Author Topic: Ball tops or bat tops? (Read 9681 times)

severdhed · « **on:** July 01, 2010, 10:12:24 pm »

hey guys, what type of joysticks do you guys prefer for everyday mame usage? For a dedicated 4 way, it has to be a ball top...but for the 8way sticks, i'm not sure. i have only ever used bat top sticks. i am getting ready to build a 4 player panel and i need to get some new sticks. i know i like bat tops, but I am considering going with ball tops..i'm just afraid i won't like them as much. (i am trying to match the player control colors with the TMNT games, but nobody seems to make purple bat top joysticks, so i am thinking about ball top JLWs.but then the sticks wont match the happ buttons since they are different shades)

it's either that or i just go with black bat tops for all of them...

what do you guys think?

nitz · « **Reply #1 on:** July 01, 2010, 10:46:35 pm »

For everyday Mame 8 way usage, it's gotta be bat tops. I need a ball top for games like Pac-Man and DK and some of the other classics, but when it comes to fighters, beat 'em ups, and most other 8 way games, a ball top would just feel wrong to me. My 2 cents.

shfifty · « **Reply #2 on:** July 02, 2010, 04:47:54 am »

it comes down to personal preference. Apples and oranges. I like ball tops, others like bat tops.

You should just get both, try both for a while and see what you prefer. Its easy enough to swap them and they only cost like $3

sstralkowski · « **Reply #3 on:** July 02, 2010, 08:21:13 am »

I prefer bat tops. My problem is that I can't find anywhere that has a good selection of colored bat tops. Any suggestions guys?

HaRuMaN · « **Reply #4 on:** July 02, 2010, 10:40:19 am »

Quote from: sstralkowski on July 02, 2010, 08:21:13 am

I prefer bat tops. My problem is that I can't find anywhere that has a good selection of colored bat tops. Any suggestions guys?

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=47066.0

divemaster has Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, and Black.

SammyWI · « **Reply #5 on:** July 02, 2010, 06:36:21 pm »

I honestly had never used a bat top before I got into this hobby. In my day, they were all ball tops so I assumed I'd prefer that. Until I tried the bat top - now I prefer bat tops in general.

It would be pretty easy to swap back and forth if you can't decide.

severdhed · « **Reply #6 on:** July 02, 2010, 10:33:56 pm »

well, not too easily im afraid. i currently have two bat top u360s, the regular ball tops dont fit on those shafts. if i would have purchased the balltop u360s, then i could have used an adapter for the bat tops.

i think i will just go with black bat tops for all the sticks and only color code the buttons. im just not sure about the balltops for full time use, and i dont want to spend twice as much for all sanwa buttons to match the balltop colors.

MB · « **Reply #7 on:** July 03, 2010, 01:56:03 am »

These bat tops are purple.

http://www.arcadeshop.de/Joysticks-Competition-Joystick-purple_863.html

ripsnort · « **Reply #8 on:** July 03, 2010, 04:51:29 am »

"I prefer bat tops. My problem is that I can't find anywhere that has a good selection of colored bat tops. Any suggestions guys? "

You can easily paint Bat tops with car spray paint giving you 1000's of color options, i have mine in a nice dark mettalic blue and are very durable, just make sure you prime, paint and then laquer and leave to harden do not rush into fitting them and using.

SammyWI · « **Reply #9 on:** July 03, 2010, 08:02:19 am »

Quote from: severdhed on July 02, 2010, 10:33:56 pm

well, not too easily im afraid. i currently have two bat top u360s, the regular ball tops dont fit on those shafts. if i would have purchased the balltop u360s, then i could have used an adapter for the bat tops.

i think i will just go with black bat tops for all the sticks and only color code the buttons. im just not sure about the balltops for full time use, and i dont want to spend twice as much for all sanwa buttons to match the balltop colors.

Ah, I didn't realize that you had a couple of the sticks already. Actually, I didn't know that the bat top U360s used a different stick and not just the adapter. Mine started as a ball top.

severdhed · « **Reply #10 on:** July 03, 2010, 03:30:42 pm »

well, i was not sure if i was going to keep my u360s to put in this new panel along with some JLWs, or keep them in my other cabinet, and put 4 new ones in my 4player panel.

that purple stick on arcadeshop...is that an IL or happ stick? or some knock off? is that a reputable site? I am in america, i dont really want to get raped by shipping charges...anyone know where i can get these in america? will it match the happ purple buttons?

