I prefer ball valve hoses as well, but often have the same problem of not being able to depress the valve core. The worst is when the connection partially works, making me think a pressure is much different than it actually is.
The problem is often a bad core, I just changed one in, ironically, my valve core removal tool's side port where the stem was so short that depressors couldn't make contact. It was not that the original core was screwed in too tight, it's stem was visibly much shorter than on the replacement core. I think the stem needs to be nearly flush with the port's opening to work properly.
The other thing I've run into is narrower than standard openings in a port that interfere with relatively wide depressors. If the port is cored, this interferes with being able to depress the core. Whether or not there is a core, (say a valved port like a king valve) the depressor blocks my hose connection on these narrow ports before the hose gasket can properly seal! Why does this happen?!?! I think in some cases a gorilla has come before me and tightened a metal cap on so tight it has deformed the port opening. In others, it is just the way the port was manufactured. These connections will sometimes hold for a pressure test, but not a vacuum, FRUSTRATING! Once I figure out what is going on I reverse my hose so as to use the end without a depressor, but that doesn't work if I'm just putting on a stubby gauge with depressor for a quick system check, or there is a core...