Went back to CT to have the ball redrilled. Now all of a sudden it's as if there's been a miraculous transformation.
First, a 3-string practice session (house oil) averaged 205 (230, 200, 186).
Then on Monday in sports condition, I averaged 183 (185, 181, 186).
I've never NOT felt what I'm not feeling now. :-)
Freaking excellent.
Still have the cold though - my face feels like a Botox experiment gone awry, and with some weird yo-yo fever.