Any feedback comparing an X-Arcade Trackball versus other Trackballs?

[Arimack]

The X-Arcade Trackball looks like the best priced arcade trackball on the market assuming you are not going bargain basement with one of the $25 MAME trackball (I bought one of these MAME ones while I test out control panel layouts but will likely eBay it after I have set my panel layout.)  I would love to hear the consensus on the X-Arcade Trackball.

So, how does the $59 X-Arcade compare to the other options out there?

The advantage I see right off the bat is that the X-Arcade includes the mounting hardware, encoder and mouse button wiring as standard while most of the rest (Paradise, Groovy, etc) see to have these as extras boosting up the cost.  But how is the feel of the X-Arcade trackball?  Any advice would be appreciated.

X-Arcade Trackball
http://www.xgaming.com/store/arcade-parts-and-accessories/product/x-arcade-trackball-assembly/

[Cynicaster]

The X-Arcade Trackball looks like the best priced arcade trackball on the market assuming you are not going bargain basement with one of the $25 MAME trackball (I bought one of these MAME ones while I test out control panel layouts but will likely eBay it after I have set my panel layout.)  I would love to hear the consensus on the X-Arcade Trackball.

So, how does the $59 X-Arcade compare to the other options out there?

The advantage I see right off the bat is that the X-Arcade includes the mounting hardware, encoder and mouse button wiring as standard while most of the rest (Paradise, Groovy, etc) see to have these as extras boosting up the cost.  But how is the feel of the X-Arcade trackball?  Any advice would be appreciated.

X-Arcade Trackball
http://www.xgaming.com/store/arcade-parts-and-accessories/product/x-arcade-trackball-assembly/

My brother has a tank stick and the trackball was fine when it still worked.  It no longer registers up/down movement (probably bad encoder board or something). 

[mytymaus007]

if your on a budget it gets the job done! But if you want precission all the other arcade trackballs are much more accurate and spin more freely, If im not mistaken i dont think the Xarcade is rolling on bearings and the other trackaball are. im not 100% but i think thats correct anyone have access to the xarcade trackball insides

[Afterburner]

I actually have two X-Arcade trackballs mounted to my CP and I've been very happy with them.

No issues at all after years of use.  They aren't heavy duty for commercial use, and they may or may not hold up from an army of kids pounding on them all the time, but they should be just fine for home hobby use and friendly games.

I took one apart years ago and I recall it looked like an old style mechanical ball mouse.

[Arimack]

@mytymaus007 -Short of blowing $180 on a HAPP, which trackball setup would you recommend?

@Afterburner -Thanks for the info.  Was the mounting straight forward on them?

[mytymaus007]

@mytymaus007 -Short of blowing $180 on a HAPP, which trackball setup would you recommend?

@Afterburner -Thanks for the info.  Was the mounting straight forward on them?

Check out this deal never saw one so cheap maybe because its not usb but dont matter

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-3-IMPERIAL-Arcade-Trackball-w-mounting-plate-game-buttons-/120821157716?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c21808f54

or the HAPP is awsome to but its more money but it lights up if you care

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HAPP-CONTROLS-3-USB-PS2-TRACKBALL-ARCADE-WKS-W-MAME-/380441654266?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item589416f3fa

[Arimack]

@Afterburner -sidebar- I'm curious, what games do you need 2 trackballs for?  I can only think of 1 or 2 from back in the day.

[ABACABB]

I've got to throw my 2 cents in here also.  When I learned about MAME and I first decided to build an arcade cabinet, I wanted to keep it easy but a trackball for Golden Tee was a must.  About 10-12 years ago my buddies and I hung out at a sports bar that always had a GT machine and we played it often and we played it hard!!!  I bought the tankstick mainly just to play Golden Tee and when my buddies come over to play, we are not easy on it at all.  I've had it for over a year now and it has never given a problem. I took it apart once to clean the rollers (very easy to do) and that's it.  The rollers are in fact in metal ball bearings.  You can adjust how freely the trackball spins by how tight you mount it to the CP.  I have mine spinning very freely and it reminds me of my younger bar room days playing GT at my favorite sports bar, which has since closed down......    

[Afterburner]

The X-arcade trackball mounts are very straightforward.  Just four bolts.  I used ones with countersunk heads so they don't show.

I have two trackballs so I can play Two player lightgun games or two person racing like SuperSprint.

I'm considering going to two Aimtraks though.

[Arimack]

The conversion's really that easy, PBJ?  I knew the old arcade ones were tough but you have had good luck with them being mechanically sound when buying them used off ebay?  From your comment, I am tempted to try and recondition a used one and convert it over.  I'll search the forum for the PS2 conversion.  Any possibility to make it USB or is it too complicated to be worthwhile?

[mytymaus007]

The conversion's really that easy, PBJ?  I knew the old arcade ones were tough but you have had good luck with them being mechanically sound when buying them used off ebay?  From your comment, I am tempted to try and recondition a used one and convert it over.  I'll search the forum for the PS2 conversion.  Any possibility to make it USB or is it too complicated to be worthwhile?

to make it usb u need to get an optipac

[GregD]

I got my Happ from ebay for $14 shipped.  It came in near brand new condition. 

[lanman31337]

I've done a few of the imperial trackballs for builds throughout the years and I really like them.

[Cynicaster]

Solder it to a $5 PS/2 mouse and you're good to go.  It's so easy and cheap I've given a few away and have a couple sitting in the junk pile.

That's a very tempting solution, but is there a chance it would be plagued by that "back spin" problem I've heard about that happens when you spin the ball too fast? 

[Arimack]

Well, serves me right for not referencing Saint's book .  Was reading over the weekend and he covers the X-Arcade Trackball in the book.  It is a modified Bentson Imperial trackball.