EDIT: they seem to have a contact form on their site for more info, so i will try to find out what is up with these sticks. with shipping it will cost me about $26 for one stick, which is a little high...but might be worth doing. even if it is a knock off, i may be able to transplant the shaft into a real IL or happ stick to make it feel right.

TOK · « **Reply #11 on:** July 04, 2010, 07:37:55 am »

I have both bat and ball on various machines and find that I like the balltops better. Rarely play fighting games though. I play lots of Golden Age stuff and all era vert shooters.

Bender · « **Reply #12 on:** July 04, 2010, 11:35:40 am »

I Personally prefer Ball tops, but I'm more of a classics kinda guy, but...
Lizard lick just came out with some new bat tops that look sweet!!!!!!

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #13 on:** July 04, 2010, 01:24:19 pm »

Those DO look sweet!

severdhed · « **Reply #14 on:** July 04, 2010, 04:54:35 pm »

yeah, i saw those at lizardlick, but no orange...so it still wont work with my TMNT theme.

i contacted the arcadeshop.de guys about the purple sticks, he says they are ILSA sticks...is that the same IL that we know and love?

Grasshopper · « **Reply #15 on:** July 05, 2010, 08:36:57 am »

Quote from: severdhed on July 04, 2010, 04:54:35 pm

yeah, i saw those at lizardlick, but no orange...so it still wont work with my TMNT theme.

i contacted the arcadeshop.de guys about the purple sticks, he says they are ILSA sticks...is that the same IL that we know and love?

It might be. If you look on IL's site, it appears they do make Competiton joysticks with purple bat tops.

http://www.industrias-lorenzo.com

wp34 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 05, 2010, 10:01:55 am »

Those are really cool. I believe they will fit on the U360 as well.

Quote from: Bender on July 04, 2010, 11:35:40 am

I Personally prefer Ball tops, but I'm more of a classics kinda guy, but...
Lizard lick just came out with some new bat tops that look sweet!!!!!!

severdhed · « **Reply #17 on:** July 05, 2010, 10:14:11 pm »

those are really sweet, i wish there was an orange one.

have any of you ordered from arcadeshop.de? i see them mentioned now and then, so i am assuming they are legit.. i tried searching the forums, but i keep finding references to arcadeshop.com,which is completely different. i will probably order this purple stick, but i'd like to find someone who says they have a good experience with that site.

DeLuSioNal29 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 08, 2010, 12:19:29 pm »

Quote from: severdhed on July 05, 2010, 10:14:11 pm

those are really sweet, i wish there was an orange one.

D

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #19 on:** July 08, 2010, 12:32:25 pm »

^That a serious answer, or a smart-ass one?

HaRuMaN · « **Reply #20 on:** July 08, 2010, 12:35:33 pm »

I would guess SA, since to OP was talking about metal bats...

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #21 on:** July 08, 2010, 12:36:39 pm »

Quote from: HarumaN on July 08, 2010, 12:35:33 pm

I would guess SA, since to OP was talking about metal bats...

My guess as well, but I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt and hoped it was just a brain fart.

DeLuSioNal29 · « **Reply #22 on:** July 08, 2010, 03:29:20 pm »

It was lack of reading on my part. I just read the first couple of posts and I remembered I had seen the orange color option somewhere. Should have quoted the top posts. Sorry 'bout that.

D

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #23 on:** July 08, 2010, 03:36:15 pm »

See, I thought you'd just missed that part. Glad I gave you the benefit of the doubt.

severdhed · « **Reply #24 on:** July 08, 2010, 10:57:32 pm »

well,i think i'm going to stick with bat tops just because i know i like them. now i just cant figure out which sticks to use.

my 2 player cabinet is going to be moved upstairs to the kids playroom, and my new 4 player cabinet will take it's place in the family room. this means i will primarily be playing the new 4player cabinet.

i have two u360 bat tops in my 2player cabinet currently. should i just get a new encoder and 4 competition sticks for the new cabinet., i have a JLW balltop that i plan to use as a dedicated 4way in the new cabinet. this would keep the 2 player cabinet clean with only 2 sticks, and very versatile, but would mean that i couldn't really play qbert downstairs

or, i could use the u360s in the 4 player cabinet and get to JLW bat tops for the other two sticks, i'd still need an encoder for the new cabinet. i'd also need an encoder for the 2 player cabinet, as well as some new sticks. probably two competition sticks, and another dedicated 4way for that cabinet. that way i could play qbert properly on the new cabinet

i love qbert, but it seems like it would cost me a good bit more to go with option number 2. what would you guys do? a part of me hates to have my expensive u360s in a cabinet upstairs where it will primarily be abused by my small children. I do have an x-arcade encoder that i could use in the upstairs cabinet..the wiring is a nightmare on those things, but it would save some money.

opinions?

