Yeah, personally, I think the RAM ball mounted on something else is just much easier. That is what I did- I bought risers that had a RAM ball on them. Using the appropriate stuff, I can have my phone almost exactly in the center, even though the ball is on one side of one riser. They hold surprisingly well.
Of course, since Google *RUINED* Android for motorcycle use last year by making the Android Auto app disappear (and what "replaces" it is useless), I don't bother mounting my phone anymore.