Bill Munny Loc: Aurora, Colorado

Here's another option. I use a monopod a lot, so with my monopod I tried a ball head and it got more floppy and harder to use the bigger the lens. So I tried a Manfroto 460MG and it is perfect. It does 2 axis and no more floppy characteristics. It is fairly light and has an excellent quick release system. I can also use it on my tripod by just unscrewing it from the monopod and it will have 3 axis (yaw, pitch and roll or X, Y and Z). It cost $129 on line. I no longer use the ball head so I will be selling it. Just another option for you to consider.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

If you are trying to sell the OP your old ball head, you are probably going about it the wrong way.

Bill Munny Loc: Aurora, Colorado

That thought never entered my mind. I am trying to help the OP, not be a troll. Thanks for the attack.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

It was not an attack. It was a joke. Did you miss the wink and eye roll emojis? Lighten up.

RRS Loc: Not sure

Steve Perry did a video on that subject. If you are using a long lens it gives you an advantage with balance. I'm in a hurry and don't know where the link is but well worth watching.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wbQgQKqglc

OK. I'm sold.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Well Grace, as you can see recommendations are ALL OVER the map !

Sports shooters can mostly get by without a head because they hardly EVER shoot up or down !

Wildlife shooters WILL need a head and larger lenses will negate a ball head !

Most wildlife shooters will want to follow action ! - and be up and down ! - I like using a video fluid head for this.

With most pan/tilt "monopod" heads, you cannot have the pod at any angle and still make a level pan motion ! Heads with a facility for panning at the TOP of the head CAN do this - like this one -

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VH-10-2-Way-Fluid-Video-Tilt-Head-360-Panoramic-Ball-Head-For-Tripod-Monopod/322655168431?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l9372

And, if you must have a ball head, here is a nice one the allows panning at the TOP -

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ProMaster-SP45P-Ball-Head/302816288861?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l9372

..

NCMtnMan Loc: N. Fork New River, Ashe Co., NC

Check out Steve Perry's video on the subject at Back Country Gallery. I had the same questions and found the video to be quite informative.

alx Loc: NJ

Looking at the OP's posted photos, she is clearly into birds and BIF both of which would benefit by a gimbal. While most of us (myself included) will always prefer inexpensive. Sometimes, however, an idea will come along that causes us to reconsider if it benefits our shooting. I merely was offering a non-standard option which she might not have considered that might appeal to her. Steve's link, which I provided, made me rethink my position and how much I would be willing to spend in terms of a monopod. At least it gives her something to think about.

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

Grace98 asks for ball head advice and people jump right in with advice to NOT use a ball head. I totally disagree. Tilt/pan heads, with their arms sticking out here and there, are great for tripods. You can make small changes on any axis and lock it all down. Monopods are generally used on the go; on the sidelines, hiking in the woods, sitting in a theater, held high above your head. This is the time you want a good, solid ball head. On my mono pod I use a fairly heavy Combo CBH 3. One giant knob locks everything down and it will hold any camera/lens combo safely. I stuck a pan/tilt head on the monopod once just to see what it would do. Total disaster. Way to much to do before you can be shooting, couldn't acheive some of the angles I needed, and didn't pack away very well. On my tripod I use a Manfrotto 498 ball head. It has more knobs and tension controls and works better for fine tuning your framing. I would keep great distance between my monopod and any pan/tilt head. At some point you will will face a situation where they just won't give you the angle you need with your new monopod.
..Cam

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Very few people recommended a tilt pan head. Most recommended a tilt head. They are two very different things. Most monopod manufacturers also seem to recommend a tilt head.

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

This doesn't work if the monopod is at an angle, sitting in a theater with the monopod racked a a steep angle between your feet. Only a true monopod works here.
...Cam

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I recommend you get a monopod head... instead of a ballhead.

A monopod head only provides tilt axis movement... but that's all you need with a monopod (you can rotate the monopod itself for the panning movement).

Monopod heads also can be less expensive, smaller and lighter than ballheads.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ns=p_PRICE_2%7c0&ci=398&fct=fct_accessory-type_3438%7cheads&srtclk=sort&N=4075788737

You'll need to further narrow what you want... for example I use Arca-Swiss style quick release system on everything, which would limit my choice among the above list of monopod heads.

All that said, I actually do use a mid-sized ballhead on one of my monopods. It works okay.... ballheads are usable. However the only reason I do so is because I already had that ballhead, left over from some tripod. But it also makes the monopod quite a bit heavier (with the ballhead on it, would make for a pretty nasty weapon).

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

A tilt only head doesn't work if the monopod is not straight up and down.
...Cam

digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

I happen to like a Ball on a monopod, and have bought a few balls over the years. A mid-priced ball is great on a mono-pod, but I have NO USE for the really CHEAP ones. On my tri-pod I have a rather expensive R.R.S. Ball, for always solid grab when using my Pentax K-1 with my Pentax 150-450 telephoto lens. I just hate to go cheap, but will not pay big money, just for a Name. Just got a Fuji camera and lenses....Not the MOST exspensive.. Roll on, enjoy, but There will be those that don’t get how well a ball works on mono pods. To each his/her own. RJM