In this experiment I'm testing different inhalation lengths with the Universal Baller ball vape.
Theory: The vapor and extraction level of each hit should be relative to the length of hit. The longest hit should produce the most vapor and the highest extraction level.
Results:
- The longest hit actually produced the worst vapor output, but with the most extraction.
- The shortest hit was the most flavorful AND the most efficient AND the smoothest (no cough)
Hit Length | Start Weight | End Weight | Hit Size | Extraction Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
15 seconds | 0.13g | 0.08g | 6 | .3mg/s |
10 seconds | 0.13g | 0.09g | 9 | .4mg/s |
5 seconds | 0.13g | 0.1g | 8 | .6mg/s |
Extraction rate is calculated as milligrams of weight loss divided by the total number of seconds in the hit.
How I tested
I weighed each bowl before and after each hit. I calibrated the scale between each use, and installed a fine mesh screen in my Universal Baller bowl to prevent herb loss.
I used a stopwatch to time each hit's length, within ~1 second.
The vapor output graph is based on flavor and vapor intensity.
Hardware Used:
- Universal Baller with 30mm FMJ adapter
- Terp Chasers Hybrid Microdose Bowl (100% glass vapor path)
- Disorderly Conduction PID
- Nighthawk Straight Fab
- AWS digital scale
- 100g calibration weight
What I've learned
Longer hits aren't better, they're actually worse.
The 5 second hit had the highest extraction efficiency, but where is the sweet spot?
This gives me a consistent baseline to compare all ball vapes!
Why I chose Universal Baller
The Universal Baller is my highest rated ball vape. It delivers the best flavor without compromising on my high performance demands.
Check out my Universal Baller review to learn more, or compare it to cheaper options on my Ball Vape Buying Guide.
glad youre beginning to see the light…! lol. yea, i always thought you always vaped much differently than many other vaporists… and i was always confused how and why you always liked taking one hit bowls on ballvapes like you do. now i think youre beginning to see why those of us that dont, do it that way… youre almost there. now, you see how that shorter hit was more enjoyable and extracted a decent amount still…? what if instead of aiming for one hit extraction, you try and aim for a heat that can double up extraction strength between hits… instead of focusing on blasting it with hard heat right away, instead building up that radiance and slower extraction, equaling much better vapor imho, and experience (and high tbh). so instead of it being dark, almost black on the top from one hit, instead aiming for a dark brown after like two hits or so, and then instead of throwing it out – stirring it, tamping, and hitting it again… seriously, if you experimented more – i truly believe you’d be surprised at the results…. cheers and good luck to your further journey at rediscovering and evolving ways to vape better!
I’m curious how the end-mass and remaining trichome material compare between a 10 second hit and two back-to-back 5 second hits (stirring between them optional).
This sounds fun, I’ll try this test too
Been saying for a few years that AVB doesn’t mean dick it’s like analyzing your shit to see if dinner was good. All its showing is heat distribution this was always pretty obvious to me
In a wireless setup, sustained strong inhalation requires that the heater have a larger mass. But there is another way to reach high levels of extraction. Lessen, to a crawl, the inhalation strength in the first 2-3 seconds. Then finish stronger. This also allows for vapes with less mass.
Totally! I lean into the reason ball vapes are popular – because they work with a fast open airflow and don’t need a slow hit.
It will be hard to use this test on vapes that require different hit speeds :(