I've only been struck at once, and it was from a completely coiled (hiding) position.. The poor guy was scared, I had just picked him up from under his hide, but it wasn't a full strike even.. He only struck far enough for me to notice, he was at least 4-5 inches short of connecting.. I think I had woke him up, and picked him up too fast.. He was actually in my hand balled up, and returned to his ball position, only to slither up my wrist almost apologetically..
And he stayed on me without incident, for another 30 minutes.. That was my 3 month old ball, my two older snakes have never struck, not even when picked up in that same manner...