Hi Hal,
First of all, I thank you for your complement.
Q. Does the table play noticeably different?
A. Unlike all other 9ft tables on the market, this table actually has the rail bolts running through the cross member frame first, then the slate, then into the rails. The slate is actually free floating until you bolt down the top rails. Unlike other 3 piece slates, including the Diamond 9ft Professional, they are all held in place for the most part by 4 slate screws per slate. Then the rails are bolted to the slate from there. On this table, with this one piece slate and the cross member system, the slate is actually clamped to the frame of the table with 24 3/8th's" rail bolts. Then the slate is leveled to the frame of the table via 22 leveling points under the slate...with the rails attached. Therefore, the sound effects of a ball bouncing off the rails is more deadened by the transfer of the energy of the bank through the rail, slate, and frame of the table. As far as playing noticeably different...no, but sound effects wise, oh yes.
Some of the huge benefits to the one piece slate are the fact that the cloth is installed completely staple free, no backer boards to ever replace. Secondly, no seams to ever finish off, or to have to level, or come apart.
Q. Do any of the balls get hung up inside the ball return rails?
A. Well, this table was Diamond's first attempt to cross breed the Diamond Professional with the Diamond Pro Am 1 piece slate and new leveling system, so I could tell you everything went perfect but, that wouldn't be me. I will say there were a few problems, which is why I was the one that did the install and not someone else. I guess because I'm at times like a test pilot...lmao. Diamond and I learned a lot from this table and the the one following this one. Chad at Diamond has assured me that they have made the necessary changes in the design of the Diamond Professional table in order to continue the option of being able to order future tables with the option of the best combination of frame, leveling system, slate, and rails on planet earth...LOL I'll be seeing the changes in the table when I'm back at the Diamond factory in a couple of weeks. I might even pop in on the DCC while I'm there as well. So, to answer your question, no, there was no problem with the ball return after I was finished...LOL
Glen