As you've implied, there's no guarantee that the MP would have worked for you. ALl you can do is check reviews, see if it can be seen locally and make your best guess.
All of us have had balls, to one degree or another that have not worked out. When the ball is expensive, it's more annoying.
SOmetimes, it's due to unknown causes. Can't tell you the number of times that I've just put a ball aside for months or even years and then found it very useful. More than ... many times!
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"None are so blind as those who will not see."