Gaining

I think it is mostly genetic, but try eating a lot and lifting? I have a pretty big upper belly muscle under my flab.

I would agree that I think it's mostly genetic. I have a ball belly but would really rather have a soft flabby body. I have tried all different kinds of foods along with heavy cream and beer and have not found that what I eat makes much difference to where it goes. When I gain it goes to my big hard ball belly first and then seems to dissipate to other places after two or three weeks of gaining.

I would say not all genetic. Ball bellies are usually the result of more visceral fat, and less subcutaneous. I believe there may be some info out there on what causes one type of fat over the other.