Gold Crown vs Diamond Pockets

DrCue'sProtege

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I stated this on another thread but after thinking about it I want to know what the deal is. And yes, I know there have been tons and TONS of info about this over the years but I don't want to take the time to check into every thread.

So, my Gold Crown IV now has 4.25 inch pockets. They are a bear. At least to me they are. Especially down the rails. However, I played on a Diamond the other day with 4.25 inch pockets, at least according to the owner. And I didn't have near the problem making balls on the Diamond that I have on my GCIV. Straight in shots, down the rail shots, cut shots, etc, etc. It seemed like the pockets on the Diamond would "accept" the balls 2-3 times easier than my GCIV now does.

Thoughts? Whats the reason for this?

r/DCP
 
I recommend 4 inch pockets

I stated this on another thread but after thinking about it I want to know what the deal is. And yes, I know there have been tons and TONS of info about this over the years but I don't want to take the time to check into every thread.

So, my Gold Crown IV now has 4.25 inch pockets. They are a bear. At least to me they are. Especially down the rails. However, I played on a Diamond the other day with 4.25 inch pockets, at least according to the owner. And I didn't have near the problem making balls on the Diamond that I have on my GCIV. Straight in shots, down the rail shots, cut shots, etc, etc. It seemed like the pockets on the Diamond would "accept" the balls 2-3 times easier than my GCIV now does.

Thoughts? Whats the reason for this?

r/DCP

Since most are against my recommended 3 3/4 inch pockets, I would use 4 inch. This will start being the normal size in more tournaments, because any table :)with any larger pockets is too easy.
 
Since most are against my recommended 3 3/4 inch pockets, I would use 4 inch. This will start being the normal size in more tournaments, because any table :)with any larger pockets is too easy.

What does this statement have to do with providing an answer to the OP question?
 
Geometry

It all comes down to the angles of the pocket openings, (both miter angle and down angle) and the reason many Gold Crown owners have their tables "Diamondized".
 
I stated this on another thread but after thinking about it I want to know what the deal is. And yes, I know there have been tons and TONS of info about this over the years but I don't want to take the time to check into every thread.

So, my Gold Crown IV now has 4.25 inch pockets. They are a bear. At least to me they are. Especially down the rails. However, I played on a Diamond the other day with 4.25 inch pockets, at least according to the owner. And I didn't have near the problem making balls on the Diamond that I have on my GCIV. Straight in shots, down the rail shots, cut shots, etc, etc. It seemed like the pockets on the Diamond would "accept" the balls 2-3 times easier than my GCIV now does.

Thoughts? Whats the reason for this?

r/DCP

At 4 1/4" someone had to do the work, the work was done wrong if the pocket miter angles were no corrected from the factory inconsistent miter angles, meaning a 143 miter isn't nearly as bad on a 5" corner pocket, but then the pocket is reduced in size, you'd better correct the miter angles are it'll cause balls to rattle bad.
 
It is probably pocket facing angle that matters most. I have pocket inside size hair under 4 inch and point to point about 4.3 inch. That creates pocket facing that will reject shots really easily.
 
It all comes down to the angles of the pocket openings, (both miter angle and down angle) and the reason many Gold Crown owners have their tables "Diamondized".

Shelf depth makes a big difference too which of course you know.

But for any given same pocket size, assuming they are stock (pocket angles and shelf depth haven't been altered), aren't Diamond pockets considered to play tougher than Gold Crown pockets? This question is for anyone who wants to give their opinion.
 
Shelf depth makes a big difference too which of course you know.

But for any given same pocket size, assuming they are stock (pocket angles and shelf depth haven't been altered), aren't Diamond pockets considered to play tougher than Gold Crown pockets? This question is for anyone who wants to give their opinion.

No, and the OP's observation proves it...

If the pockets haven't been altered, A Diamond will play tougher only because a stock GC has 5" pockets and a stock Diamond Pro Cut is 4.5"

Now, if both tables have the pockets reduced to 4.25" and the GC angles aren't adjusted, the GC will play tougher because the factory angles will rattle balls out easier, even though the Diamond has a deeper shelf.
 
Then it wasn't really Diamondized ;)

The angles play a huge factor in how the pockets accept balls, especially ones hit with speed down the rail.

No kidding?
3 Diamond mechs ganged up on it and didn't quite get it right.
Table played a lot tougher when the new cloth wore out.
 
I met this really smart table guy one time and he lined 3 or 4 balls up frozen to the rail upstream of the side pocket and shot the cue ball into the end one at damn near break speed. If the ball on the other end passes the side pocket and goes into the corner then the table is "right" according to this guy. If the ball rattles out of the corner it's fubar.

JC
 
How new was the cloth on the diamond?

New cloth makes the pockets play easier.




I stated this on another thread but after thinking about it I want to know what the deal is. And yes, I know there have been tons and TONS of info about this over the years but I don't want to take the time to check into every thread.

So, my Gold Crown IV now has 4.25 inch pockets. They are a bear. At least to me they are. Especially down the rails. However, I played on a Diamond the other day with 4.25 inch pockets, at least according to the owner. And I didn't have near the problem making balls on the Diamond that I have on my GCIV. Straight in shots, down the rail shots, cut shots, etc, etc. It seemed like the pockets on the Diamond would "accept" the balls 2-3 times easier than my GCIV now does.

Thoughts? Whats the reason for this?

r/DCP
 
Since most are against my recommended 3 3/4 inch pockets, I would use 4 inch. This will start being the normal size in more tournaments, because any table :)with any larger pockets is too easy.

I don't see this being the case. 3 3/4 is ridiculously small, and 4" is very small also. Both are small enough that they change the way the game is played, making certain angles impossibility, and cheating the pocket much less realistic. No one wants to watch games where Pros miss all the time, and very few normal players want to play on a table that hard. 4.5" pockets when cut correctly are plenty hard, and still allow the game to be played with creativity.
 
Perhaps moving the white ball is more important than beating yourself up with extra small pockets . Personally I never saw the advantage to practicing with less than 4 1/2 " pockets unless where you play has small pockets. But what do I know? :-)
 
Since most are against my recommended 3 3/4 inch pockets, I would use 4 inch. This will start being the normal size in more tournaments, because any table :)with any larger pockets is too easy.

Way to take this topic WAAAY off point Chump....your response has nothing to do with the question at hand. Good job. Keep it up, you entertain me.
 
Shelf depth makes a big difference too which of course you know.

But for any given same pocket size, assuming they are stock (pocket angles and shelf depth haven't been altered), aren't Diamond pockets considered to play tougher than Gold Crown pockets? This question is for anyone who wants to give their opinion.

Sorry, ball rattle takes place in the same area on both Diamonds and Gold Crowns, the outer half of the pocket. The pocket shelf only comes into play when the ball comes to a stop inside the jaws of the pocket.
 
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