I think he did have a cold . . . I imagine he probably bundled up in his Green Jackets.
His problem is replacing Swivel for Hinging . . . that's why he has to beat as many balls as he does.
Rigidity plays a roll (OK who's going to be the first to leap on that) . . .but I gotta think the ball knows something that ways considerably more than it does accelerating from 0 to 100+ mph in a short period of time and space more than how "ridgid" the thing is the "wrecking ball" is attached to.
Threaded Mode
