The first generation diamond tables held up fand pleased great for many many years at bankshots in Louisville. RIP bankshots...another great room now only remembered.
Diamond versus Brunswick
- Thread starter Chalk & Awe
- Start date
The first generation diamond tables held up fand pleased great for many many years at bankshots in Louisville. RIP bankshots...another great room now only remembered.
Chalk & Awe
Registered
That is interesting. I was not aware that Diamond cuts costs by using the lower cost materials like plywood in the mode of a Valley table!
Believe me, Diamonds are just a TAD better built than Valleys. Gimme a break. A good friend has a Pro and i was there when it was installed. Thing is built like a tank. Main frame beams ARE laminates and stout. Their leveling system for the both the frame and the slates is pretty trick. His table(9ftw/light) was delivered and installed for,iirc, around 8grand. A new GC6Tournament w/light would have been 4-5grand higher.
I am curious as to what material you think is better for the application where plywood is used.
ProAm build video. Similar to how any other bar-box type is built but done considerably better. Shows the wedge leveling system quite clearly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JEYQn_JejE See how thick that plywood is? Stuff will last forever. They've been building boats out of that stuff for a LONG time. Professional build(kinda fast but watchable). Different animal. Has the timber-strand frame underneath the adjustable plywood backing board: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlsTMXrgCFs&t=48s
Last edited:
I think deanoc has one but he's never put it together.
I am glad I am in the 5pack club.
And yes, you can get the last 5. Let me know when you are in town and I will quit gambling when you get here.
Thank you
Thank you my story is the same as yours, my brother in law is a High end builder and said the same thing. He called it Fiber Board and said the strenght of it could be used as beams in some commercial buildings.
The reason I had him check it out is because a so called table mechanic wanted to replace some of that with hard woods. My brother in law said it would be a huge mistake.
Just to be sure I had another guy from the room I played in come and check it out he was in charge of all maintenance at a large plant . He echoed just about word for word what my brother in law said. He was in the process of getting a new GC IV at the time and backed out to get a Diamond after examining the underneath of my table.
There is a lot of alligence to Brunswick because so many of us grew up playing on them, but that also was a time they were made here in the States.
The bottom line is people should be happy with what they buy and not keep needing reassurance they did the right thing from everyone and their brother. Personally I have owned Diamond tables since 2001 ( 2) and never regretted it.
Thank you my story is the same as yours, my brother in law is a High end builder and said the same thing. He called it Fiber Board and said the strenght of it could be used as beams in some commercial buildings.
The reason I had him check it out is because a so called table mechanic wanted to replace some of that with hard woods. My brother in law said it would be a huge mistake.
Just to be sure I had another guy from the room I played in come and check it out he was in charge of all maintenance at a large plant . He echoed just about word for word what my brother in law said. He was in the process of getting a new GC IV at the time and backed out to get a Diamond after examining the underneath of my table.
There is a lot of alligence to Brunswick because so many of us grew up playing on them, but that also was a time they were made here in the States.
The bottom line is people should be happy with what they buy and not keep needing reassurance they did the right thing from everyone and their brother. Personally I have owned Diamond tables since 2001 ( 2) and never regretted it.
Either brand will last a few lifetimes. Pick one and use it. I agree.
I guess you haven't paid to close of attention to how the ProAms and smart tables are built buddy. Next time you're at the factory ask how much that 1 1/2" thick plywood costs to make the cabinets of those tables! Structural strength??? How to you think the bottom Valley table would handle 4 Valley tables being stacked up on top of it, then pick all 5 up with a forklift? Do you think the bottom of the table would hold up under all that weight? If you think plywood is a cheap choice to build the box frames with for the ProAms, then in your expert opinion...what material would YOU build them out of? Valley only uses 3/4" plywood, they use to use 3/4" particleboard, and
Diamond uses 1 1/2" plywood, how is that a cheaper alternative? And again, cheaper compared to using what to build the cabinets out of? The only thing Valley and Diamond have even remotely in common, is that they both use coin chutes!
Just like you can be a really good 14.1 player even if you've never run 50+ balls, by playing smart and ending your turn at the table with a good safety, you can likewise be a very strong 9-ball player without ever having B&R more than 3 consecutive racks.
You mean you ran a 5-pack once, twice in your pool career or you run them consistently - like at least once a week/month? On a 9ft table with 5" pockets or tighter?
Hahahahahahahahahaha
Has Brunswick resolved the issue with cushions hardening abruptly?
Or how about warped slate?
Brunswick quality is low for the money. Better than lower brands or home-tables...but for pro-level commercial tables they are overpriced.
