Ballhead breaking

Has anyone had a ballhead "break" while in use? In my mind I am picturing something shatters or cracks, and the camera hits the floor.

When people's ball heads break, what normally happens? The ball starts to creep?

In over 40 years of photography, I have never had a tripod head, ball or otherwise, break. I've had the leg lock levers on a couple of tripods break, but never a head. I still have ball heads I bought twenty-five years ago that are still fully functional.

Yeah, I haven't heard of it either, but was thinking maybe I just don't hear about these incidents.
I was thinking about the cheaper ballheads.

i can't imagine a ball head breaking. perhaps a knob breaking or falling off, but not a structural part of the ball head or the ball itself. those parts are usually made of aluminum or a very hard plastic. i've seen nicks and dents in them, but i don't think you could break one unless you set out to do it. i've seen a pro drop his tripod on purpose and it landed on the ball head just to prove how great it was made.

Perhaps with the no-name cheapies. I've never heard of a name brand head breaking though.

Would you consider the brands Adorama and B&H carry "name brands?" Benro, Flashpoint, Vanguard, Iston, Joby?

Lee wrote in post #10409344
Would you consider the brands Adorama and B&H carry "name brands?" Benro, Flashpoint, Vanguard, Iston, Joby?

For the most part. With tripods and heads, you get what you pay for. I wouldn't want to put a heavy and expensive rig on a $80 tripod and head combo.