Do diamond tables make you play better?

mvp

mvp

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I went for lunch and watched local league guys play and was intrigued by the statement that this guy made "diamond tables are easy and make everyone look better" all the bars in this league play on 7ft valleys that have seen better days, lol

Just wondering if this thought process had any merit????? I'm from the school of thought that the better conditions/equipment make the better player more capable of using his/her full arsenal of skills. And going down in conditions was more of an equalizer

And for the statement that diamond tables are easy, throw some simonios and aramith balls on a 7ft valley and I'll show you easy! Lol
 
I believe the standard diamonds have a bigger side pocket than Valley tables, thus that would make those shots easier and probably used more. This could be a way they are ordered or modified, but I don't see Diamonds often and when I do their side pockets look large to me and I shoot on Valley tables 99.99% of the time.

Some will claim that Diamonds have more consistent rails and roll better. Which could be true compared to a lot of Valley's being they are typical "bar tables" and thus do not get the respect and upkeep as they should. However, most of the Valley's I play on are probably equal to Diamonds in rail and roll quality. Especially if they have put Simonis cloth and upgraded rails on it.

Beyond that I do not believe there is anything easier about them.
 
Skippy27 said:
However, most of the Valley's I play on are probably equal to Diamonds in rail and roll quality.
Click to expand...

If you saw how a Valley rail attaches.....you would not compare them to a Diamond.
....it's like comparing a Lada to a Lamborghini.

We have Valley and Diamond 7-footers at our place...both have Simonis cloth....
...and Arimith balls.
But if you wanted to make a bank or a kick for all your dough....
....you'd be much better off on a Diamond.

The worst thing, though, about playing on a Valley, is the cue ball it probably has.
 
Say it depends on your measure of quote.
If you want to do well in Pro tournaments, then absolutely. That's what you'll be playing on the the top and not a dirty one either.
For day-to-day purposes, I don't know.

I think it just makes me play differently.on a gold crown, I can boss the ballr around. on a diamond, I have to take what it gives me.
 
7' Diamonds are much better than Valley tables. 9' GC's are as good or better than a 9' Diamond IMO. New Diamond tables with install are not worth the price tag for the wait for it. Diamond tables, $250 balls, and $500+cues= peer pressure, advertisement. Johnnyt
 
I've missed shots on my Diamond that go in all day on a Valley but I have never missed a shot on a Valley that would go in on a Diamond. Side pockets are bigger on Diamond but other than that I'm not sure I'd agree. I guess I agree to the point of being able to move the ball around the table to get/make shape but from a potting perspective, not a chance.
 
Hmm...Everyone in my league gets frustrated when have to play on our team's home table (traveling apa league) because It's a diamond. They always say say the pockets are too tight, the table is too fast, etc. The problem is they're used to playing on old beat up valley's with terrible rolls. Our table is kept like new and plays great!

I always prefer a 7' diamond over a valley/dynamo. They player harder in my opinion because you have have to be more precise, you cannot be sloppy. However, most diamonds are covered with high quality cloth instead of the nappy typical barbox cloth which make it easier to move the cue.
 
pt109 said:
If you saw how a Valley rail attaches.....you would not compare them to a Diamond.
....it's like comparing a Lada to a Lamborghini.

We have Valley and Diamond 7-footers at our place...both have Simonis cloth....
...and Arimith balls.
But if you wanted to make a bank or a kick for all your dough....
....you'd be much better off on a Diamond.

The worst thing, though, about playing on a Valley, is the cue ball it probably has.
Click to expand...

You are making a lot of assumptions here.

First I have worked on many Valley tables and know that up until several years ago they had 3 bolts attaching them, but now it is 5 and some people update their older tables to take the 5 bolt rails directly.

Second not all Valley tables have a cue ball return. Beyond that I bet if it was possible to blind test you I could put out the good Aramith iron filled ball used by some and you couldn't tell a difference compared to any other.

I have seen numerous Diamond tables with pockets and shelves the same, or very close to the same, as Valley tables.

There are differences out there in both brands that make them harder or easier than others.
 
Skippy27 said:
You are making a lot of assumptions here.

First I have worked on many Valley tables and know that up until several years ago they had 3 bolts attaching them, but now it is 5 and some people update their older tables to take the 5 bolt rails directly.

Second not all Valley tables have a cue ball return. Beyond that I bet if it was possible to blind test you I could put out the good Aramith iron filled ball used by some and you couldn't tell a difference compared to any other.

I have seen numerous Diamond tables with pockets and shelves the same, or very close to the same, as Valley tables.

There are differences out there in both brands that make them harder or easier than others.
Click to expand...
You changed my mind...but only slightly.
I will now take only 12 Valleys for one Diamond instead of 17.

...thin slate....two extra bolts on an inferior method of mounting rails...uh uh.
 
