Gold Crown Vs. Diamond Pro

[realkingcobra]

I prefer the GC because the rail nose height is CORRECT. The Diamonds rail nose height is TOO high, about 1/8 an inch and it therefore pinches the ball as it strike the nose and makes ALL angles coming off the rail short, but Here is my MAIN reason I hate the nose height. By the way in All other aspects I love the Diamond, exept they need BALL Counters (14.1) and ball boxes for one pocket players. DUH


On a Diamond:
When your shooting a ball down the rail at speed, and you hit almost ANY part of the nose before the ball hits the pocket facing...because the height is higher than the GC I II or III an maybe the newer ones too...the Diamond GRABS the ball by pinching it between the slate and the nose and puts Unwanted spin on the object ball. Thats why ANY time you hit a ball at a good speed, down the rail on a Diamond and catch the rail it will NOT ever go in, maybe somewhat when the cloth is NEW but never when its dirty, wet or worn at speed.
Plain and simple, thats not right.

YOU need to get out your little tape measure and to a little exact measuring instead of "guessing" because both Diamond...and Brunswick's have the same exact rail height...1 29/64" of an inch on 1 3/4" inch thick rails. Putting it a little easier to understand...both are almost exactly at 1 7/16" of an inch high on the point of the cushion nose. Some one must have changed the rail rubber on the Diamond you've played on...because I've been playing and working on Diamond's for years...and have no idea as to what you're talking about!

Glen

 

[traa89]

I went with the GC. Diamonds are nice but I dont like the pockets as much as the GC. The Gold Crown IV however, I am not a fan of, play different than the two. Russ, congrats on the table. I am sure you'll love it. If I lived closer, I'd make it to the cookout

 

[Tommy-D]

> Russ,is that one of IPT-style Pro-Am,or the Pro? Either way,KICK ASS! Tommy D.

 

[Matt_24]

Thanks DCP.. And for everyone else, when I finally get back from Iraq for good, any time there are tournaments in Tampa, Orlando, Spring Hill, or Lakeland, there'll be a cookout at my house for AZers, just bring meat and your beverage of choice...

Even the ones with Short Bus Russ in their sig. I can imagine how you guys will laugh when you see the "Short Bus Russ" Jack Justis case that is in the works as we speak...

Oh yeah, and about the tournament thing... I live about 1/3 mile from a golf course, for you golfers out there..

Russ

Short Bus Russ may be the coolest pool nickname I've ever heard.

 

[Island Drive]

I'm calling shenanigans on this one. There is a standard height for rails, and any good table mechanic will make sure the rails meet this standard.

I think early Diamonds had a problem with short banks, but I think that was remedied by replacing the rubber with either a different kind, or rubber that was cut to fit those Diamonds.

Perhaps you have only played on some of those older Diamonds that were never properly fixed? From everything I have heard, the modern Diamond table plays pretty much perfect in every way.

Hopefully so, because I already bought one!

Russ

I would EMBRACE and hope your correct on the nose height. I just measured the Diamonds on two tables in our area and then went to another city when they had GC II's and measured them, I may not be exact on the height, but the Diamonds nose was higher, and they did bank shorter cross side and it was near impossible to make the two railer cross side unless you came off the first rail at a 'steep' angle, and the second rail angle into the pocket was near parallel with the head or foot rail.
On another note tho how ironic...Greg Sullivan LOVES one pocket and so do the players but WHY are there no ball boxes????

 

[Hierovision]

I play on diamond pros every Thursday at Q-Masters and like them a lot. He has some gold crown 3's (I think) in the green room that I've played on and they're nice as well, but I like the rails of the diamond and I'm just used to it at this point.

 

[Solartje]

They both play very well. I just do not like the look of the Diamond for a home table. I don't see why they can not make a more attractive table for home use. It looks like something from the 70's. That is just my opinion though.

then i think we dont have the same taste...

this is a diamond table. u cant possible say this table looks like its from the 70's and that its not attractive...

i bought a diamond and been working on it for 2 months now and why i prefere a diamond:

- flush pockets. u can put your hand on the corner and still be able to cue as low as possible.
- no cheap silver-plastic looking corners.
- the diamond is a 90% FULL wood construction. U can sand it, paint it, do whatever you want with it. Mine is oak, and the grain of the oak is SO much nicer then the wood from a GC.
- the pockets are better and the table just looks more stable. both tables probably are as stable as it can get, but the diamond just looks heavy and stable.
- wider rails


bad site note: hard to find good k55 rubbers well not hard, but u cant just buy them at any online poolshop. Either u go true diamond or u go to germany. (but living at 100km from germany thats not a isue for me )


just check the wood on these corners. GC can't beat that !

check out the pictures and the NICE full oak woodparts.

 

[CamposCues]

Gabriels

I had a GC IV and liked it. I sold it for a Gabriels...just wanted to try one and one popped up for the right price. The Gabriels construction is much better than the GC. The Gabriels is very heavy duty and plays great. The GC took a ton of tweaking to get the slates all the same height. The Gabriels just took me setting the slates on the frame...done. In my neck of the woods there are no Diamonds, so I've never played on one. I'd like to try the Pro Am with the 1 piece slate though.

So if anyone with a Pro Am 1 piece slate is moving and it won't fit in their new home, I will gladly trade you my Gabriels for it just so I can try one out

 

[whitewolf]

I went with the GC. Diamonds are nice but I dont like the pockets as much as the GC. The Gold Crown IV however, I am not a fan of, play different than the two. Russ, congrats on the table. I am sure you'll love it. If I lived closer, I'd make it to the cookout

Every Gold Crown rattles balls when they shouldn't. They just plain ole suck.

