they always "look" ready before they are ready.
so, get a jewler's loup, digi microscope, anything that can provide 30-60X magnication and check out the trichomes. there are varying opinions on the optimal time.
what isn't varying is that cloudy trichomes is the peak. amber is degredation.... you inevitable have soem % of amber to get the most cloudy trichomes possible. after that, you need a lab and equipment normal people just don't have, or people are just full of themselves if they believe anything with confidence otherwise... the sample size required would be too large for an individual's anecdotal recall.