So i was strolling around in the local tackle shop today when a few reel knobs caught my eye. It boast of 2 more ball bearings in this knob. Is it worthwhile to change your reel knob just for an extra 2 ball bearings? Will ball bearings in reel knobs help boost reel performance?
I have never felt the need for bearings in a knob - it's just something else to service or go wrong. I have sometimes swapped bearings for bushings. Often it's no more than than tring to up the 'bearing count' which appears to be important to some buyers :-\
In smaller, lighter reels that are relatively free-spinning (mostly higher-end fixed spool reels here) ball bearings in the handle make a meaningful difference to the feel of the reel.
If the reel already requires not-insignificant force to get things moving, you're unlikely to notice much of a difference.
I think of it as a way to market the reel as having more bearings (as if that matters) without adding bearings that make a difference.