I have noticed more and more people saying or writing that they only play on a certain kind of table, be it a gold crown or a diamond. I have seen some action that looked like it was gonna go down not happen due to this as well. I know that its especially important to the upper level players what kind of table they play on. Especially if playing pool is how they make a living. I could not help but think what if in the Hustler Eddie travels all the way from Oakland to play Fats but but then finds that Ames doesnt have his preferred brand of table. I am curious if back in the day the top players had certain brands of tables they would play on and certain ones they would not. If anyone knows I would love to the info.
Not on that table.
- Thread starter billy's boy
- Start date
Tables
Not so much now, but back in the day as you say no table saw more action than a correctly maintained Gold Crown. My opinion. Brunswick sales and marketing were beyond all others. Certain kind of table had more to do with pocket size, cloth and lively rails than brand of table. GC,s were really only available in pool halls and bowling establishments. I have always maintained more money games were played in bars and honkey tonks on lousy equipment than on highly maintained perfect playing tables found only in pool halls. Think of all the dollar games and beer games and $5-10 games played in bars! Yes, all the big money games may have been in pool halls, but the lowly bar box saw lots of action. And most of this action was from bangers not really big time players. Diamonds are the new barometer of pool and a 9 ft Diamond is an awesome table. A little pricey but if you got the bucks go for it. Just my $.2 and I will sign off and go hit some balls on my GC!!
Not so much now, but back in the day as you say no table saw more action than a correctly maintained Gold Crown. My opinion. Brunswick sales and marketing were beyond all others. Certain kind of table had more to do with pocket size, cloth and lively rails than brand of table. GC,s were really only available in pool halls and bowling establishments. I have always maintained more money games were played in bars and honkey tonks on lousy equipment than on highly maintained perfect playing tables found only in pool halls. Think of all the dollar games and beer games and $5-10 games played in bars! Yes, all the big money games may have been in pool halls, but the lowly bar box saw lots of action. And most of this action was from bangers not really big time players. Diamonds are the new barometer of pool and a 9 ft Diamond is an awesome table. A little pricey but if you got the bucks go for it. Just my $.2 and I will sign off and go hit some balls on my GC!!
I know what you mean. I have had many a good 5 bucks a game matches in little bars. Good times for sure. I learned to play on a GC so I favor those but I love to play on a Diamond too. For that matter as long as it has holes for the balls to go in, rack em up.
The main factor before the advent of the Diamond tables was that for 40 plus years a lot of rooms had Brunswick Gold Crowns.
The tables were usually pretty well maintained and although some people gaffed them up for their own advantage, most of them played similar to each other.
If you spent a few minutes you could tell if the table played a little short or a little long and how the rails were going to react.
In other words they were fairly easy to adjust to.
Diamond tables are great tables, but, I have seen them play different out of every corner.
Sometimes as much as a full diamond.
I don't believe it is a manufacturing problem , I think the problem is , it takes a more knowledgeable table mechanic to set them up and maintain them.
Lots of people think they know what they are doing, but the proof to me, is that their tables play different off each rail.
The tables were usually pretty well maintained and although some people gaffed them up for their own advantage, most of them played similar to each other.
If you spent a few minutes you could tell if the table played a little short or a little long and how the rails were going to react.
In other words they were fairly easy to adjust to.
Diamond tables are great tables, but, I have seen them play different out of every corner.
Sometimes as much as a full diamond.
I don't believe it is a manufacturing problem , I think the problem is , it takes a more knowledgeable table mechanic to set them up and maintain them.
Lots of people think they know what they are doing, but the proof to me, is that their tables play different off each rail.
So what are people's opinions on "antique" tables? I grew up playing or a Brunswick Kling or Arcade( both very well maintained), in my early twenties I frequented a hall with all GC, fairly well maintained. I now have a Regina 1.5" slate, VERY well set up and redone(new felt, rubber, reproduction pockets). It has played as well as any I have played on. Have never played a Diamond though. Ive heard the t-rail arguments, but after a year mine has stayed DEAD straight and the rails as good as new. Granted my table sat in storage for roughly 50 years untouched....but I personally like my table over any GC I have played on......
Any opinions welcome.....
Any opinions welcome.....
I don't care what the name brand is but I if playing for chump change will ask to play on a neutral table.
I play on in a certain area, 8 tables. Another player only plays on a few tables, 4 in another area; he's much better then me. Hell he's much better then most! I won't play on his and he won't play on mine.
Neutral ground and all is fair. There are exceptions.
I play on in a certain area, 8 tables. Another player only plays on a few tables, 4 in another area; he's much better then me. Hell he's much better then most! I won't play on his and he won't play on mine.
Neutral ground and all is fair. There are exceptions.
I love the old tables pre 1930 after that a lot of them were poorly built until the mid 40s for me.
IMO most PLAYERS either hate a Diamond or love a Diamond. I don't like them. I play a ball less on a Diamond. I don't have a clue as to why as I have played alot on them. It just is what it is. I would much rather play on a GC, Olhauson (sp), Gandy, Robertson, AMF, ect ect ect lol.
Don't get me wrong here, Diamonds are fantastic, well built, beautiful tables. I just can't play worth a crap on one.
JohnnyT.......Archer and SVB didn't go down because one wanted to play on a 4 inch pocket GC and the other on a Diamond. I could be wrong here though.
Don't get me wrong here, Diamonds are fantastic, well built, beautiful tables. I just can't play worth a crap on one.
JohnnyT.......Archer and SVB didn't go down because one wanted to play on a 4 inch pocket GC and the other on a Diamond. I could be wrong here though.
Makes sense that the quality would suffer some during the Depression. Surprised that there were very many made at all. Thankfully my is a 1923(I think), anyone know for sure what the year of production was for those old tables? Mine is original finish, though I have found a product that really cleans up the finish and I have brought it almost back to new in some areas. Others still need some "grafts" where the veneer/inlay was damaged or missing.
And yeah....I obviously love the old tables too. The GC's have that "50's" kinda feel/style, but the old tables really have an antique furniture feel. I consider myself VERY lucky to have mine and to have learned on tables of the same vintage. Dont get me wrong, GC PLAY great, but if I had a choice.....it would be a mint 6 leg Kling.