What Table Should I Buy?

Scott Brazier

Scott Brazier

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hey guys.

I am contemplating on purchasing a 9' Diamond table. 14.1 is the game I play and want to get serious with my practicing and start playing in some 14.1 tournaments. I don't know if I should get one with regular pockets or one with the pro pockets. Someone said that the pro pockets are so tough to play on that I may lose interest and quit playing.

I also have a third option. A buddy of mine has a 10' Brunswick from the 1920's. He bought it from someone who purchased a new home and the table was still in the basement. The new homeowner had no idea what it was worth and just wanted it out. My buddy purchased it for $100 and is offering it to me for $200 just to get it out of his garage.

What table would you recommend for practicing the game of 14.1?

Thank you for your feedback.
 

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I'm looking at Diamonds too, and interested to hear opinions on the various options for the pocket sizes. What is standard? What can you have them do? And why would you do it? Novice player also interested in really improving and most interest in 14.1 like original poster
 
jhugo said:
I'm looking at Diamonds too, and interested to hear opinions on the various options for the pocket sizes. What is standard? What can you have them do? And why would you do it? Novice player also interested in really improving and most interest in 14.1 like original poster
Click to expand...

Diamond ProAm, 4.5" pockets, tournament(electric) blue cloth. Pocket size should be tight enough that two balls get stuck in the pocket.

If its tougher than you are used to at first, just keep playing on it, you'll be glad you did.
 
Society Billiards has all Diamond Pro/Am tables. We opted to go with 4.75" for the majority of tables in the room primarily because of the 14.1 following in NYC. I can also say from experience that the newly clothed tables you see in professional tournaments like the US Open and Turning Stone actually play easier even though they're using pro-cut pockets simply because in a busy poolroom, the cloth wears quickly which makes the pockets play tougher.

With that said, I would argue that many 14.1 players fall into two different camps. There is one camp that prefers tables playing as easy as possible because they want to run balls and the opposing camp that prefers slightly tough equipment (4.5" to 4.75") so that a little missing happens in the game. New York City has a few players with high runs over 200 and if the contest is to 100 points or 150 points, games can commonly be over in a single inning. Usually the best players in the city prefer the tighter equipment.

Personally, I've run plenty of 50s but have yet to run 100 but I also play 9ball most. If I were getting a table today, I'd definitely go with a Diamond and I'd ponder all day on the pocket size. I'd probably go with 4.75" since that seems to still be a good tough table but a big enough pocket that it doesn't greatly compromise your shot selection.
 
Table

For the money you can't beat that ten footer. After playing on that for awhile 9 footers will feel like bar boxes.
 
I love diamond tables but the price is right for the brunswick if you've got the space for it. If you play tourneys frequently you will not likely be playing on a similar table as this one. If that doesn't matter, then I say go for it.
 
Definitely the Brunswick!


Unless you want to drop some coin and get a Diamond ProAm.
 
I seriously don't understand why this is even a thread. It seems like such a no brainer to me.

Should I get a $200 vintage table that is probably worth thousands, or should I spend thousands on a new table? Really?
 
WhatRobEats said:
I seriously don't understand why this is even a thread. It seems like such a no brainer to me.

Should I get a $200 vintage table that is probably worth thousands, or should I spend thousands on a new table? Really?
Click to expand...

Truth...though I'd look at it a tad differently.

Snatch up that 10'er for the $200, sell it for $180000 andbuy the Diamond...and a Porsche and go on vacation and put a strong down-payment on a home.
 
;)
Side Pocket said:
...Someone said that the pro pockets are so tough to play on that I may lose interest and quit playing....
Click to expand...

And what kind of attitude is that? I am not sure you can handle a pool table at home. It is a major commitment, in more ways than one.

It isn't a book on a shelf that you can ignore.;)
 
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Jude Rosenstock said:
Society Billiards has all Diamond Pro/Am tables. We opted to go with 4.75" for the majority of tables in the room primarily because of the 14.1 following in NYC. I can also say from experience that the newly clothed tables you see in professional tournaments like the US Open and Turning Stone actually play easier even though they're using pro-cut pockets simply because in a busy poolroom, the cloth wears quickly which makes the pockets play tougher.

With that said, I would argue that many 14.1 players fall into two different camps. There is one camp that prefers tables playing as easy as possible because they want to run balls and the opposing camp that prefers slightly tough equipment (4.5" to 4.75") so that a little missing happens in the game. New York City has a few players with high runs over 200 and if the contest is to 100 points or 150 points, games can commonly be over in a single inning. Usually the best players in the city prefer the tighter equipment.

Personally, I've run plenty of 50s but have yet to run 100 but I also play 9ball most. If I were getting a table today, I'd definitely go with a Diamond and I'd ponder all day on the pocket size. I'd probably go with 4.75" since that seems to still be a good tough table but a big enough pocket that it doesn't greatly compromise your shot selection.
Click to expand...

I completely agree. I have a Diamond 4.5 at home that has old old cloth on it and it plays very tight. Much tighter than the 4.5 pockets you see at derby or US open, all because of new cloth.
 
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