The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word GOOGLY
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
G
O
O
G
L
Y
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "A bit like people who search/a ball" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case a bit like people who search/a ball = googly.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does GOOGLY mean?
GOOGLY noun- A ball, bowled by a leg-break bowler, that spins from off to leg (to a right-handed batsman), unlike a normal leg-break delivery.
- (of the eyes) Bulging.
- (usually of eyes, sometimes of persons) Appearing to be amorous, flirtatious.