I didn't know this, but I've read that the slate is 1.25" thick on both the Pro-Am and the Professional for the 9-foot versions.
http://diamondbilliardproducts.com/table_sizes.htm
The Pro-AM has been designed as a tournament table. It comes in a few major components. The feet, frame, slate and rails. They aren't all little pieces but rather large assemblies that are heavy-duty and ready to go. So the table is difficult to move and handle. One piece slate is VERY heavy. But it makes for quick set up for tournaments and is probably more impervious to being loaded/unloaded on trucks, being stacked up etc...which could induce warpage or knock something out of line on a different style of table. Harder to move, but easier to set up. On my GG III, there are a lot of bolts and screws...
With the 3-piece slate, unless the frame is 100% perfectly planed (none are) then yes, there would probably need to be some shimming. I'm sure it wouldn't be much shimming. These high end quality tables will not need much to get them perfect.
I've heard that one piece slate is not all that its cracked up to be. It can have more variation for levelness across the entire surface than a 3-piece slate system. I don't know if this is entirely true, but I guess it would have to do with the fact that handling smaller pieces is inherently easier. I'd call and ask Diamond and ask them to what TOLERNANCE they hold their one piece slates. Brunswick makes it known that their slate is within a certain amount of thousanths guaranteed. This is critical. If they hold it to the same standard as the Professional - then I don't see any significant advantage to the Professional as far as playability is concerned.
There should also be more flex in a 1-piece slate (yep, slate actually has a little flex in it)..the longer the piece, the less rigid it can be, but that also depends on how sturdy and robust the slate support is. Good support should make this a non-issue. Also, Diamond is using 1.25" slate on the 9ft tables, so this should dramatically increase the stoutness of the slate.
The nice part is, once you handle the heavy slate and get it on the table, leveling should be fast - because you're only leveling one piece, whereas with a 3-piece slate, you've got to start with the middle piece and then the end pieces and not only level all of them, but make sure they are all flush to one another. More time consuming not to mention you need to fill the seams and that brings up issues depending on what you want. Bondo is best because it won't move, but is hard to remove in future, wax is no good if there is going to be a little bit of tempature variation in the room - the wax will expand and you will get a speed bump on your table...so then you'll be sitting there with an iron trying to work it back down...the best I think is the stuff used to fill cracks in drywall. It is strong enough to not crack or move, but it is easy to remove when the slate is apart. Used it twice and had zero problems. This is even with me doing crazy jump shots and masse shots right on top of the seam. (my cloth is meant to be played on, not preserved
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I'm not a fan of ball-return at all, but the Pro-AM has a pretty nice ball return system. It is pretty quiet and pretty reliable, although one I've played on at a local pool hall does get a stuck ball from time to time. Not a biggie, to clear it, you throw balls down each pocket and it unjams it. I'd opt for the drop-pocket Pro-AM which I believe is an option. I love the leather drop pockets. I love how Diamond has leather drop pockets, but unlike home-style tables, they conceal them.
I wouldn't feel that I sacrificed quality with the Pro-AM. It is a really nice table and the rails are great and their pockets are Diamond's best. I'd take a Pro-AM over a Brunswick Metro anyday - I believe the Metro is Brunswicks answer to the Pro-AM.
) I'd for sure go with that but at 9'+ and 680lbs I would think it would even be a heck of a chore to get in my walkout basement. I suppose there is some type of dolly that could scoot it around but once it's time to put on the frame I'm thinking you would need about 4 guys.
