I realized today that my very stable 1" diameter top will orbit for a long time if disturbed at high RPM (1,000 to 2,000).
It is most stable between 700 and 800 RPM. When disturbed while in this range, it orbits for only a few seconds.
I have no ideas about it. I know better spiked tips, I used ball tips only a few times.
But I am making some experiments with ball tips, for my thread about torques measurements.
I noticed that, (with ball tips), there is less tip friction, and the top spins longer, when it orbits, (precession), than when it spins in sleeping position, (at parity of speed).
I tried a few times with two different tops, and this behaviour always happened.
I suppose the cause is that, during precession, the tip rolls, and rolling friction is lower than sliding friction, (which happens when the top spins in vertical, steady, sleeping position).