BEST 7 FOOT TABLE FOR 4K OR LESS

[rexus31]

I'm simply looking for something I can practice on that will prepare me better for the local tourneys. I cannot get myself to trade down from a 9 footer in my home to a bar box, so I thought I'd put one in the shop. I can practice on it while the machines are running. There is a pool hall with Diamond bar boxes literally across the parking lot from the shop but I will not leave my equipment running unattended. I'm fine to hit balls in the next room because I can hear what's happening in the shop.

BTW, my 2 yr old ProAm plays just like my GCs. It does not bank short in the least, right from the factory. I'm sure the rails are more responsive but at least adjustments are not required for banks.

Best of luck in your pursuit.

 

[fastone371]

The room I have in my shop if not large enough for a big table and not clean enough for me to put an expensive table in it.
A Valley is a low-investment little table I hope to use to get accustomed to the speed and rebound of the smaller Diamonds used around here.
Maybe in a year or so I can make the room better and more sealed off from the shop in which case I won't fear putting a 7' Diamond in there.
Other than the shallow shelves, once the rails are replaced and pockets tightened, it will play relatively close, no?
Thanks for the response.

My honest answer is that a Valley will not play similar to a Diamond. The rail rebound on a Valley will always be slower because the Valley "rails/cabinet" are not as sturdy as the rails on a Diamond. Valleys with equal cloth to a Diamond tend to have relatively fast beds with slow rails.
I was in a similar position as you. I have a nice Gold Crown but all tournament play here is on barboxes so I bought a Valley, I put new Penguin rails and cloth on it to practice on. I wanted a Valley because that's what they used in our biggest tournament but now they finally switched to Diamonds. I never got much use out of Valley, I just didnt like playing on it compared to my Gold Crown. Because the Valley played so much easier than my Gold Crown I don't think it really affected me much not preparing on it, the only thig I really had to adjust to was the speed which you need to adjust for on most different tables anyways. If your just after a second table in the shop to get more table time in I don't see where that can hurt you no matter which table you choose. The nice thing about Valleys is the price, I had less than $1k in mine including purchase price, cloth, rails, and labor.

 

[JolietJames]

My honest answer is that a Valley will not play similar to a Diamond. The rail rebound on a Valley will always be slower because the Valley "rails/cabinet" are not as sturdy as the rails on a Diamond. Valleys with equal cloth to a Diamond tend to have relatively fast beds with slow rails.

Thank you. This is helpful info.