I don't know that the head is a big deal. But the method itself is good, especially on pressured waters or under post-frontal conditions.
Exactly, the head is not the key here, it's the technique. I've seen a number of Ned's talks, he's quite the character - lives just up the road a piece from me and I'm often on the same lake he's fishing and he's got the technique down - he better after so many years. The technique actually (according to Ned) started as a early midwest technique back in the days of the likes of Harold Ensley, Virgil Ward, and a host of others that hung out at a little tackle shop in KC. I've successfully used many different heads from a plain unpainted ball jig head to the fanciest (expensive) powder-coated mushroom with keeper - and can't tell the difference - it's again the technique of presentation. If you talk/listen to Ned, he'll talk about a lot of different baits you can use, but he seems to favor the Zinker and a WELL used one at that - he feels that the more it's used and soaked in water the better it works - he'll even stretch it and snap it multiple times to 'work it in' before he fishes it. As for rods, he uses what almost all today would throw in the trash, it's the sloppiest rod I've ever seen, and an old reel that looks like it should be in an antique show somewhere - he claims he doesn't' want to 'feel' the bait but wants to feel NOTHING on his line until he feels a fish.
Does it work - I'm sold on it, it's my go-to now, and even though Ned suggest to use no-feel rods, I've come across a bait cast rod/reel combination that is superb.
Spend a day fun-fishing it and you'll be committed to it in your next tourney.