I own one of my each, one valley and one diamond. Paid several thousand for my diamond table and several hundred for my valley, both used. Should have paid less for my valley, but I got my money's worth with the diamond.
 
I own an Olhausen. Which tells you pretty much when I bought it. Olhausen was the sponsor for most televised tournaments then and I thought it was the best. It is beautiful but plays terrible. Wish I had something else but not sure a Diamond is the answer either. The Diamonds I have played are not fast on the beds but very fast on the rails. Quite an adjustment from an old Olhausen. Diamonds will make you better just like an LD shaft will make you better. No more no less.


Sent from my iPhone using AzBilliards Forums
 
pt109 said:
You changed my mind...but only slightly.
I will now take only 12 Valleys for one Diamond instead of 17.

...thin slate....two extra bolts on an inferior method of mounting rails...uh uh.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure the thickness of the slate has no bearing on how the table plays.

Have you ever played on a Valley with Simonis cloth and Peguin rails? They play extremely nice.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the Diamonds have a true 84"×42" playing surface and the Valley is only 80"×40".
 
Skippy27 said:
I'm pretty sure the thickness of the slate has no bearing on how the table plays.

Have you ever played on a Valley with Simonis cloth and Peguin rails? They play extremely nice.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the Diamonds have a true 84"×42" playing surface and the Valley is only 80"×40".
Click to expand...

We got Simonis on our Valleys...and tournament balls......
...but I've never heard of Penguin rails.

Don't get me wrong about Valleys....I've had a couple in hotels and they were good money
makers.....I would never have put Diamond coin-ops in those places.
Valleys are tough and I can fix or replace anything on them.

But for a player, Diamonds are on a much higher level.
 
I feel like the pockets are easier on valleys, the pockets seem to just swallow up anything in the vicinity compared to the diamonds that seem to rattle in the pocket when shot is not precise or the correct speed. The rails on Diamonds always seem so much more predictable from table to table (and more lively) than the Valleys as well. I'm no hero skill wise compared to most the members of the board though fwiw.
 
I will tell what does truly make you play better.....a table with smaller pockets.

Tommy Hill, owner of Blue fin Billiards, has made the front tables play really tight.
Anyone that's played on those tables knows exactly what I mean.....they are tough.

I enjoy playing snooker on the 10' Brunswick that's crazy fast & plays like a beast.
Being a 9 ft.table aficionado, I love the front tables that have 4" pockets & live rails.
All the tables have new Simonis Tournament Blue cloth so it's like a pool paradise.

Another parlor in Fresno brought in all Diamond tavles but all the serious players play
at Blue Fin where there's always action and tournaments galore. Two weeks ago, the
Pierce tour was there and Blue Fin added a grand to the prize money. The monthly
tournament gets $250 added and the weekly tournaments get $50 added......handicap
field.....great crowd & the ambiance is pure nostalgia with pool art on all the walls. The
setting is just ideal and the pool tables are well maintained and.vacuum cleaned daily.

So to the OP question, the answer is No......you can achieve as much, if not more, with
alternative brand pool tables. I'd rather play on Tommy's pool tables than Diamond.


Matt B.

p.s Psst.... I've measured table # 3's corner pockets to be just under 4"....."Way To Go, Tommy."
 

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Bavafongoul said:
I will tell what does truly make you play better.....a table with smaller pockets.

Tommy Hill, owner of Blue fin Billiards, has made the front tables play really tight.
Anyone that's played on those tables knows exactly what I mean.....they are tough.

I enjoy playing snooker on the 10' Brunswick that's crazy fast & plays like a beast.
Being a 9 ft.table aficionado, I love the front tables that have 4" pockets & live rails.
All the tables have new Simonis Tournament Blue cloth so it's like a pool paradise.

Another parlor in Fresno brought in all Diamond tavles but all the serious players play
at Blue Fin where there's always action and tournaments galore. Two weeks ago, the
Pierce tour was there and Blue Fin added a grand to the prize money. The monthly
tournament gets $250 added and the weekly tournaments get $50 added......handicap
field.....great crowd & the ambiance is pure nostalgia with pool art on all the walls. The
setting is just ideal and the pool tables are well maintained and.vacuum cleaned daily.

So to the OP question, the answer is No......you can achieve as much, if not more, with
alternative brand pool tables. I'd rather play on Tommy's pool tables than Diamond.


Matt B.

p.s Psst.... I've measured table # 3's corner pockets to be just under 4"....."Way To Go, Tommy."
Click to expand...


A lot of players will disagree with you-many pros as well. The crux of it-Practicing on super tight tables will give you a timid stroke.
 
Nostroke said:
A lot of players will disagree with you-many pros as well. The crux of it-Practicing on super tight tables will give you a timid stroke.
Click to expand...

To me it takes out part of the game thats important too. Cheating the pocket is a great part of the game that super tight pockets all but eliminate.
 
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