Pivoting ball mount having four equally spaced contact points

An articulating joint for joining a first element to a second element, such that the second element is rotatable around three axes relative to the first element, with controlled and even resistance around all three axes and lockable in any position within a range of articulation, the articulating joint comprising:

• a housing for attaching the articulating joint to the first element;
• a substantially spherical ball for attaching to the second element;
• four substantially equally sized constraints mounted to the housing, and in contact with the substantially spherical ball, for restraining the substantially spherical ball while allowing the ball to rotate with controlled and even resistance around all three axes relative to the housing;
• and
• wherein one or more of the four constraints further comprises at least one adjuster for adjusting pressure on a corresponding at least one of the four constraints to the substantially spherical ball, wherein the at least one adjuster tightens and adjusts the at least one of the four constraints, to control one or more of a clamping pressure and a level of drag.