This is the joy of early spring training

The sounds are muted because of the wind. If it was a still day you could hear it crack crisply.

@@SBmasta441 I hear u. I just thought the bad sound on contact was vientos not hitting his sweet spot.

Thanks for your comment which prompts this personal recollection. As a young man, I was cast in this show and had several juicy scenes with Drake. During rehearsals, after being awestruck, I was amused by the appearance of this titan of the American Musical, since at 60, he resembled anyone's gentle grandfather. He was slightly shorter than my 5'9", his goatee and hair were now salt and peppered, and he had a modest thickening in the waistline. This was not the persona that I had expected. But the voice was still impressive and in great shape. Suddenly, there was a transformation at the dress rehearsals. He was wearing his stage elevator shoes and now was slightly taller than I was! His goatee and hair were colored to create his usual dynamic appearance, and his valet fastened a girdle about his waist to flatten the stomach and thrust up the torso. One night during the run while I was standing in the wings, he came up behind me to await his cue. In the half-light backstage, with his eyes ablaze, highlighted by the makeup, I felt like I had been transported back to the Golden Age of the Musical, for there was Alfred Drake in all his glory. So, I am glad that you found him to be "looking very young and slim," but it was, in reality, a clever dose of theatrical magic! And I felt that magic as well.