New Redesigned Valley Pool Tables Just off the trucks
- Thread starter HudsonSmith
- Start date
I'm still in Vegas cause I will be playing in the VNEA. Made this part of a business trip and staying at the Riv. I went down to the tournament room where the BCA was last week and the VNEA is setting up this week. I didn't notice it at first because the Valley tables were up on their sides and on a dolly. Actually hundreds of them but they have changed the Valley tables. There is no more cast plate around the pockets that gets in the way when you are shooting. It is all smooth. So I went and bought a cheap camera and took some photos. Found 3 old style Valley's and hundreds of new ones.
What do you think?
Will these new tables make it easier for you to shoot on?
HELL YES.....That is a great change. I always had to break from the end rail so as not to rake my shaft accross that dang lip.....i might just have to sneak on a apa team and go play some minis in aug. I was going to skip out this year had enogh of the apa and thoughs valleys but at least now ill be able to break like a crazy man people love watching that even if itss down hill from there....
For what it's worth, Valley has never used a weighted cue ball system...Dynamo has, Valley has used an over-sized cue ball, but not in the last 30+ years, yes...Valley still relies on the magnetic cue ball to separate it from the object balls.
I'm still in Vegas cause I will be playing in the VNEA. Made this part of a business trip and staying at the Riv. I went down to the tournament room where the BCA was last week and the VNEA is setting up this week. I didn't notice it at first because the Valley tables were up on their sides and on a dolly. Actually hundreds of them but they have changed the Valley tables. There is no more cast plate around the pockets that gets in the way when you are shooting. It is all smooth. So I went and bought a cheap camera and took some photos. Found 3 old style Valley's and hundreds of new ones.
What do you think?
Will these new tables make it easier for you to shoot on?
Wow that's fantastic and only ten years after Brunswick and Diamond did the same thing. That's what I call keeping up with the competition. Next thing you know, they'll even have real cue balls!
I would imagine that Valley is using the VNEA to road test the changes on the tables and get feedback when it's over. They will probably anounce them and put them on their web site if all goes well right after the VNEA.
You heard of Windows 7.."that was my idea?"
Well recessing the castings was MY idea.
Johnnyt
You heard of Windows 7.."that was my idea?"
Well recessing the castings was MY idea.
Johnnytwow???????
just got off the phone with the valley dynamo corp (DOMESTIC CONSUMER EQUIPMENT sales. Cathy Lauria ) i told her i saw the new table on azbilliards and want to ask a few questions about them, and she said azwho? how do people in the billiard industry not know azbilliards? i bet diamond billiard products would know azbilliards.
just got off the phone with the valley dynamo corp (DOMESTIC CONSUMER EQUIPMENT sales. Cathy Lauria ) i told her i saw the new table on azbilliards and want to ask a few questions about them, and she said azwho? how do people in the billiard industry not know azbilliards? i bet diamond billiard products would know azbilliards.
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VAlley who?
I think this is a case of too little, too late, valley tables will be few and far between in 10 years. they already lost the race, it started 10 years ago with DIAMOND. Just my opinion
I think this is a case of too little, too late, valley tables will be few and far between in 10 years. they already lost the race, it started 10 years ago with DIAMOND. Just my opinion
I personally hate valley tables, everybody is a champ on them.:wink:
Diamond is making a hell of a push with their Smart Tables, that's for sure. I still think that for the casual bar/pool hall owner, Valleys are the go-to just because they're inexpensive and can take a beating.
I'd kill to walk into my pool hall and see a handful of Diamonds replacing the Valleys though.
I would hope that Valley went all the way and put on better rails like the Ridgebacks. There will always be a place in the coin-op or for bar owner for a Valley instead of a Diamond. If your bar just has mostly or all casual players a Valley is the right way to go for the bang for the buck. Just like in the auto industry there are Caddy's and Fords and Chevy's for people that don't need or can't see the prices of Caddy's and such. Johnnyt
Trust me not everyone. Someone is a winner finishing first, and the rest of the field is runners up.
So..........I guess that makes Diamond FIRST....and everyone else a runner up
The corner pocket castings are not the only changes Valley has made to the tables, trust me...but they're STILL Valley tables...with NEW paint so to speakGlen
Diamond's "No Excuse" program
Every time I see Greg Sullivan at a trade show (e.g. SBE), I take the time to catch up with him. And let me tell you, besides being a genuinely enjoyable person to talk to, he has plans to penetrate deeper into the bar table market.
Take for example his "No Excuse" program:
http://diamondbilliards.com/About/DIAMONDNoExcuse/tabid/91/Default.aspx
I talked at length with him about this at last year's SBE, and I gotta tell ya, it's compelling when you present it. The issue is that you have to convince your local bar table establishment that his/her coin drop will INCREASE with a Diamond table. If the business case is not presented properly to the proprietor of the establishment, he/she will not see the need to upgrade, because as far as he/she is concerned, "there's nothing wrong with my existing Valley tables -- I just have bar bangers in here, not professionals." Yet, when I convinced some of these "bangers" (who are actually true pool enthusiasts -- especially the ones that play in regular leagues) to try a Smart Table at, oh, say, Super Billiards Expo (getting them there is half the battle), they are dumbfounded by the difference in play. They *LOVE* the Diamonds. Once you get a few of these enthusiasts onboard, they'll help push the "No Excuse" program.
I'd love to see my area embrace a few Valley-to-Diamond upgrades. I'm certainly bending a few proprietor's ears, that's for sure.
-Sean
Every time I see Greg Sullivan at a trade show (e.g. SBE), I take the time to catch up with him. And let me tell you, besides being a genuinely enjoyable person to talk to, he has plans to penetrate deeper into the bar table market.