Why?

Diamond tables are made 100% at their factory. Gold Crown subcontracts out their parts. There pockets are simply not as 'tight' as the Diamond tables. Precise engineering is the best way to describe the Diamond tables. Even on my new Diamond table with 4 1/4" pockets, they hold better than the crappy GCs. No contest. Diamond told me if you damage a side you have to send all of them back to the factory so that they can make the precise fit.

 

[Andrew Manning]

They just plain ole suck.

Not the ones I play on; they have giant buckets instead They only rattle a really poorly hit ball.

But in general, I totally agree with everyone else on here. I especially like the predictability of the rails on a Diamond as opposed to a GC, I think due to the Diamond's more solid construction. Whatever the reason, Diamond rails seems to always play fast and consistent, whereas I've never met a GC that wasn't full of dead spots and uneven rail reactions.

-Andrew

 

[Samiel]

I've played on Diamond tables at the DCC and at Diamonds Billiards in Dallas, TX. I have to say that I really enjoy them over the GC's that I have played on. Diamond Pro Tables do come with and without a ball return and also you can add a ball rack (holds balls) under the return. Also, I don't think anyone mentioned that you get an excellent Diamond Rack with your Diamond Pro Table!

As for the rails, they do bank shorter, but I think that's because they are a bit livelier and not quite a deadened as some GC rails I've played on. I think you just have to get used to them, just as you would for any other table. Once you start banking on a Diamond Table, you can definitely see how well it takes English. I think they bank more true to tell you the truth.

 

[JoeW]

I have owned a GC III for nearly 20 years and I like it. Last night I played on a brand new Diamond 7 footer. There are a couple of things I noticed.

The Simonis Blue (860) seemed to play faster than my Simonis green (860). My Simonis is a year old and should play at the same speed. When I dropped balls off the rail they did appear to roll further than on my GC. However, that may have been deceptive as the diamonds are closer on a 7 foot table.

The rails were “livelier” and seemed to be more predicable than my personal table. That was amazing to me as I know my own table quite well.

I liked the pocket design and the non-raised surfaces. The bar owner who also owned the Diamond held the cue ball about 3’ above the rail and smashed it into the rail to show me that it is “indestructible.” I do quite a bit of woodworking and I thought the rails were made of wood with a nicer (more natural) finish than the surfaces on my GC. I know you can’t hit my table like that. I do have a gun and I would shoot you.

Apparently the leveling system is somewhat easier to use than on my table.

I did not like the huge logo on the front of the Diamond table.

So if I were buying a new table I would have to seriously consider the Diamond. I read that a GC now sells for about $8,500.00. However, I paid $3,000 for a new $5,000 table 20 years ago and think that it would not be too difficult to find a new GC for substantially less than the MSRP. It would not be the money so much as the characteristics of the table and Diamond is certainly making a great table that would make me seriously consider the features of both tables.

When the day is done I doubt that they are that much different and it would come down to preference like so many things in pool.

 

[BRKNRUN]

There is one table I would prefer over all others and that is the Centennial 50th Ann. (The one with the flat wood rails and chrome siding)

They had one years ago as the pit table at the now closed Golden 8 Ball.


But since you can't really get those anymore without paying an arm and a leg and/or having to restore it I will go with the Diamond.


Some people suggest that the rail is higher on the Diamond...I am not sure that is a true statement....However when you first play on one it does take a little while to get used to the flat rails...The GC tapers down at the outermost part of the table so your bridge hand is lower...The Diamond does not (as much) so your bridge hand is slightly higher and you need to adjust your set up for off the rail shots......I can see how this may give the impression that the cushion would "feel" higher.

After a short while you adapt, get used to it and might even prefer that type of rail...

In my opinion...the Diamond plays exactly like I feel a pool table should play......You can absolutly fire balls down the rail, but it better be a clean shot....If you want to catch a piece of rail on the way in...you better be playing pocket speed....Balls bank perfect in my opinion......I also watched Jason Miller practice banks on a Diamond (for like 3 hours straight) and he did not seem to have an issue with how the table banked.....(I would imagine he would be more than qualified to judge if a table banks correctly)

BTW - RUSS

If the offer includes an airport pick up (or directions on how to get to your house) a spot on the floor to sleep, a shower opportunity in the AM and a ride to the tournament venue.......(and a ride to the grocery store).....I may very well take you up on that offer at some point...

 

[Russ Chewning]

> Russ,is that one of IPT-style Pro-Am,or the Pro? Either way,KICK ASS! Tommy D.

Not sure what you mean by "IPT-style". It is a Pro-Am 1 piece slate table, though...

I should have more pictures pretty soon. The garage renovation is almost complete, so I will start another thread when my wife sends me the final few pics, so everyone can get an idea of what the final product looks like.

Russ

 

[realkingcobra]

Not sure what you mean by "IPT-style". It is a Pro-Am 1 piece slate table, though...

I should have more pictures pretty soon. The garage renovation is almost complete, so I will start another thread when my wife sends me the final few pics, so everyone can get an idea of what the final product looks like.

Russ

Yes, your table is exactly the same as the tables played on by the IPT players...a normal Diamond 9ft ProAm with pro cut pockets and one piece slate...the same table.

Glen