Arcade controls and upgrades
3 Arcade Trackball Options: Mounting and Interfaces in 2026
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The short answer
Choose an arcade trackball only when the exact housing and input route match your cabinet. The TS-UTB01 excludes Centipede Legacy, the combined package needs checks for both controls, and the RetroArcade model needs its cable route confirmed. Ball size alone does not establish fit. None has a measured performance advantage here.
Our top 3 picks
- 1Arcade1Up cabinet upgrade
ThunderStick LED Arcade Trackball (TS-UTB01)ThunderStick LED Arcade Trackball (TS-UTB01)- LED model TS-UTB01
- Maker excludes Centipede Legacy
- Computer route requires the right interface
- 2Separate trackball and spinner
tsticks GRS LED Trackball with Spinnertsticks GRS LED Trackball with Spinner- Package names a trackball and spinner
- Check each control mount separately
- Confirm supplied cables and host route
- 3USB or PS/2 candidate
RetroArcade.us 3-Inch Arcade TrackballRetroArcade.us 3-Inch Arcade Trackball- Catalog lists a 3-inch ball
- USB and PS/2 routes are named
- Confirm the supplied cable arrangement
An arcade trackball must match both the panel and the host. A ball of the right size can still have the wrong housing or output. These three catalog options cover different packages. Check the exact revision before planning a cut, and do not assume a familiar cabinet name proves that every version accepts the same upgrade.
#1. ThunderStick LED Arcade Trackball (TS-UTB01)
ThunderStick LED Arcade Trackball (TS-UTB01) ThunderStick LED Arcade Trackball (TS-UTB01)
Our verdict:
Arcade1Up cabinet upgrade
Use only with a documented housing and interface match for your cabinet revision.
View on Amazon- LED model TS-UTB01
- Maker excludes Centipede Legacy
- Computer route requires the right interface
Keep in mind: Check the exact model restrictions and supplied interface before ordering.
This is the LED model seen as TS-UTB01. It is a candidate for supported Arcade1Up replacements and custom systems with the right input route. The maker's LED product page explicitly excludes the Centipede Legacy unit. Keep that warning attached to this pick.
Do not transfer claims from the newer RGB TS-UTB-Pro to this older LED product. They have different model names and documentation. For a computer build, confirm which input route board and cable are needed. A USB route may be possible without being included in the package you selected.
That distinction affects both the parts list and the fitting plan.
#2. tsticks GRS LED Trackball with Spinner
tsticks GRS LED Trackball with Spinner tsticks GRS LED Trackball with Spinner
Our verdict:
Separate trackball and spinner
Choose this package when your game list needs both controls and the host accepts their documented interfaces.
View on Amazon- Package names a trackball and spinner
- Check each control mount separately
- Confirm supplied cables and host route
Keep in mind: The spinner and trackball need separate mounting checks; a spinner hole size does not specify the trackball cutout.
The package names both a trackball and a spinner. That can be useful if your game list calls for both controls. It does not prove that one device replaces the other or that the host needs no setup. Treat each control as a separate item in the wiring and mounting record.
Ask for the package contents and drawings for this exact ASIN. In particular, do not use a spinner's mounting-hole value as the trackball cutout. The two controls can have different bodies and fixing points. This is a possible choice for a combined project, rather than a shortcut around checking the panel.
#3. RetroArcade.us 3-Inch Arcade Trackball
RetroArcade.us 3-Inch Arcade Trackball RetroArcade.us 3-Inch Arcade Trackball
Our verdict:
USB or PS/2 candidate
A candidate for a host that supports the supplied USB or PS/2 connection; check the cable arrangement before cutting.
View on Amazon- Catalog lists a 3-inch ball
- USB and PS/2 routes are named
- Confirm the supplied cable arrangement
Keep in mind: A 3-inch ball does not define the housing opening or mounting plate; obtain the drawing for the supplied revision.
The catalog identifies a 3-inch ball and lists USB and PS/2 connections. Choose between those routes by the host's stated input support. A connector or an adapter with the right shape does not prove the signal is supported. Obtain the cable arrangement for the supplied revision.
The listing's broad system names are not a cabinet-exact fit promise. Check the housing and plate as well as space below the panel. Keep the cable path within the supplied cable length and allow access to the plug; the listing provides no measured tracking-performance comparison.
What to check before ordering
Start with the games. Record which use a trackball and which need a spinner or a switched joystick. Buying a trackball does not add software support to a game. Keep the game's input settings separate from the part's physical mounting.
Next, record the host. A stock cabinet board and a general computer can require different interfaces. Ask whether the selected product connects directly or needs a separate board. Use the exact cabinet edition in that question.
A product-family name may cover revisions with different control hardware.
The maker's interface-board page documents one conversion route. Its compatibility limits still apply; it is not a universal adapter for Arcade1Up cabinets. Check its restrictions against the support FAQ before adding it to the order.
Measure the arcade trackball housing and panel
Ball diameter is only one entry. Obtain the outer housing size and fixing pattern. Then check the required opening, the panel thickness and the mounting plate. A plate sold for one trackball may not cover another model's holes.
Use the real panel stack in the check. An overlay changes the surface, while a brace below can block the housing. Include the connected cable and room to reach its plug. A part that fits during assembly may become hard to service after the panel is closed.
| Part of the check | Evidence to obtain | What it resolves |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | Drawing for the exact model | Space beneath the panel |
| Mount | Plate and fixing pattern | Support and hole positions |
| Signal | input route and host instructions | Direct connection or extra board |
| Package | Included cables and controls | Missing parts before assembly |
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Check mapping before closing the panel
A host seeing movement is not the end of the setup. Use the game's own input menu to check each axis. Follow the stated mapping process for that host and game. Keep any sensitivity choice as a setting to check in use, not a performance claim from this comparison.
Test the planned connection while the low-voltage parts remain accessible, following the maker's instructions. Check that each intended control is seen. A package containing a spinner still needs its own input check. Keep notes so the final cabinet can be restored after a software change.
Frequently asked questions
Will any USB trackball work in a stock cabinet?
A USB plug alone does not establish compatibility. The stock board must accept that input, and the panel must support the housing. Confirm the cabinet revision and any required input route board.
Is the TS-UTB01 the same as the RGB Pro model?
No. Keep the model names separate. The LED page clearly warns against Centipede Legacy use; a different model's support statement does not remove that warning.
Does ball diameter determine the cutout?
It does not provide a complete mounting plan. Obtain the housing drawing and plate details before making an opening.
Verdict
The right arcade trackball is the one with a stated route through your panel and host. Use the TS-UTB01 only within its exact support limits. Consider the combined package when you need both control types and can verify each mount.
Use the RetroArcade option after confirming its actual cable arrangement. If those checks are still open, keep the choice open. The control-system guide and joystick guide help you record the rest of the controls without assuming they share one input route.