been runnin gear for 20+ yrs and have NEVER had the ball nor needed to use an 18g. FK that ouch.

I use an 18g to draw and a 23g 1" to pin. Never needed a 1.5" as ive never been that high in BF

started running gear in 91'....we ran what ever with what ever..its jus a needle...its jus a stick..i was jus a young pup back then..right around 220lbs...im 6'2 1/2 290..i get bigger the colder it gets...takes alittle more than 18g to make me flinch..cause im the original mother fucker....never had to worry about bf or not..i jus like 1.5" for my hip...1" every where else...but thats jus me!