Take for example his "No Excuse" program:
http://diamondbilliards.com/About/DIAMONDNoExcuse/tabid/91/Default.aspx
I talked at length with him about this at last year's SBE, and I gotta tell ya, it's compelling when you present it. The issue is that you have to convince your local bar table establishment that his/her coin drop will INCREASE with a Diamond table. If the business case is not presented properly to the proprietor of the establishment, he/she will not see the need to upgrade, because as far as he/she is concerned, "there's nothing wrong with my existing Valley tables -- I just have bar bangers in here, not professionals." Yet, when I convinced some of these "bangers" (who are actually true pool enthusiasts -- especially the ones that play in regular leagues) to try a Smart Table at, oh, say, Super Billiards Expo (getting them there is half the battle), they are dumbfounded by the difference in play. They *LOVE* the Diamonds. Once you get a few of these enthusiasts onboard, they'll help push the "No Excuse" program.
I'd love to see my area embrace a few Valley-to-Diamond upgrades. I'm certainly bending a few proprietor's ears, that's for sure.
-Sean
Money issue???
They were advertising tournament used Diamonds (almost brand new) for somewhere around $3000.00 maybe $3200.00 I forget the actual number but the last valleys I bought were $2500.00 and that was before these new upgrades. I haven't heard the new price yet, but its so close and with the better table word of mouth would cover the cost of the entire table in the first year by the extra games played. It makes sense to me, the beer and liquor is the same everywhere, I spend my $$$$ at places with the best tables!! Just my opinion
They were advertising tournament used Diamonds (almost brand new) for somewhere around $3000.00 maybe $3200.00 I forget the actual number but the last valleys I bought were $2500.00 and that was before these new upgrades. I haven't heard the new price yet, but its so close and with the better table word of mouth would cover the cost of the entire table in the first year by the extra games played. It makes sense to me, the beer and liquor is the same everywhere, I spend my $$$$ at places with the best tables!! Just my opinion
Tournament used Smart tables are $4400 w/o light and $4800 with light on the Diamond web site. You can find Valley's that the box is in good condition, slate is good, and coin-op works on them for $1000 or less.
Put new rails (Ridgeback), new cloth, and good pockets if need on for about $500.
$4400 Diamond + del and set up I'm sure
$1500 Valley with new cloth, rails, and pockets
.........
$2900 difference w/o light or set-up and delivery
I'm not saying you have a Diamond when you get the Valley, but for casual players they are fine.
If you're putting 6 tables in yor saving $17400 getting the Valley's...that's a lot to make up in games played. Johnnyt
Put new rails (Ridgeback), new cloth, and good pockets if need on for about $500.
$4400 Diamond + del and set up I'm sure
$1500 Valley with new cloth, rails, and pockets
.........
$2900 difference w/o light or set-up and delivery
I'm not saying you have a Diamond when you get the Valley, but for casual players they are fine.
If you're putting 6 tables in yor saving $17400 getting the Valley's...that's a lot to make up in games played. Johnnyt
The price you're quoting looks like the 9' table price. I had my tournament used 7' pro/am delivered and set up with the diamond light for $3725. It came with a set of aramith super pro balls and a diamond rack.
If I had to do it over again I'd do the same thing. The table is a joy to play on and it gets hours of daily use. If I figure 25 cents a rack, it paid for itself (and a recovering) in about 9 months.
The price you're quoting looks like the 9' table price. I had my tournament used 7' pro/am delivered and set up with the diamond light for $3725. It came with a set of aramith super pro balls and a diamond rack.
If I had to do it over again I'd do the same thing. The table is a joy to play on and it gets hours of daily use. If I figure 25 cents a rack, it paid for itself (and a recovering) in about 9 months.
The price I'm quoting if for a 7' tournament used SMART TABLE, not a PRO AM, they are cheaper. I was answering the thread that was talking aout coin-op tables. Johnnyt
Johnny....the true income of a coin-op table is not counted in the quarters buddy...it's in the food + alcohol sales
I just finished installing 3 Diamond 8ft Smart Tables in a location called the Schooner Pub, in Tacoma, WA. The tables I took out....were paid for...Valley 8fts Now, why would a bar owner, under your thoughs...pay $15,000 for 3 Diamond coin-op pool tables...when he already OWNED his tables? I'll tell you why, it's because they don't have Diamond tables anywhere else in Tacoma, WA....so now Don is getting players to show up at his Pub that wouldn't travel across town to play on NEW Valleys, when every bar already has Valley tables in them. Every-time Don picks up a new customer....someone else with a Valley lost another one, and they're going to have to have Diamonds to get them back
Glen
Johnny....the true income of a coin-op table is not counted in the quarters buddy...it's in the food + alcohol sales
I'll tell you why, it's because they don't have Diamond tables anywhere else in Tacoma, WA....so now Don is getting players to show up at his Pub that wouldn't travel across town to play on NEW Valleys, when every bar already has Valley tables in them. Every-time Don picks up a new customer....someone else with a Valley lost another one, and they're going to have to have Diamonds to get them back
Glen
Again I'm not saying whatever you do to a Valley that it's going to play like a Diamond. But that is a rare situation that there are NO Diamonds in a big city like Tacoma. I'll bet the Valley's were very old and just about garbage so with the trade in from Diamond it was worth the gamble that he will get enough players and bangers that want to play on Diamonds instead of new Valley's. If the Diamonds cost more to play on he might just get a wave of new players for awhile and then the tide will go back out taking some the old customers that won't pay more for pool with it. You never know what upping something 50 cents will do. Johnnyt