Okay, here’s my experience setting up a portable volleyball court with cushions and wooden flooring:

So, I wanted to create a really cool, kinda pro-level practice space for volleyball, right in my backyard! I didn’t want to just dig up the grass – I needed something more… refined. Something I could put away when I wasn’t using it. That’s when I got the idea for a “portable” court.

The Base – Finding the Right Spot

First things first, I measured out the area. A regulation volleyball court is pretty big, but I scaled it down a bit to fit my yard. I used some string and stakes to mark the boundaries. It was more eyeballing than precise engineering, to be honest.

The Cushioning Layer

Then came the cushioning. I didn’t want to be diving on hard ground, you know? I considered a few options:

• Gym mats: Expensive, but would have been super comfy.
• Old mattresses: Free, maybe, but kinda gross and bulky.
• Foam padding: Like the stuff you put under carpets!

I ended up going with the foam padding. I found some rolls of it at a home improvement store. It wasn’t super thick, but it was affordable and easy to roll out. I laid down a couple of layers, overlapping the edges to make sure there were no gaps.

The Wooden Surface

Now, for the “wooden flooring” part. I wasn’t about to install a real hardwood court, obviously. I needed something I could take apart and store. I thought about using plywood sheets, but they’re kinda flimsy and might warp.

Then I found these interlocking wooden deck tiles! They’re meant for patios and stuff, but they were perfect! They’re made of some kind of treated wood, so they’re pretty durable. And they click together, so I didn’t need any tools.

I started laying them down on top of the foam padding. It was like putting together a giant puzzle. It took a while, but it was kinda satisfying to see it all come together. I just clicked the tiles and placed them where they should be.

Setting Up the Net

Finally, I put up my volleyball net. I already had one of those portable net systems with the poles and everything. I positioned it in the middle of my new “court,” and that was it!

I must say, it did great! The foam padding did its job providing a bit of cushion when diving for the ball, not the best one, but for the price? Totally reasonable!

The Final Result (And Some Tweaks)

It wasn’t exactly a professional-grade court, but it was way better than playing on the grass! The wooden tiles felt pretty solid underfoot, and the foam padding added a bit of cushioning. It was definitely good enough for some casual practice and games with friends. It was easily disassembled as well.

It wasn’t perfect, though. The wooden tiles could get a little slippery if they got wet, so I had to be careful after it rained. And the foam padding started to compress a bit after a few weeks of use. But overall, I was pretty happy with my DIY portable volleyball court! It was a fun project, and it definitely upped my backyard volleyball game.