Dazz · « **Reply #25 on:** July 08, 2010, 11:47:19 pm »

Quote from: nitz on July 01, 2010, 10:46:35 pm

For everyday Mame 8 way usage, it's gotta be bat tops. I need a ball top for games like Pac-Man and DK and some of the other classics, but when it comes to fighters, beat 'em ups, and most other 8 way games, a ball top would just feel wrong to me. My 2 cents.

I'm the same exact way.

MB · « **Reply #26 on:** July 10, 2010, 05:25:36 pm »

Severdhed, I ordered from arcadeshop.de about five different times and everything arrived quickly.
Just wish I could plan a little better so I didn't have to pay for shipping so many times...

severdhed · « **Reply #27 on:** July 10, 2010, 11:28:25 pm »

Quote from: MB on July 10, 2010, 05:25:36 pm

Severdhed, I ordered from arcadeshop.de about five different times and everything arrived quickly.
Just wish I could plan a little better so I didn't have to pay for shipping so many times...

awesome, glad to hear it. i'm really not sure which way to go, but i'm leaning towards moving my u360s into my new 4 player cabinet, which means i'll be buying JLW battops to match, and wont need the purple competition stick. but it's good to know that if i change my mind, the option is there. i will be trying to consolidate my orders as much as possible, but i just can't find any place that sells everything i need, so i'll probably have to place two orders. if i do order the purple stick from arcadeshop, that will probably be the only thing i would be ordering from them anyway, since the prices arent as good as some of the other sites.

severdhed · « **Reply #28 on:** July 12, 2010, 02:41:52 pm »

i see that there are thread adapters so that you can install the sanwa bat tops on the smaller ball-top shafts...are any of you actually using these? i need to get two JLWs, i was going to get teh UM-8 bat top sticks because they will match my bat top u360s, but since i am curious about trying balltops, i thought about getting the TM-8 sticks with ball tops and bat tops, but i wasnt sure how they would look with the bat top on the skinny shafts...do any have you have these set up like this, and if so, do you have pictures

jimmy2x2x · « **Reply #29 on:** July 12, 2010, 03:07:02 pm »

Looks like the balls are beating the bat by a clear head

vorghagen · « **Reply #30 on:** July 15, 2010, 03:14:41 am »

I prefer the Omnistik from groovygamegear. I'm not sure what it would come under as it's kind of a mix between bat/ball top. It has the obvious ball on top but the rest of the shaft is thicker than just the steel rod...... like a bat top.

I think I'd lean toward bat top if pressed but I'll stick with my omnis for now.

SammyWI · « **Reply #31 on:** July 15, 2010, 07:31:50 pm »

Quote from: severdhed on July 12, 2010, 02:41:52 pm

i see that there are thread adapters so that you can install the sanwa bat tops on the smaller ball-top shafts...are any of you actually using these? i need to get two JLWs, i was going to get teh UM-8 bat top sticks because they will match my bat top u360s, but since i am curious about trying balltops, i thought about getting the TM-8 sticks with ball tops and bat tops, but i wasnt sure how they would look with the bat top on the skinny shafts...do any have you have these set up like this, and if so, do you have pictures

I'm using one of the thread adapters on my U360 since it started life as a ball top. Bat top and thread adapter from LizardLick working just fine.

Those aluminum bat tops look very nice but I'd wonder how they feel or if they'd be too heavy for the U360 springs.

Goatz18 · « **Reply #32 on:** July 16, 2010, 12:24:19 am »

Quote

I'm using one of the thread adapters on my U360 since it started life as a ball top. Bat top and thread adapter from LizardLick working just fine.

I looked at LizardLick's site and found a Sanwa Joystick Adaptor, looks like what you describe, they fit on a U360 to allow use of bat tops?

Quote

Those aluminum bat tops look very nice but I'd wonder how they feel or if they'd be too heavy for the U360 springs.

