Should be. But hard plastics (like surfkeys) and actual bearings perform better. I feel like inserts bind a little bit and deform still allowing slop. Where hard plastics/spherical bearings make a hard pivot point.
In general though you can get all the performance you need out of a proper duro bushing with a good bushing seat…
In which trucks have you used a spherical bearing? Do you have an opinion on what benefit does it have over a urethane insert? I was thinking about it, but decided against it.
EDIT: never mind, just saw you answered the question above, with which trucks have you used them though?
I think it starts to get complicated as it really depends on use.
DH, rough road, you don’t want spherical. The vibration is transferred, transition in and out of slides is a bit more brutal…
But if you a ripping a parking lot with smooth concrete and all you are interested in is grip and turn I think the table turns, same for slalom…
I’ve only got one set of trucks with a spherical, so my experience is limited. I have some Aera (cnc/bushing seat) I couldn’t get dialed in so I upgraded. I thought about going Don’t Trip (spherical) but ended up going a second set on Ronins because I can’t fault the other set I have bar trying to get the bushings dialed in.
The Ronins really seem to have it all, stable locked in hanger, but also the most open bushing on the market