Ya, there's areas where Diamond isn't great. However, the difference is that Diamond puts all their quality where it counts. Brunswick is more about looks. I prefer the look of the GC myself, but the Diamond is a better table. Lately....I been preferring the look of a classic home table. Brunswick does achieve a high degree of good playability, but not with quality.
Diamond's rails are more solid. They are also straighter and more true. Pockets are much better. Having 1-piece slate option is also better. While either can be leveled, 1-piece slate eliminates any issues with the seams, as there are none. Diamond has a better leveling system.
Diamond uses Artemis rubber, which is regarded as the best and has a good reputation. Brunswick's rubber has had major QC issues (hardening)...
You can bridge anywhere on a Diamond at any angle without scraping up your cue or having any issues. On a GC, you will be scraping it against the metal, or if on a pocket, getting nasty plastic streaks on there.
The ProAM is an ugly table, but the most solid. The Pro is better looking.
Gold Crowns should only be compared against Diamond Pros, not ProAM as the ProAM is a giant high end, over built bar box.
Considering the GC is made in China and sells for around $3000 more than a Diamond which is made in America - Brunswick's profit margin is insane and borderline insulting.
Speaking of price, $3000 is not pocket change. You can buy a whole other (good) table for that if you have the space. Outfit a game room. Buy a nice custom cue. Buy a new set of tournament balls every 2 years for the next 18 years....
Or how about warped slate?
Brunswick quality is low for the money. Better than lower brands or home-tables...but for pro-level commercial tables they are overpriced.
Ya, there's areas where Diamond isn't great. However, the difference is that Diamond puts all their quality where it counts. Brunswick is more about looks. I prefer the look of the GC myself, but the Diamond is a better table. Lately....I been preferring the look of a classic home table. Brunswick does achieve a high degree of good playability, but not with quality.
Diamond's rails are more solid. They are also straighter and more true. Pockets are much better. Having 1-piece slate option is also better. While either can be leveled, 1-piece slate eliminates any issues with the seams, as there are none. Diamond has a better leveling system.
Diamond uses Artemis rubber, which is regarded as the best and has a good reputation. Brunswick's rubber has had major QC issues (hardening)...
You can bridge anywhere on a Diamond at any angle without scraping up your cue or having any issues. On a GC, you will be scraping it against the metal, or if on a pocket, getting nasty plastic streaks on there.
The ProAM is an ugly table, but the most solid. The Pro is better looking.
Gold Crowns should only be compared against Diamond Pros, not ProAM as the ProAM is a giant high end, over built bar box.
Considering the GC is made in China and sells for around $3000 more than a Diamond which is made in America - Brunswick's profit margin is insane and borderline insulting.
Speaking of price, $3000 is not pocket change. You can buy a whole other (good) table for that if you have the space. Outfit a game room. Buy a nice custom cue. Buy a new set of tournament balls every 2 years for the next 18 years....
A. I never said I am an expert. I did say that I work on both for a living and that is a fact.
B. I stated my opinion and I won't change that.
C. I never said I don't like Diamonds or their construction, in fact I said I love both.
D. I am a fan of the Professional. That is because it looks more like a Gold Crown and that is most aesthetically pleasing to me.
Love ya RKC, but, not arguing with you. It is a new year and I have no time for fussing and fighting my friend! AZ billiards is a great place for information and I want to focus on that. I have got caught up in to much drama on here and it aint worth it. My business is growing rapidly and I don't need the extra head aches.
Trent from Toledo
P.s. To be crystal clear, I never said anything bad about Diamond tables. I gave my opinion of which one I like better. A couple of factors I used to base my opinion on: the use of plywood in the Pro Am and laminated beams for the Professsional. I never said anything was better!!! I simply stated my opinion about what I like!
GC V Tournament
So I was lucky enough to get a GC V Tournament (used for a WPA event many years ago) that had been in storage for less than i would have paid for a new Diamond Pro-Am.
I regularly play on GCIIIs and Diamond Pro-Ams (8' and 9')... at the end of the day, i'd have been happy with any of the 9' tables (what i prefer to play on) with 4.5" pockets so i can play straight pool, rotation games and 1P...
Brunswick or Diamond, depends on the deal you can get... but even more, depends on who sets it up... A good mechanic will make your setup, a bad one will break it.
-Joe
So I was lucky enough to get a GC V Tournament (used for a WPA event many years ago) that had been in storage for less than i would have paid for a new Diamond Pro-Am.
I regularly play on GCIIIs and Diamond Pro-Ams (8' and 9')... at the end of the day, i'd have been happy with any of the 9' tables (what i prefer to play on) with 4.5" pockets so i can play straight pool, rotation games and 1P...
Brunswick or Diamond, depends on the deal you can get... but even more, depends on who sets it up... A good mechanic will make your setup, a bad one will break it.
-Joe