Here is some general info on needles that I've found helpful:
http://www.joann.com/static/project/0704/PA00223.pdf
http://www.sewmamasew.com/2009/06/se...o-choose-them/
I've read that stretch needles (singer yellow band and schmetz stretch) are offset towards the hook and shouldn't be used in older machines. Schmetz ball point should be okay, I would think.