u360 Balltop vs Bat?

[cadmium]

Are there any appreciable differences between the balltops and bat versions of the Ultimarc 360's? Do they have the same throw, spring tension, etc?

Bonus question, I'm (potentially) replacing a Happ Competition, mounted under 3/4 ply (no plexi). The height is perfect for me. I've heard the 360 is shorter, is it enough of a difference to pay for the longer stick?

[retrometro]

My previous cab had a balltop and the new one has a bat.  both were from happ. 

for me, games that should have a ball top but have a bat instead feel weird (pacman, galaga, etc)

but games that should have a bat but have a ball top instead are hard to play (fighting games)

[Axe]

Hmmm

I am an "all ball" guy!  Street fighter and Samurai showdown both had ball top sticks out in the small towns i grew up in... (almost no "original" games, just rebuilds) so I am all about ball top... My Tekken Cab has bats, and they are going as soon as i put in my ultimarc order.

[cadmium]

I'm a "bat" guy because that's what most games had when I was in my arcade going prime. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't any major differences other than stick shape between the two!

[Ginsu Victim]

I think the shafts on those are a different length. Check Ultimarc to be sure.

[Visitor Q]

I am going with bats on my 360s and a ball top on my 4 way.

[arzoo]

Had bats - switched to balls  I like the look and feel better.

[DeLuSioNal29]

What about the longer shaft question.  Is it worth it for the upgrade?

[Ginsu Victim]

Anymore balls and shaft talk, I'll have to ask a moderator to mark this NSFW.

[cadmium]

Had bats - switched to balls  I like the look and feel better.

Is that just person preference, you just like balls in general better, or was there some deficiency in the u360 bat design compared to the ball?

[Ginsu Victim]

There's no deficiency. It's just a preference issue. (Depends on what you grew up on, really...)

[cadmium]

Thanks for the opinion. Now all that's left is figuring out a way convince the wife to let me spend $90


Me: Can I spend $90 on a new joystick for the MAME cabinet?
Wife: We are broke!
Me: 

[Axe]

It's all about wording...  My wife and I are DINKS (Dual incom no kids) so it isn't really a money issue on most things than a Space issue (now that we are in a house she wants to make sure the basement (arcade/workshop) doesn't end up looking like my office/music room (FILLED with guitars lol)

Me:  I think I'll buy/build a dedicated cabinet for pac-man... it's been a dream of mine since i was a child

Wife: WHAT?!?!?! ANOTHER ONE???  you have that huge monstrosity down there already, why another one!?

Me: Well, Pac doesn't play well unless i use a 4 way joystick, that doesn't allow < :blah:blah blah technical Jargon >

Wife: I am concerned about this arcade thing of yours taking up the whole basement

Me: Well, I guess i could just get a different stick for my cabinet now... it won't be the same but... i Guess it will be ok

Wife: that makes a lot more sense....

Me: Yeah... I guess

[Ginsu Victim]

Always show them something really expensive, then show the cheaper alternative.

[arzoo]

Had bats - switched to balls  I like the look and feel better.

Is that just person preference, you just like balls in general better, or was there some deficiency in the u360 bat design compared to the ball?

There's no deficiency. It's just a preference issue. (Depends on what you grew up on, really...)

What he said 

I would say the longer shafts are necessary if you're mounting below a wood cp. Otherwise the standard are fine.

[Ginsu Victim]

I'm using the standard length on a wood CP (1/2" with 1/8" plexi) and feel that the long shafts would be too long. Maybe with a thicker wood CP I would need longer, though.

[cadmium]

I'm using the standard length on a wood CP (1/2" with 1/8" plexi) and feel that the long shafts would be too long. Maybe with a thicker wood CP I would need longer, though.

You're 1/2" + 1/8" = 3/4, which is what I got, so I guess I should be okay as long at the bat style are about the same height.

Always show them something really expensive, then show the cheaper alternative.

Hah. This is the most expensive arcade joystick I've seen out there. If there were a cheaper alternative (I suppose the mag-stick might be considered one) I'd get it.

[TAG]

You're 1/2" + 1/8" = 3/4

Um...well, it's CLOSE, at least....

[Ginsu Victim]

Hah. This is the most expensive arcade joystick I've seen out there. If there were a cheaper alternative (I suppose the mag-stick might be considered one) I'd get it.

I was referring to the example of a dedicated Pac-man cab versus just a joystick.

[cadmium]

You're 1/2" + 1/8" = 3/4

Um...well, it's CLOSE, at least....

LOL, yeah, I was thinking 1/4, another popular size of plexi. But close only counts in horseshoes & hand grenades, right? 

[Ginsu Victim]

I didn't even notice

[MrMojoZ]

I grew up on bat tops and had Happ comp bats in my cabinet. For my overhaul project I bought some Sanwa sticks with the adaptors to make them into bats. After playing with them though I found the ball tops to work much better. 

So I recommend at least trying both kinds in the games you will be playing the most, you might get suprised.

[Axe]

My current project cabinet has Bats, whateve was stock in the Tekken 3 build it was... I have since ordered a pair of U360 ball tops.  Playing Tekken, i could not het used to the bat feel, I like to grip the top...   Once i get the U360's in i think it will be more what i want.  I of course JUST realized i didn't order the hard tension springs with it, like i had planned to. DOH  I guess i'll see how i like them without.

That being said, i grew up on leaf spring sticks, so I am fine not having/feeling the "click"