Valley Barboxes :(

maxeypad2007

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I know this has been beat to death, but I had honestly forgotten just how badly designed these tables are.

Why on earth would you make the area above the pocket a large, raised, metal surface that is almost assured to mar your cue? Plus this further complicates breaking from the rail (you are basically jacked up or scraping your cue).

Also, and i'm not sure if htis is just the people who play on the tables or what, but even new-ish valley tables I see in the field have a lot of dead spots on the rails. IE areas where all action on the ball just dies. Usually right on each side of the side pockets. Is this just the rubber they are using, bad table assembly or what. This is super common for whatever reason

I'm not even going to talk about the quality of these tables playing wise, but I'm honestly baffled by some of the design decisions on these tables.

I'm suprised someone hasn't built a low cost table similar to the valley without some of the major issues the valley tables have.
 
Global did. They made some damn good bar tables for far less money. I have nine of them in storage if you want one.
 
jay helfert said:
Global did. They made some damn good bar tables for far less money. I have nine of them in storage if you want one.

I'll second that....a local hall that closed up several years ago had Global bar boxes and they played great.
 
I believe the Valleys were considered state of the art for many years. I sold two of them to a bar in Fullerton almost 30 years ago and they still play great.

Why they place the design (cougar) on the metal corner plate, I guess was for advertizing but could mar your cue.
 
Just my opinion, but I think the design of the Valley BAR tables, is set for bar players, using bar cues. The design is for durability, and they are a very durable table. I'm not saying they don't need to advance the design to keep up with todays market. They really could use a little makeover, since a lot of the play nowadays comes from people in leagues, using expensive equipment.
As for the rails, the best explanation I can give is that the rubber is new. If you take a large thick rubber band, fresh from the package and start to stretch it, it feels a little stiff. But after you stretch it out a few times, it becomes a little more pliable. I believe the rails are the same way, the more they are used, the better the rubber reacts.If they're new from the factory, it' can be partly the cloth too. I hate the cloth they use on the new tables.

This is just my opinion. I like the Valley tables, had them in both my poolrooms. But as for consistent play, I like the Diamonds.
 
they're not so bad. just don't drag your shaft along the rail when you stroke and it shouldn't be a problem.
 
Valley barboxes...

I grew up playing on Valley barboxes way back when, jeeze I must be getting old! Never had any problems with the metal corners, but I never relied on using the rails when I broke, just made sure I put my bridge hand down on the felt covered slate and kept my cue away from the metal corner guards. Won a whole lot of cash on those Valley bar boxes!!!
 
If your going to bounce around from bar to bar and play for $$ you better be able to play on and figure out bad tables fast. They have home court advantage on you at the start. Johnnyt
 
maxeypad2007 said:
I know this has been beat to death, but I had honestly forgotten just how badly designed these tables are.

Why on earth would you make the area above the pocket a large, raised, metal surface that is almost assured to mar your cue? Plus this further complicates breaking from the rail (you are basically jacked up or scraping your cue).

Also, and i'm not sure if htis is just the people who play on the tables or what, but even new-ish valley tables I see in the field have a lot of dead spots on the rails. IE areas where all action on the ball just dies. Usually right on each side of the side pockets. Is this just the rubber they are using, bad table assembly or what. This is super common for whatever reason

I'm not even going to talk about the quality of these tables playing wise, but I'm honestly baffled by some of the design decisions on these tables.

I'm suprised someone hasn't built a low cost table similar to the valley without some of the major issues the valley tables have.

You also forgot those raised metal pieces are "pants rippers" I have ripped a few reaching and moving around bar tables.

These tables are definately ball droppers. If your good on a bar box then you're a shoe in at any bar to stay on the table.
 
tjlmbklr said:
You also forgot those raised metal pieces are "pants rippers" I have ripped a few reaching and moving around bar tables.

These tables are definately ball droppers. If your good on a bar box then you're a shoe in at any bar to stay on the table.
You're absolutely right about those "pants rippers". Those metal corners will snag your front pockets and rip them or stop you dead in your tracks.
 
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