TimeOut

. . . my 8-ft '70-ish Delta will get replaced by an 8-ft Diamond.  One-piece slate, too . . . 

No crazy rolls or banks that rebound in random directions. Easy to fine tune it yourself after initial install if leveling needed. One thing to note, every Diamond table I've played on feels taller than what I am used to.

. . . and the Centenary . . . 

There might be something to the George Balabushka legend after all. I hope one day you get to own one of these. From the reactions many have written about these cues, it seems most are too old to really reflect what they were like when they were brand new. I think the thick shaft and heavier Balabushka I have plays really well. Makes me wonder what some of the best George Balabushkas play like. Definitely this one, if I don't run my average number of balls, it's me and not the cue.  It's a close call as to which is a better cue, the most recently refinished TAD with brand new Fred shafts or Rosewood Tascarella and the fancy Balabushka with a 13mm shaft. All feel a little different and definitely sound different, but they all play within single precentages of eachother. I think my Gus Szamboti will still be my overall favorite, that Szamboti hit is the best blend of Balabushka playbility with a TAD feel and the extra wide diameter butt just makes it so much easier for my arthritic hands to hold.