The crucial difference is that (IIRC) in ballistic descent you don't angle the craft to gain altitude and prolong reentry. Normally you'd slightly angle the cr

The crucial difference is that (IIRC) in ballistic descent you don't angle the craft to gain altitude and prolong reentry. Normally you'd slightly angle the craft downwards or upwards to alter the trajectory in the air, during reentry this allows you to stay longer at high altitudes and burn off more speed before you burn it at lower altitudes (literally). The shape of the craft not being a wing is largely irrelevant, with sufficient speed even a brick can fly.