Diamond barbox pocket measurements

[bdorman]

A friend of mine is about to embark on a mission to convert the cushions on eight Valley /Cougar 7-footers to a more Diamond-like pockets. This is being done on a low budget so sending them out to a pro isn't an option. He has the budget for new cushions and cloth, but nothing more.

I took these measurements from a Diamond barbox and would like to know if they are correct (I apologize if I've used incorrect terminology; please advise):

Corner pockets: 4-7/16" opening narrows to 3-3/4" at the pocket. Rail angle is 142 degrees. Inside pocket rail "bevel" angle is 77 degrees (or 13 degrees, depending on which way you're looking at it).

Side pockets: 5" opening narrows to 4-1/8" at the pocket. Rail angle is 102 degrees. Same 77-degree inside the pocket bevel angle.

Many thanks.

 

[realkingcobra]

Save your self a lot of time and money and just purchase the Pro Cut Valley rails from Kerry at Ridgebackrails.com You're close with your angles but the corner pockets are 141 degrees and sides are 102 degrees....but it takes more than that to get a Valley to play better

 

[realkingcobra]

The down angle in the pockets on a Diamond is 15 degrees, but that don't work to good on a Valley table, the pocket shelf is way to shallow.

 

[bdorman]

Hi Glen,

Many thanks for the information. I'm going to try to convince him to order at least one set of Ridgeback rails (we've got 8 tables to do). The bar owner is putting up the cash; my friend is putting up the labor...I'm a gofer. i.e. the budget is very thin. I can't complain because the pool is free. Yep, eight tables with free play...they don't even bug you to buy a drink.

Thanks again.

 

[fastone371]

Your friend is so much better off buying the Ridgebacks so he does not get himself in one of those situations where he saves maybe 50% but the the tables play so poorly that he has to buy Ridgebacks to make them play good again. Instead of saving money he wasted money, instead of spending $1600.00 for all new rails he ends up laying out $2400.00 because of the mistakes in the beginning. I get that all the time, guys buy a used race car to save money over building a new one, they bring the used car to me and sometimes they are so bad nothing is usable on them. I have one in the shop right now. The guy went the used race car route, brought it to me for some updates and I had to tell him that the car is so bad that either we need to completely redo his car or that I was not interested in working on it at all. All that is getting used from his original purchase is the body, wheels, tires, and seats.
I am not a table mechanic, but I would not think that simply copying the pocket dimensions from a Diamond would work very well, the Valley has a much shallower pocket shelf than the Diamond does. Thats why the Valleys tend to play so much easier than Diamonds. I do not have actual measurements but the Valley pockets really are not that much bigger than a Pro-cut Diamond, its the shallow shelf that makes them play easier. Next time you are standing by a Valley put 2 balls side by side and check the pocket width.