What kind of damage can occur from improperly popping a snake? I've seen some pictures of people popping and others saying it was done wrong, and poor snake etc, but I haven't really heard of a snake being injured from popping (yet). So I would like to figure out what are the risks being taken when trying to self-educate via video's etc? Is probing a safer self-taught option?

Trying to weigh the risks vs reward, as I desperately need to learn how to sex snakes. Sadly, no one local to go for help (that I trust). I could go to the local mom and pop pet stores, but I really don't trust them 100% for reptiles. One of the two stores has a pair of "breeding pair" ball pythons for sale...the female doesn't look to be 800g if that.

(The local reptile vet wants to charge me $50 a snake for an office visit to sex them...)