Diamond table poll!

Do you like the way diamonds look or just play or neither !

  • Do you like the way they look and play

    Votes: 93 76.2%

  • Do you like the way they play but think they are ugly

    Votes: 14 11.5%

  • Do you think they play terrible and they are ugly

    Votes: 15 12.3%
  • Total voters
    122
I'll say this about Valley's. We play in two different leagues. Both places have 8 tables, Valleys at one, and Diamonds at the other. Both are maintained professionally and on time. Simonis on the Diamonds, and I think Championship Tour on the other. While I like the Diamonds better, the Valleys we play on play very good and are well maintained. The Valleys we play on are not what you would encounter out in the bars.
Actually, one new funny tid bit in that there is somewhat of a one upping between the leagues now to where the one this year is now installing perimeter lighting. Actually though everyone is friends, and most players play at both places.
 
trob said:
I was going to write out a long comment but if you never played on a valley .. literally the highest produced table in the country I would guess.. I can’t take your comment seriously lol you must be very fortunate That you only play in a nice pool hall or you’ve only played at your house. Lol either way saying all table are the same and you never played on the most mass produced table every made is quite funny.
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I've played on Diamonds, Brunswicks, Gandys, Predators, Ohausens and quite a few bar boxes. I could of probably played a valley. I'm not a table snob. I just adjust to the table that i am playing on, the way a real player should handle things. Not one table is superior to another.

Most of the time i hear about players and Valley Tables are these big APA, BCA tournaments, where they have over a hundred tables. You expect these tables to be perfect or the players play well anyway? You need to adjust for the table you are playing on.
 
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Zerksies said:
I've played on Diamonds, Brunswicks, Gandys, Predators, Ohausens and quite a few bar boxes. I could of probably played a valley. I'm not a table snob. I just adjust to the table that i am playing on, the way a real player should handle things. Not one table is superior to another.

Most of the time i hear about players and Valley Tables are these big APA, BCA tournaments, where they have over a hundred tables. You expect these tables to be perfect or the players play well anyway? You need to adjust for the table you are playing on.
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I never expect tables be perfect. They all play different no matter what brand you play on. Age of rails. Type of rails. Type of cloth. Etc etc. you are correct. A good player adjusts just like all sports and games. Your correct though with these big events. You set up 100s of tables in short period of time they aren’t all gonna be the same or perfect. The problem with valleys isn’t set up it’s generally the pockets are up to 5 inch buckets with shelf. You can make a valley play tougher with ridge back rails. But it’s rare you find that.
 
Unfortunately I had to pick option 3. Not that I literally believe they play terrible or are ugly. However I don't like the way they play and it's definitely not (imo) the prettiest table out there. <--given the options in their price point.

Completely subjective of course. I think a good portion of my dislike is driven by how much some love them. It just doesn't make any sense to me.
 
trob said:
I never expect tables be perfect. They all play different no matter what brand you play on. Age of rails. Type of rails. Type of cloth. Etc etc. you are correct. A good player adjusts just like all sports and games. Your correct though with these big events. You set up 100s of tables in short period of time they aren’t all gonna be the same or perfect. The problem with valleys isn’t set up it’s generally the pockets are up to 5 inch buckets with shelf. You can make a valley play tougher with ridge back rails. But it’s rare you find that.
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Amature events they need buckets for the low level players that far out number anything.
 
Zerksies said:
Amature events they need buckets for the low level players that far out number anything.
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Establishments don't need buckets, they want them, so the balls drop faster and easier. Bigger pockets probably more driven by the owners and not actually the users.
State tournaments and such around here that haven't already switched to Diamonds, and are using Valleys, all have ridgeback rails I'm pretty sure. Most major tmt setups around here are slowly switching to Diamonds, as to bars it still mostly is Valleys, but you are seeing more and more Diamonds all the time. I can't imagine seeing anyplace putting in a new Goldcrown 7' table, especially as they appear to cost more than a Diamond. Diamond has made I think one change in all these years, every version of the Gold Crown is something different, and now this new version is supposed to be so fantastic. If you want consistency the choice is clear, and that is Diamond.
 
My experience with Valleys is that they tend to play very similar to each other. Faster with fast cloth and sluggish with slow cloth. Usually the rails on one play exactly the same as rails on another barring some glaring mechanical issue like a dead rail not being addressed.

But my experience with Diamonds is that when they play a certain way they are my absolute favorite. But the amount spin grabs off a rail or how bouncy the rails are can be night and day from one venue to the next.

