Diamond red label vs blue

jalapus logan

jalapus logan

be all. and supports it to
Silver Member
Boys, it turns out it's the rails. Y'all already know this I'm sure, but I apparently have lived under a rock and became a pool hermit, only playing on my home 9 foot diamond pro red label table with standard pro cut pockets. For reasons not particularly pleasant to think about, I pretty much instantly find myself with more free time for pool, and the need to play anywhere but home. So I've been playing 10 ball at the local pool room on a tighter 9 foot diamond pro, now with new cloth, and man, the difference is night and day vs my home table. My home table breaks way way tougher for certain. The blue label rails are way way more responsive....I had thought my break was deficient, but not really....those blue label rails have the balls flying around everywhere....it's really fun. On my home table, the corner ball on the 10 ball rack doesn't get pocketed going four rails all that often....you really have to use a sledgehammer break to reliably get that to happen. And even then the ball approaches the pocket kinda sluggishly. On this blue label ...dayum, the four railer goes often, and goes in with a quickness. If it misses, I get extra feet of roll on the ball vs my home table. Wild.

Maybe if this divorce happens, and it looks like it will, I'll get a place and sell my red label and get a blue one. I'm using the break where the cue ball hops and drops center table ...at least if I do it right.

This blue label table is easier to play on too, despite having tighter pockets. It's all about the responsiveness of the rails. Break = ok, marriage= on life support. Shit. Oh well, might as well improve my game, at this point, it will give me something to keep my mind occupied. Carry on ...
 
jalapus logan said:
Boys, it turns out it's the rails. Y'all already know this I'm sure, but I apparently have lived under a rock and became a pool hermit, only playing on my home 9 foot diamond pro red label table with standard pro cut pockets. For reasons not particularly pleasant to think about, I pretty much instantly find myself with more free time for pool, and the need to play anywhere but home. So I've been playing 10 ball at the local pool room on a tighter 9 foot diamond pro, now with new cloth, and man, the difference is night and day vs my home table. My home table breaks way way tougher for certain. The blue label rails are way way more responsive....I had thought my break was deficient, but not really....those blue label rails have the balls flying around everywhere....it's really fun. On my home table, the corner ball on the 10 ball rack doesn't get pocketed going four rails all that often....you really have to use a sledgehammer break to reliably get that to happen. And even then the ball approaches the pocket kinda sluggishly. On this blue label ...dayum, the four railer goes often, and goes in with a quickness. If it misses, I get extra feet of roll on the ball vs my home table. Wild.

Maybe if this divorce happens, and it looks like it will, I'll get a place and sell my red label and get a blue one. I'm using the break where the cue ball hops and drops center table ...at least if I do it right.

This blue label table is easier to play on too, despite having tighter pockets. It's all about the responsiveness of the rails. Break = ok, marriage= on life support. Shit. Oh well, might as well improve my game, at this point, it will give me something to keep my mind occupied. Carry on ...
Click to expand...

There's definitely a difference in the two. How long has it been since you torqued your rail bolts? I was surprised at just how tight 15 foot pounds was. I have a new 7' and the crap installers didn't use a torque wrench, just a hand held drill. After I properly torqued them with an actual torque wrench I even noticed they banked better.

Good luck with the other stuff. You'll get through it, just take it one day at a time. :)
 
boogieman said:
There's definitely a difference in the two. How long has it been since you torqued your rail bolts? I was surprised at just how tight 15 foot pounds was. I have a new 7' and the crap installers didn't use a torque wrench, just a hand held drill. After I properly torqued them with an actual torque wrench I even noticed they banked better.

Good luck with the other stuff. You'll get through it, just take it one day at a time. :)
Click to expand...
Thanks for this. One day at a time is definitely the order of the day. My diamond table is as old as my marriage...had them both for 20 years. Do they make a torque wrench for marriage too? 🤣🤣🤣🤣
 
The red is supposed to bounce more than the blue. I’m surprised you’re seeing the opposite. Maybe it’s just the new cloth on the blue.
 
jalapus logan said:
Boys, it turns out it's the rails. Y'all already know this I'm sure, but I apparently have lived under a rock and became a pool hermit, only playing on my home 9 foot diamond pro red label table with standard pro cut pockets. For reasons not particularly pleasant to think about, I pretty much instantly find myself with more free time for pool, and the need to play anywhere but home. So I've been playing 10 ball at the local pool room on a tighter 9 foot diamond pro, now with new cloth, and man, the difference is night and day vs my home table. My home table breaks way way tougher for certain. The blue label rails are way way more responsive....I had thought my break was deficient, but not really....those blue label rails have the balls flying around everywhere....it's really fun. On my home table, the corner ball on the 10 ball rack doesn't get pocketed going four rails all that often....you really have to use a sledgehammer break to reliably get that to happen. And even then the ball approaches the pocket kinda sluggishly. On this blue label ...dayum, the four railer goes often, and goes in with a quickness. If it misses, I get extra feet of roll on the ball vs my home table. Wild.

