There are some weird angles in there

Like 24,25 and 26..Why didn't they just go straight out, is there something I can't see?
Agree there. No, you're not missing something. There's several places that could be more direct (5 > 8, 9 > 16, 17 > 26). I think the builder's plumber billed by the foot and fitting.
Team, I think you all are looking for something that's not there, floor pressure cleaner, and the like. This pool is all kinds of funky. Let's focus on the normal 25PSI. It's not the grids (replaced), it's not the physical pump (it too was replaced and normal pressure is the same 25psi). Are we looking at a pump size problem, or a head pressure problem (HP rating with the pipe and 90* count)?
Let me clear the picture: you can see everything but (1 & 5-8) from the photo on the left.
Water flow through filter:
(01) Goes to pressure cleaner return / wall fitting @ 1"
(02) Spa feed: spa mode only, single floor drain) 2" at the ground
--Diverter valve Pool/spa mode (2 - spa | 3 pool normal position)
(03) Pool feed: pool mode - 3 skimmers. 1 skimmer has on/off valve. 1.5" at the ground
(04) pump inlet 2"
(05) pump return 2"
(06) Temp probe
(07) 2"
(08) Filter manifold supply is 1.5" @ inlet (so we transition 2" slip > 1.5" threaded)
--FILTER DE60-- = 25 PSI clean; with the glycerine gauge.
(09) Filter manifold "filter" mode to pool @ 1.5"
(10) 1.5" to heater -- seen in both pictures
(11) 1.5" red vertical rectangle box next to gate valve [gate valve is a separate system for fountains, you can see the pump behind 24 - does not run through filter)
--under ground--
(12) 1.5" @ ground > 2" 90* > 13 (from route 11)
(13 - 16) making way into heater via 2"
--400K BTU HEATER--
(17-19) 2" hot return
(20) 2" 1 way valve (worthless because spa water goes into pool via 28)
(21) 2"
(22) 2" now has a Tee - 2" x 1" to run to pressure line to (1) for Polaris 280 in the pool. (1" is in the middle pointing down toward ground, so most flow is through 2" to pool)
(23) 2"
(24) now another Tee - 2"x 3/4 for Cl injection (stenner)
(25) 2"
(26) 1.5" reduction to pool/spa diverter valve
--Diverter valve Pool/spa mode
(27) Spa mode - 2" return to spa only = spa wall jets
(28) Pool mode:
One leg of Tee is 1.5" to spa for filtration (continuous fill of filtered water into spa > into fountain > into pool.
[Gallery]).
The other goes to the pool, ALL return ports also 1.5". again see
[Gallery]
Side note: If the pump is off, this is where spa water drains into pool with spa drained about 18" over night. This is why 1 way valve (20) is basically worthless.