Diamond Vs Valley Bar Boxes?

Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
I haven't played on a Diamond 7' table enough to make a good comparison. For those of you that play on both a 7' standard Valley and a 7' standard Diamond, as an "A" or "B" player do you feel that you will play a ½ ball or a ball worse on the Diamond?

My Valley has tight Tour Edition cloth on it so it's super fast and I put "therealking cobra" (Glen's) "Ridgeback Rails" on it that makes it bank much better and the pockets are cut at a different angle so they are not 4 1'2" buckets anymore. You can't cheat them that much anymore. I'd say now the table plays much closer to a Diamond than a standard Valley.

The reason I ask is I might have a deal on a diamond coming up and if it isn't that much difference I'll pass on spending the money. Thank you. Johnnyt
 
Its like comparing a Chevette to a Corvette. Chevette being a valley bar table and Corvetter being the Diamond. Diamond tables play so true. Buy the Diamond and be done with it.
 
I dont agree. Ive played on both and like both. Both products are great tables imo and especially if you have your valley tweaked to make it play tougher, I dont see the reason to be spending to change up.

When it comes to bar boxes the valley tables and the diamond tables are the two best choices. They are alot closer than a chevette/corvette is. Thats more like comparing Sears cardboard table vs Diamond Smart tables.
 
I think I play better on the diamond. Super fast, easy position. Good spread on the break, the rails play true. The pro cut pockets make it tougher but not unfair. I played on a dirty valley barbox with a mudball last night and missed my diamond. I shot the best scores I ever have on the coin op diamonds with the bigger pockets. They just play so true
 
Given a choice, and it seems as though you are being given a choice, I would choose the diamond over the valley.

If I were offered two valleys, I'd still take the one diamond.

I've played on good valleys and bad valleys. I have not played on a bad diamond.

As always, this is my opinion, and should be treated as such.. an opinion. Best of luck with your choice.
 
uwate said:
I dont agree. Ive played on both and like both. Both products are great tables imo and especially if you have your valley tweaked to make it play tougher, I dont see the reason to be spending to change up.

When it comes to bar boxes the valley tables and the diamond tables are the two best choices. They are alot closer than a chevette/corvette is. Thats more like comparing Sears cardboard table vs Diamond Smart tables.
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Your right, it isn't like a Chevette/Corvette, it's more like a Rolls Royce/Pinto
 
Johnny, a fair comparison might be the Diamond is a Cadillac Deville and the Valley is a Pontiac Bonneville. Both are serviceable and you would enjoy either one but I choose the Caddy every time given the option.
 
since when is a 4 1/2 inch pocket a BUCKET??

I'm pretty sure I've never played on a Valley with that tight of pockets!
 
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The Diamond is ten times a better table than a Valley. There is no comparison and the Diamonds also hold their value much better.

If you are getting a good deal on a 7' Diamond, BUY IT!
 
bnall said:
Its like comparing a Chevette to a Corvette. Chevette being a valley bar table and Corvetter being the Diamond. Diamond tables play so true. Buy the Diamond and be done with it.
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I agree.....its like comparing a Chevette to a Corvette.......Here is the Chevette I go get groceries in
 

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Sounds like what you have now plays pretty good. especially if the table is opened up and you're using a good cue ball. I love the Diamond tables but I don't know that I would spend the extra money on a 7ft'er. On a 9 ft'er though, my first choice will always be the Diamond.
 
I have not understood Valley not changing their pocket modeling to something more player and cue friendly.

I posed this question not long ago to a mechanic and got a cant happen answer which surprised me... Why not make a kit for $1000 or so that
changes current Valleys, Dynamo or Globals to tables with more Diamond like pockets and playability.

I figured it could be done and that many rooms would pay for it.
 
If there were 2 tables side buy side 1 being a Valley, and 1 being a Diamond...id pick the Diamond....
 
I will put it this way - all things being equal, I would definitely get a Diamond over anything else. In this instance, you have two things to weigh. You already have a table and you say you can get a deal on a Diamond. Can you sell your old table? If so, would that eliminate the cost-difference between the two? I say if you can "upgrade" to a Diamond for under 1k, it's worth it. Anything between 1-2k is debatable. Anything more and you should stick with what you have.
 
Valleys just get a bad rep bc there are so many of them that have been out there in the bars for decades, being sat on, beer spilled on, who knows what else on....its easy to point to the time you played in some hole in the wall bar and they had a terrible valley bar box. Its a bit unfair to compare that memory to the time you went to tournament and played on a new diamond barbox with simonis 860, super aramiths and a red circle.

I actually do not know of one single diamond barbox in any bar in south florida.
 
uwate said:
Valleys just get a bad rep bc there are so many of them that have been out there in the bars for decades, being sat on, beer spilled on, who knows what else on....its easy to point to the time you played in some hole in the wall bar and they had a terrible valley bar box. Its a bit unfair to compare that memory to the time you went to tournament and played on a new diamond barbox with simonis 860, super aramiths and a red circle.

I actually do not know of one single diamond barbox in any bar in south florida.
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How many AZers you see post in the mechanic section asking how to get there Valley Bar tables to play like a Diamond. I have seen alot, but never seen anyone asking the get there Diamond Table to play like a Valley Bar table.
 
ok i should be clear...the diamond smart table is a better table but between the two....but they both play good. Its not like a good condition valley with tour cloth, a rail kit and tighter pockets will be all that different than any standard diamond smart table.

If the cost is neglible, then yeah i say do the diamond, but 1-2k and you really think its gonna be that much of a difference from his current table? i dunno.....
 
uwate said:
ok i should be clear...the diamond smart table is a better table but between the two....but they both play good. Its not like a good condition valley with tour cloth, a rail kit and tighter pockets will be all that different than any standard diamond smart table.

If the cost is neglible, then yeah i say do the diamond, but 1-2k and you really think its gonna be that much of a difference from his current table? i dunno.....
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All depends on too what he competes on the most. Thats the table he should get. Diamonds or Valley bar tables?
 
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I like to play on either, absoluely no preference, if they are well maintained. Valley's however are not quite the table a Diamond is. Diamond is much more player friendly and table quality is better. IMO
 
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