Somebody, maybe Stew-Mac or Frank Ford (frets.com) makes an unwinding gizmo for changing ball ends to loop ends. Based on their model, I made a handheld tool like a dental pick that helps to untwist slightly while padded pliers holds the string. The ball comes off on the tool. Rarely use it as my zouk takes ball ends in a pin bridge, and the mandolins and banjos standard loop ends.

Peace, Mooh.