Starting With Zero Experience
Okay so my cousin Jake suddenly texts: “Got weekend plans? Building volleyball court in backyard!” Honestly, I thought he’d gone crazy. Never touched sports flooring stuff before, just a regular desk guy.
First step was buying stuff. Found this thing called “removable Volleyball pine assembling wooden flooring” kits online. Showed up in 37 separate boxes – my garage looked like UPS exploded. Checked pieces: some long pine boards (looked like giant tongue depressors), plus interlocky plastic bits and funny U-shaped connectors.
The Frustration Phase
Day one disaster incoming. Instructions had cartoon drawings smiling too much. Me and Jake spread boards like dominoes on the grass. Tried clicking plastic connectors into grooves. Wouldn’t lock. At all.
Jake goes: “Whack it with hammer?” Bad idea. Split pine corner right off. Sawdust everywhere. Then we realized boards had UP/DOWN sides. Flipped whole row. Stupid arrows hidden under shipping stickers!
New problem: boards kept drifting apart when walked on. Called supplier – guy laughed: “Forgot tension cables bro!” Dig through boxes – yes hidden cables with turny handles. String them through U-clips at court edges. Crank handles slowly. Boards sucked together like magnets. Felt like genius moment.
Field Testing Reality
Test game time. Wife spikes ball…WHAM! Floor shifted sideways. Whole center section slid 3 inches! Turned out we placed boards perpendicular to play direction. Huge no-no. Had to:
- Un-crank all cables
- Rotate every single board 90 degrees
- Re-tension cables twice as tight
Bonus discovery? Morning dew makes pine slicker than ice. Nearly ate grass doing simple serve. Now we keep towel nearby to wipe shoes.
Finished Product Thoughts
After two weekends? Actually works! Court lifts apart in sections – store against garage wall when raining. But beware:
- Pine dents easily (dropped dumbbell = permanent moon crater)
- Ants LOVE crawling through gaps (weekly bug spray ritual now)
Biggest surprise? My dog hates it. Refuses to walk on the planks. Barks at it like intruder. Probably thinks it’s giant wood monster.
Would I recommend? Yeah – if your knees survive assembly. Feels pro to play on real flooring. But if Jake ever suggests “quick basketball court upgrade”, I’m faking cholera.