Maybe if this divorce happens, and it looks like it will, I'll get a place and sell my red label and get a blue one. I'm using the break where the cue ball hops and drops center table ...at least if I do it right.

This blue label table is easier to play on too, despite having tighter pockets. It's all about the responsiveness of the rails. Break = ok, marriage= on life support. Shit. Oh well, might as well improve my game, at this point, it will give me something to keep my mind occupied. Carry on ...
Click to expand...
There were many reasons why Diamond changed the design and the color of the labels. Many pages are documented on this forum.

I routinely play on 9 ft red label Diamond tables and on 7 ft blue label tables. Beyond the size difference and cloth difference, the rail bounce and bank angles differ significantly.

Hang in there on your personal life, you will get through it.
 
iusedtoberich said:
The red is supposed to bounce more than the blue. I’m surprised you’re seeing the opposite. Maybe it’s just the new cloth on the blue.
Click to expand...
Perhaps a difference is that my table is over 20 years old? The rails aren't dead, but certainly not as lively as the blue label. Both are cool to play on, just different for sure.
 
I’d look into converting the red labels to blue if possible at all. As to the other issue. All relationships go thru peaks and valleys like riding a roller coaster.
After 43 years of that all I can say is. If it’s fixable fix it, in the end you’ll be glad you did.
 
If you haven't torqued your rail bolts in years, they for sure will be loose, do that first. You can get an inexpensive inch lb torque wrench at a place like Harbor freight or Northern tool. Get the in lb version as it's a better option to end up with the 15 foot lb needed for the rail bolts.
 
I don't see why you can't get the stop and drop cue ball action on the red label,,,,,,,,, rails don't affect that.

I have a red label myself and I'll guarantee you if the rails are original they have lost response and probably have hard spots as well.
 
There is absolutely a fix for the rails. Real king cobra figured it out and does it if I remember correctly.
 
My red label was bought in 2004 I was getting some odd reactions on 2 and 3 rail banks or kicks where they were going long. Verdict dead tired rubber. I had Mark recut to Blue label specs and put new rubber on and it is like a totally different table.
 
Renegade_56 said:
I don't see why you can't get the stop and drop cue ball action on the red label,,,,,,,,, rails don't affect that.

I have a red label myself and I'll guarantee you if the rails are original they have lost response and probably have hard spots as well.
Click to expand...
No, I can get the hop and drop break, it's just the reaction of the balls that is markedly different. I think you're right on the age issue....I'd guess the table is 25 years old now. It would be silly to think that the rubber would remain in new condition huh?
 
I reckon I'll put reworking the rails on the to do list for someday. Too much to figure out in my life in the meantime now though to worry about such trivial matters.
 
sigep1967 said:
My red label was bought in 2004 I was getting some odd reactions on 2 and 3 rail banks or kicks where they were going long. Verdict dead tired rubber. I had Mark recut to Blue label specs and put new rubber on and it is like a totally different table.
Click to expand...
When you mention Mark, are you referring to Mark Gregory? I have played on tables that he has built, refit and redone.

Hands down perfection, the best pool tables I have played on.

Carom tables are the all time best rolling and rail rebounding tables of all pool/billiard tables I’ve ever played on. Guess thicker slate matters!
 
jalapus logan said:
Perhaps a difference is that my table is over 20 years old? The rails aren't dead, but certainly not as lively as the blue label. Both are cool to play on, just different for sure.
Click to expand...
Red label would play really well if you get Super Speed cushions installed.
No modifications needed.
 
Quesports said:
I’d look into converting the red labels to blue if possible at all. As to the other issue. All relationships go thru peaks and valleys like riding a roller coaster.
After 43 years of that all I can say is. If it’s fixable fix it, in the end you’ll be glad you did.
Click to expand...
By the same token there are times getting a divorce may be the best decision you ever make. I'm happily remarried now and glad I got out of a toxic marriage.
 
Quesports said:
When you mention Mark, are you referring to Mark Gregory? I have played on tables that he has built, refit and redone.

Hands down perfection, the best pool tables I have played on.

Carom tables are the all time best rolling and rail rebounding tables of all pool/billiard tables I’ve ever played on. Guess thicker slate matters!
Click to expand...
Yes Mark Gregory. He lives about 1 1/2 hours away so I took them to him to fix. He did a fantastic job on them. what was even better was just seeing all his "stuff" and talking to him about tables and pool in general.
 
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