I too am curious about how they would feel on a U360.

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #33 on:** July 16, 2010, 09:49:21 am »

Quote from: Goatz18 on July 16, 2010, 12:24:19 am

I looked at LizardLick's site and found a Sanwa Joystick Adaptor, looks like what you describe, they fit on a U360 to allow use of bat tops?

Yes, that's exactly what they do. The U360 is a Sanwa stick.

severdhed · « **Reply #34 on:** July 16, 2010, 10:08:57 am »

i'm really torn on this now. i like my u360 bat tops, but i really wanted to see how they would be as balltops. if i would have bought the balltop u360, i could have easily used one of those adapters to switch it to a bat top, but it doesnt work the other way around because the battop u360 has a much thicker shaft. so after looking around and talking to Andy at Ultimarc, i started experimenting. i have a Sanwa JLW-TM-8 joystick, which is the balltop version. i took the mounting plate off and lifted the entire shaft assembly out of it, i did the same thing to one of my u360s. i moved the u360 magnet to the balltop shaft and stuck that assembly down into my u360, and now i have a balltop version. moved the thicker shaft into the JLW and now it is the battop version (JLW-UM-8). both versions of the u360 work great, i honestly can't say i like one more than the other. the only real difference i noticed is that i had installed heavier springs on my bat tops, so the balltop stick feels a little lighter.

i played a few different games on my cabinet, swapping back and forth between the battop stick and the ball top stick, and i am happy either way. I talked to Andy, but i can't just buy the shaft assemblys to convert my u360s to balltops, but i could just buy a few JLW-TM-8 sticks and steal their shafts.

i had another thread about matching colors across different brands, and someone suggested the seimitsu bubble top balltops, that way even though they don't match the happ button colors, they look like it is intentional..so i'm just waiting to see how that would look.

SammyWI · « **Reply #35 on:** July 16, 2010, 07:23:46 pm »

Quote from: Goatz18 on July 16, 2010, 12:24:19 am

Quote
I'm using one of the thread adapters on my U360 since it started life as a ball top. Bat top and thread adapter from LizardLick working just fine.

I looked at LizardLick's site and found a Sanwa Joystick Adaptor, looks like what you describe, they fit on a U360 to allow use of bat tops? Yup. The skinny stick really doesn't really bother me either.

Quote
Those aluminum bat tops look very nice but I'd wonder how they feel or if they'd be too heavy for the U360 springs.

I too am curious about how they would feel on a U360. They sure would look nice, but I'm worried since my U360 seems sensitive to spring stiffness for re centering and it says right on that site that you may need a stiffer spring. (I prefer the light spring in my U360.)

severdhed · « **Reply #36 on:** July 16, 2010, 10:56:33 pm »

i'm definitely sticking with the sanwa sticks, i asked my wife's opinion and even though she likes the looks of the bubble tops, she prefers the feel of the bat tops. so i think i'm just going to stick with black bat tops. i will need to buy two JLWs, but i'm tempted to get the TM version with the thinner shaft, i can use the thread adapters to install the bat tops on them, but that way if i change my mind later, i can switch to ball tops.

do you think it will look stupid to have players 1 and 2 with thicker shafts than players 3 and 4? i could buy two more jlw-tm-8 sticks and install their thinner shafts into my u360s and make them all match, but i dont know if it is worth the extra $40

while i'm on the subject, even though i will have the u360s installed, i think i still want a dedicated restricted 4way stick as well, which will be a ball top JLW. since the 4 bat tops will be black, should i make the 4 way a black ball top? i plan on having 3 buttons next to this stick which will be green, should i get a green ball top for this stick? or just make them all black?

Goatz18 · « **Reply #37 on:** July 16, 2010, 11:43:36 pm »

Quote from: Ginsu Victim on July 16, 2010, 09:49:21 am

Quote from: Goatz18 on July 16, 2010, 12:24:19 am
I looked at LizardLick's site and found a Sanwa Joystick Adaptor, looks like what you describe, they fit on a U360 to allow use of bat tops?

Yes, that's exactly what they do. The U360 is a Sanwa stick.

Hahaha. That was a test. It was close, but you passed.


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what type of joysticks do you guys prefer for your mame cabinets? (main 8way sticks)

Author Topic: Ball tops or bat tops? (Read 9681 times)