their dedicated quality work
 
Depends on your objective:
Nostalgia/style: a restored Century or Anniversary. Fun/economics: a used Gold Crown. Improving your game: a Diamond.
 
DynoDan said:
Depends on your objective:
Nostalgia/style: a restored Century or Anniversary. Fun/economics: a used Gold Crown. Improving your game: a Diamond.
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Centennial...but yes.

I don't have much time in playing on a Diamond and do not compete so for me a Gold Crown checks all the boxes. If my home room was more formal I'd think about an Anniversary.

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philly said:
Brunswicks are second fiddle today because the Brunswick company chose to be second fiddle.
They stopped promoting their billiard business and threw their promotions, research and development, hence their dollars,
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The pricing seems to indicate they aren't trying to sell a lot of gcs either.

Diamond ProAm - 8,495.00
Rasson Challenger - 7,499.00
Predator - 8,995
Gold Crown VI - 11,998.00
 
dendweller said:
The pricing seems to indicate they aren't trying to sell a lot of gcs either.

Diamond ProAm - 8,495.00
Rasson Challenger - 7,499.00
Predator - 8,995
Gold Crown VI - 11,998.00
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Yup.
Brunswick is pretty much out of the billiards market but an older GC is great buy since Diamonds hold their value
due to their great current popularity.
I have a GCIII that plays really excellent which I purchased for $2800 all in including set up just as Covid hit.
It was made, to my guess, in the 80"s and will last forever at about 1200 pounds.
Very solid tables.
It really does depend on the mechanic setting it up when it comes to a GC.
They can be set up to play exceptionally well.
For years and years the major championships were all played on GC's.
GC or Diamond, doesn't matter to me as longs they play well.
I could be wrong but used Diamond 9 footers can go for a pretty high dollar.
 
philly said:
Brunswick is pretty much out of the billiards market but an older GC is great buy since Diamonds hold their value
due to their great current popularity.
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Yep, but it's not surprising Diamond has the long wait list. Hard to understand anyone bellying up the 3500 more for the gc over the diamond. I also own a gc4 I got used. It's a great table, but still.
 
dendweller said:
Yep, but it's not surprising Diamond has the long wait list. Hard to understand anyone bellying up the 3500 more for the gc over the diamond. I also own a gc4 I got used. It's a great table, but still.
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My son just built a home for himself and pretty much designed the home around his billiard room
and he got his 9 foot Diamond about 3 months ago.
He did have to wait.
He worked with a mechanic that is a Diamond dealer and he did not wait that long, maybe two months.
The wait was for the 3 piece slate and the mechanic drove to the factory and picked it up himself.
The mechanic was exceptional and set the table up perfectly.
The mechanic has so much to do with the playability of every table, even Diamonds.

My GCIII plays as well as my son's Diamond.
My pockets are much tighter and is a great one pocket table.
Lot's of people talk about the two tables banking differently.
I don't see that difference so much.
I find the playability of both tables pretty much even if they are set up correctly.
I switch back and forth effortlessly between the two tables.
 
Beyond the fact that I prefer the look of a Gold Crown is the reality of cost. I never would consider a new Gold Crown unless money was no object.

In reality you can still buy a nice older Gold Crown under $1500 and even if you put another $1000 into it you only are into it for $2500. You couldn't get a Diamold for twice that unless it was in a fire.

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logical said:
Beyond the fact that I prefer the look of a Gold Crown is the reality of cost. I never would consider a new Gold Crown unless money was no object.

In reality you can still buy a nice older Gold Crown under $1500 and even if you put another $1000 into it you only are into it for $2500. You couldn't get a Diamold for twice that unless it was in a fire.

Sent using Tapatalk
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I picked up mine for 250 dollars and put another 1500 into it with rail modifications.

A new 9 foot diamond ProAm would cost me near 10,000, and I could not get it in my basement rec room because I don't have a walkout, so it would have to be the 3 piece slate version.

There is also something to be said about the look of a GC vs a Diamond. I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but for me the GC wins that contest hands down.
 
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