Daimoninzing New Valley

Island Drive

Island Drive

Otto/Dads College Roommate/Cleveland Browns
Silver Member
New Cougar 40x80 shimming/recovering....
Want the same set up as the blue label diamond.
Does anyone carry premade shims with proper facing angles that can be purchased in a set of 4 or 6?
 
Island Drive said:
New Cougar 40x80 shimming/recovering....
Want the same set up as the blue label diamond.
Does anyone carry premade shims with proper facing angles that can be purchased in a set of 4 or 6?
Click to expand...

I can’t speak to the new valleys, but at least for the old Valleys there is a limit as to how much you can “Diamondize” them. I have 4.5” pockets with Ridgeback rails on them and they don’t play like a Diamond. The narrow shelf on the Valley means balls drop that simply would never go on a Diamond.
 
GideonF said:
I can’t speak to the new valleys, but at least for the old Valleys there is a limit as to how much you can “Diamondize” them. I have 4.5” pockets with Ridgeback rails on them and they don’t play like a Diamond. The narrow shelf on the Valley means balls drop that simply would never go on a Diamond.
Click to expand...

I should add that the old Valleys with Ridgebacks play better and much closer to a Diamond. It’s just that it has its limitations, which I don’t think can be fixed given the shallow pocket shelf.
 
By the time you buy a new Valley, and new rails, and good cloth, you are probably at the cost of, or more than a new Diamond and while your Valley will play better, it will never play like a Diamond due to the shelf depth.
I play in two leagues, both with 8 tables, and up to this year, one had Diamonds, and one Valleys with ridgeback rails and Championship cloth. The Valleys played really good for Valleys, but they weren't Diamonds. The place with the Valleys pulled them out and brought in all new Diamonds this year. Even with the Ridgeback rails and Championship cloth, there still was a notable difference in how the Valleys played.
I think as you already have it, you should enjoy it for what it is, a fun table. You can put a good cloth on to make it better if you want. If you play leagues or weekend tournaments on Valleys where you are, Then a Valley for home was an ok choice.
 
GideonF said:
I can’t speak to the new valleys, but at least for the old Valleys there is a limit as to how much you can “Diamondize” them. I have 4.5” pockets with Ridgeback rails on them and they don’t play like a Diamond. The narrow shelf on the Valley means balls drop that simply would never go on a Diamond.
Click to expand...
Get the pro cuts or have them cut them to your specifications.
 
It's never going to be a diamond. But if you put these rails on it, and have a competent person install the cloth, it will play very nicely. I have an 8' Valley set up this way that I could have swapped out for a 7' Diamond and I passed on it. I'd rather have the 8 footer.
penguin-brand.com

Pro Pocket Rails

Pro Pocket rails for Valley and Dynamo pool tables. Replacement cushions for bar box pool tables. Professional pool table bumpers.
penguin-brand.com penguin-brand.com
 
u12armresl said:
Get the pro cuts or have them cut them to your specifications.
Click to expand...

I have the pro cut Ridgebacks. They narrow the pocket entrance to the same 4.5” as a regular Blue Label Diamond.

But the Diamond has a deeper shelf, so you can hang balls in the pocket if you don’t hit them cleanly.

The Valley slate has a very shallow shelf. The result is that some balls that would bobble and hang on a Diamond will drop all day. I don’t think this can be solved.
 
As mentioned above I put the penguin pro pockets on my valley. Same facing angle, pockets are a little tighter. 4 1/4 vs 4 1/2. But we can't compensate for the deep shelves of the diamonds. Also the valley banks true. Anyway I like how mine plays. It can be unforgiving.
 
I too would go with the Penguin Pro rails and forget about the rest.

Focus on position play & control of the cue ball & don't worry so much about pocket geometry.
 
TrxR said:
The Penguin Pro rails do change the pocket geometry from the factory geometry .
Click to expand...
Of course they do, nowhere did I say they didn't.

Let me clarify for you and the everyone else.

Don't worry about Diamondizing a Valley Pool Table!! Hell even leave it alone with factory specs.

Bad play stems from not knowing where the cueball is going imo, not from the ability to pocket balls. Combine the two and there is a real problem! People don't know how to move from ball to ball in the first place let alone how to get there.

This is not the case with Bill, so if he wants to narrow his pocket openings go with the Penguin Pro rails and be done with it!!
 
iusedtoberich said:
Why anyone would want deep shelves like a Diamond is beyond me. Those shelves ruined pool.

Now, tightening up pockets with shallow shelves, that type of setup can be super good.
Click to expand...

I think the shelves on the 7’ Diamonds are just right. They are not as deep as the shelves on the 9’ Diamonds and play just about right. Even a Valley with Ridgebacks plays too loose (IMO of course).
 
GideonF said:
I think the shelves on the 7’ Diamonds are just right. They are not as deep as the shelves on the 9’ Diamonds and play just about right. Even a Valley with Ridgebacks plays too loose (IMO of course).
Click to expand...
I'll agree with you there. The "pro-cut" pocket with the slate shelves on a 7' Diamond is a really nice pocket setup. Tight, but not stupid. The same size pocket on the 9' Diamond is plain stupid with its mile deep shelf.
 
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