So last weekend my volleyball started acting crazy. Every time it bounced, it felt like kicking a chunk of firewood. Annoying as hell! Figured I’d try fixing it myself instead of tossing it out. Here’s how it went down.

The “What the Heck?” Moment

First thing, I grabbed the ball. Held it tight and pressed hard with my thumbs. Felt super stiff, no give at all. Usually, it’s kinda spongy, right? Not this time. Dead and heavy. Tried bouncing it on my kitchen tiles—thunk, thunk, thunk—like dropping a brick. No springiness. Zero. Knew something was way off.

Poking Around Like a Detective

Took it to my tiny “workshop” (a.k.a. the corner of my garage). Rolled it under a bright light, squinting like an old man. Noticed the leather panels looked dried out, almost crusty. Edges felt rough too—like cheap sandpaper. Big clue: When I pinched a seam, it crunched. Nasty sound. Realized moisture must’ve seeped in somehow, then dried unevenly. Probably left it out in the dew overnight like a dummy.

Operation: Bring Back the Bounce

Decided to go manual. No fancy machines here. Just my hands and basic junk:

• Fine sandpaper (220 grit, had some lying around)
• Olive oil (yup, the cooking stuff)
• A barely-warm hairdryer
• Old t-shirt rags

Step 1: Sanded those rough spots gently. Didn’t wanna shred it. Made tiny circles over the crusty bits until they felt smoother. Wiped off the dust with a dry rag. Ball looked dusty but less like a fossil.

Step 2: Dabbed olive oil onto another rag. Rub rub rub all over the panels, especially the seams. Felt like massaging a grumpy cat. Oil soaked right into the thirsty leather. Did this for like 10 minutes straight. Arms got tired!

Step 3: Held the hairdryer about a foot away. Waved it around like drying hair, avoiding one spot. Heard a tiny creak—panicked and switched to cold air real quick. Let it cool while I cleaned up my mess.

The Waiting Game (and Doubts)

Left the ball sitting on a towel overnight. Didn’t wanna overdo the oil. Woke up worried it’d be a greasy brick. Felt it first thing—still cool, no slickness. Panels felt softer, seams flexible again. Tentative bounce test in the hallway… boing. Not perfect, but way better than thunk! Spent five minutes just tossing it against the wall like a kid. Bounce came back maybe 70%? Good enough for our Tuesday pick-up game.

Lessons Learned the Hard Way

• DON’T leave your ball outside overnight. Dew is sneaky.
• Oil works, but go light unless you want salad-smelling serves.
• Heat guns = lava. Hairdryer on LOW or suffer cracks.

Got lucky this time. Next time I see dew? That ball’s coming inside with the dog.