For example watching Fedor and SVB play, that table seems bouncy as hell. I’d dare call it a trick table. They are pros and can adapt better than anyone. I just know I don’t like encountering tables that almost feel like the ball accelerates off the rail. Makes me feel like I’d rather not play today.
 
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bars have tables with big pockets for a good reason.

1. games go faster as coins are used= more money for the bar
2. balls go in easier so its more fun
3. players are usually bad and if they dont have fun they dont keep putting quarters in.
4. they dont care about really good players as they are not the ones putting in the coins.
 
maha said:
bars have tables with big pockets for a good reason.

1. games go faster as coins are used= more money for the bar
2. balls go in easier so its more fun
3. players are usually bad and if they dont have fun they dont keep putting quarters in.
4. they dont care about really good players as they are not the ones putting in the coins.
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Absolutely. I’ve said this for years. Valleys aren’t made for players. They are revenue generators.they are there to give the average person something to do to keep them drinking. They are made rock solid to take the abuse and it’s easier to make balls to keep those dollar bills flowing.
One of the bars I played out of went to diamonds. They went from charging 50 cents with the old tables to $1 a game with the diamonds. They aren’t making anymore money. The owner is a good player himself and He said you can watch it takes the average person twice as long to play a game.
 
yes i have run into a couple times the owner made the bucket table very tight compared with new rails, cloth and tight pockets. as said few even play on them.
the one place i frequently go did it to their valley. it used to regularly have bangers paying and playing. now no one plays at all or very rarely and he even made it free. but its no fun for anyone below average at the game. its frustrating.
 
maha said:
yes i have run into a couple times the owner made the bucket table very tight compared with new rails, cloth and tight pockets. as said few even play on them.
the one place i frequently go did it to their valley. it used to regularly have bangers paying and playing. now no one plays at all or very rarely and he even made it free. but its no fun for anyone below average at the game. its frustrating.
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My diamond is 4.25 which is more than tight enough. A friend has 4 inch and to me is miserable but he plays in matchroom tournaments so I get why. I really don’t think a bar table should be less than 4.5 at most. Diamond still has those deeper shelves so it still will be tougher then a valley but still decent for bangers.
 
A pocket playing easy (like a valley) does not make a table play bad. It's supposed to be easy to make it fun for bangers and to make more money for the bar. Now, if that valley is of such poor design its almost impossible for a skilled mechanic to level it, or install the cloth consistently, or the balls move an inch when you lean into it, or the cushion heights can't be made consistent by a skilled mechanic, etc, THEN its a crappy table.
 
muskyed said:
I also love my Professional table. Should have another category to pick.
Honestly, I probably would be happy with a Rasson or even a New Gold Crown also. I like the looks of both, and like Rassons leveling better. They are all good in a home if set up right and you like the look. So much of what you like and feel about in a table is actually dependent on the dealer and setup. It's too bad manufactures don't understand this and take steps to train their dealers better.
While some complain about the cost of a high end table, it actually is worth it for a lifetime investment of something you truly enjoy doing. I think there would be less complaints about the cost, if you could count on your expensive table being professionally installed. As it stands now, with no oversight from the manufacture, it's a crapshoot as to what you get with a table install.

View attachment 773253
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Now there's a man cave to be proud of!!!
That table's the tits!!🤣
 
iusedtoberich said:
Hey our buddy in Florida is looking to get a new table, to upgrade his GC4. I told him about the new Predator, that it plays like a GC. He went to the showroom that had them, and loved them. He said it plays just like a GC, but looks super modern. He disliked the bounce of the Diamonds quite strongly.
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I’ll try and remember that if I ever get back to Jacksonville.

If you ever get to Baltimore, Top Hat has some GC’s that can give Diamond the breaks and the last four🤣 Even an old Red Label gets the wild 7🤪 in bounces
 
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iusedtoberich said:
A pocket playing easy (like a valley) does not make a table play bad. It's supposed to be easy to make it fun for bangers and to make more money for the bar. Now, if that valley is of such poor design its almost impossible for a skilled mechanic to level it, or install the cloth consistently, or the balls move an inch when you lean into it, or the cushion heights can't be made consistent by a skilled mechanic, etc, THEN its a crappy table.
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I agree.. just easier. But if the cloth is good and the rails are good and it’s relatively level I’m happy to play on it.
 
Diamond 1 piece slate is better than 3 sections but let me clear. The rails on Diamond tables really SUCK…..pure and simple.
 
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