Valley Table Rails

[Charlie Hustle]

I recently had my felt replaced with Simonis 860 HR, and while the table plays much better than with the stock nap cloth, I feel like im still not getting a ton of action off the rails. I'm almost positive the cushions are original and have never been replaced. The Valleys at my local watering hole seem to play way faster. Would replacing the rails with Penguin rails make a significant difference?

 

[Cuebuddy]

Yes. I set up a table in Chicago and used Penguin rails.
It made a huge difference.
The folks at Penguin were very easy to work with and the rails came dressed with Simonis cloth.
Between new table cloth and new rails along with tightening the corner bolts the table was way better.

 

[JPB2]

A few months ago I played in a league match on a couple Valleys that had been recovered and I am pretty sure had new Penguin rails. They used the regular slow cloth. Action off the rails was fine, I thought they played pretty well. With Simonis it would be better.

 

[boogieman]

I recently had my felt replaced with Simonis 860 HR, and while the table plays much better than with the stock nap cloth, I feel like im still not getting a ton of action off the rails. I'm almost positive the cushions are original and have never been replaced. The Valleys at my local watering hole seem to play way faster. Would replacing the rails with Penguin rails make a significant difference?

Yeah, Penguin rails significantly improve a Valley. Especially if you're dealing with old rails that may be dead or a table coming from an amusement company that may have mismatched rails. They often recover rails at their shop and do many at a time. This results in getting them mixed up and having rails of various ages/tables on a single table.

Penguin make for a very consistent playing experience and they are more lively, like how regular tables like Brunswick, Olhausen, Diamond etc play. More of a "real" pool table action from the rails.

If you play on pro cut Diamond in any tournaments the 4 1/4" cut will get you close to how they play, at least close enough for practice.

I don't have a Valley, but if I did I would 100% put Penguin on it. It's a great upgrade and gets rid of the funky way Valley rails play. It's a huge time saver to get them with cloth already installed. My buddy has 860HR on his and it plays great. I think regular 860 would also be fine.

 

[Charlie Hustle]

Thank you everyone for the replies. I have a follow up question as well. Im still on the fence between the "regular" cut Penguin rails vs the pro cut. (Main reason for this is having my friends and family over and I know they would get discouraged really quickly with the pro cut rails)

But my question is, will the cushions play the same from the regular and pro? I couldn't find if the pro cut used a different/better type of rubber. My main concern is speed and action off the rails.

Thanks again

 

[garczar]

Thank you everyone for the replies. I have a follow up question as well. Im still on the fence between the "regular" cut Penguin rails vs the pro cut. (Main reason for this is having my friends and family over and I know they would get discouraged really quickly with the pro cut rails)

But my question is, will the cushions play the same from the regular and pro? I couldn't find if the pro cut used a different/better type of rubber. My main concern is speed and action off the rails.

Thanks again

same speed just bigger openings. if you're gonna have non-diehard friends over often don't get the tight pockets.

 

[Charlie Hustle]

same speed just bigger openings. if you're gonna have non-diehard friends over often don't get the tight pockets.

This is exactly what I wanted to know, thank you!

 

[Island Drive]

What yr was the table mfg?

 

[Charlie Hustle]

What yr was the table mfg?

I'm not too sure to be honest. But I'll tell ya this, Valley Black Cat model that is in absolute pristine condition. It looks like they never played on it. The absolute best part? I found it on FB for $350! I just happened to be the lucky one who msged the seller 1st. She told me she had over 100 people msg her after I did.

 

[JLSACESUP]

I recently posted the restoration of my 1963 Valley table. I purchased a custom set of rails and bumpers from Penguin Amusements and let me tell you, the K55 bumpers have great action. No ball bounce off the rails. I was very pleased with the customer service from Penguin Amusements.

 

[fastone371]

I bought an early 70's Valley and put Penguin non pro-cut rails on it, it plays very nice. It has a coin mechanism that takes a single quarter laying flat. I tell everyone I lost the key and I don't have any quarters so I get to make a little money when they feed the table when people come over to play.

 

[Island Drive]

I've got a new Valley 40x80 non coin op table.
Rail speed seems fine. Even with cheap cloth.
The rail thickness is not that of a 9', but it's the norm.