So last weekend I got this crazy idea after seeing my kid struggle to play volleyball on our bumpy backyard. Why not build a portable court? Something I could stash in the garage and drag out for games. Here’s how it went down.

Starting Simple (Way Too Simple)

First thought? Grab some spare plywood sheets from the shed. Ha! Big mistake. Laid three pieces side-by-side on the grass – looked like a sad patchwork quilt. First serve sent the ball bouncing sideways like a drunk kangaroo. Boards slid everywhere, gaps tripped people up. Total disaster.

Okay, scratch that. Needed something solid, interlocked. Headed to the lumberyard. Stared at planks forever. Too thick? Too heavy? Too expensive? Settled on standard 1×6 pine boards – decent price, easy to cut. Dumb me bought twenty, thinking “longer is better.” Nearly broke my back loading them into the truck. Learned real quick why portability matters.

Cutting Chaos & Splinter City

Got home fired up. Measured the space we used for games – roughly 18×9 feet. Did some terrible math. Decided each panel should be 3×6 feet – manageable for one person, six panels total. Dragged out the circular saw. Oh boy. Dust flying everywhere, splinters finding fingers I didn’t know I had. My cuts? Let’s say “rustic charm” is a nice way to put crooked edges. Made eighteen long planks per panel. Took me two afternoons, multiple band-aids.

Joining Stuff & The Wobble War

Time to assemble the panels. Thought wood glue and clamps would be magic. Glued three planks together width-wise. Stacked bricks on top, waited hours. Result? A sad, wobbly piece of garbage. Kicked it lightly – BOOM! Exploded into individual planks. Felt like an idiot.

• Solution Phase 1:

• Added thin plywood strips underneath across the planks. Screwed them in from the top. Looked ugly but held. Tried standing on it… minor wobble.

• Solution Phase 2: Angled metal brackets! Found some cheap ones. Screwed them onto the underside corners of each frame. HUGE difference. Solid like a table. Finally!

The Real Portability Hack – Hinges & Handles

Panels were solid now, but heavy AF and bulky to move. Needed them to fold. Went back to the hardware store. Looked at hinges – heavy duty strap hinges seemed right. Bought a bunch. Measured carefully (for once) and bolted hinges to connect the panels lengthwise, creating three sets of folding panels.

Almost perfect. Folded up, each set was still awkward to carry. Drill time again! Added simple rope handles to the sides of each foldable section. Game changer. Could actually lift them without crying.

First Real Test – Sweaty Victory

Dragged the folded stack out yesterday. Unfolded the sections. Slammed them together on the grass. Slight unevenness? Yeah, our yard ain’t no golf green. But the brackets held firm. No gaps! Kid bounced the ball… smooth roll. Played a frantic match with neighbors. Boards stayed put! Didn’t crack! Got stomped on! Afterwards, folded them up, squeezed them back in the garage corner like Tetris blocks. Pure relief.

It ain’t Olympic-grade, but it works. Got bruised knuckles, inhaled sawdust, and learned why straight cuts are hard. But seeing them bump a real set on it? Worth every splinter.