I do hand embroidery and use an open ended thimble to keep from being pricked. Quilters also use them. They come in different shapes and sizes and go over the finger but there's no end on them so they are just like a wide ring.

I would think a ball point needle would not allow fine embroidery and precise stitching

I've never heard of a needle with a ball on the end. I've seen blunt nosed needles.

For me, I make my own thimbles for embroidery out of leather. It's just a strip of leather with a bit of glue to make it into a ring. That way no matter how I handle my fabric (I stitch with both hands depending on what I'm doing) I have "thimbles" on all my needle handling digits and have no problem with getting poked or the needle slipping.

Sorry to be so late here, but if you're still looking.... I'm with the others--I've never heard of such a thing. What's sometimes called a "ball point embroidery needle" just means that it's got a more rounded point, like a tapestry needle. True, you won't draw blood with one, but sticking yourself over and over in the same spot can still be a pain (literally). I'd go with either a standard thimble or a leather or plastic finger-tip thimble even if you go with a less sharp needle.

I used to have a leather padded finger tip thimble that was also a bit longer to cover more of the finger on one side and had a band. It was the best, but my dog ate it. I've never seen another like it. I have only seen rounded tip needles or sharps, never an actual ball tip, either.