Not to mention, hammering the break shot on a modern Diamond table often bobbles it in the corner. Cloth & balls are faster, but pockets are less forgiving.I learned to play 14.1 with the old clay balls on slow cloth.
You had to hammer the break shot and sometimes use force follow to open the balls.
But we didn't know any better.Thats what we played on.
With modern balls and fast cloth you can hit the break shot much easier which means you are a bit more accurate in pocketing the break ball.
BTW: While the side pockets on a Diamond are also tighter, I HAVE noticed that a miss which would not ordinarily go if shot softly, will sometimes compress the rail’s rubber edge enough to let it go in.
The side pockets on old GCs were like buckets. I’ve had a hard time adjusting my game so as to avoid them now, unless I’m straight-in & close.