I've used a California Bander for the the past 3 years, and have real good luck with it. Works like a charm for medium to large bull calves, but the smaller XL bander does a better job on little calves. I agree with what some have already said about being a little easier to work from the side, (but still reaching through from the back). I'm right handed, and find it's easier for me to work from the right side. Reach in between the legs, get the bag in the left hand and use the right to tighten the tube real good and tight. We have a calf table, but find it easier to not flip them before putting the band on. One thing that I didn't see mentioned before - our vet says to give a 1cc IM shot of Tetanus Toxoid along with the banding. This is kind of pricey, but he is the vet, I guess. We used to wait until the bull calves were around 500 lb. to band, wanting the extra growth, but found that those steers still looked "bullish" at 650-700 lb., and the buyers around here discounted them about the same as if we'd never worked them.