I saw one of those big protecta balls in one of my customers garden, like at least twice the size of the ones Gardiner sells, I haven't been able to find them yet!
The small one is just too small, the connector still hits the ground soo many times, maybe if you would have two, one on your minibore, and one of your polehose yes. But I plug it straight into the trigger, anyway, it happens as well when I lay the connector next to the hosereel when reeling in, but it still knocks the pavement now and then, very difficult.