A ball joint includes a ball head with a radially extending neck, and a socket housing having a ball socket and a fastening shaft which extends radially with respect to the ball socket. The socket has an insertion opening facing transversely of the fastening shaft, the opening having a periphery provided with a pivot notch opposite the fastening shaft, wherein the pivot notch has a width which is smaller than the diameter of the insertion opening and greater than the diameter of the pivot neck. A securing element engages the ball head and loads it into the socket, the securing element being removable away from the insertion opening to release the ball head from the socket. The neck can pivot into the notch while the ball is engaged by the securing element.