So today I messed around with this rubber basketball court idea using oak timber, cause honestly I’d heard some folks raving about it but didn’t really get why. Gotta see it for myself, right? Figured the best way was to just jump in and try building a small practice section. Spoiler: oak’s kinda pricey and heavy, but man, it makes a difference.

The Headache Setup

First off, grabbed some scrap oak planks from this local guy. Didn’t look too pretty, but hey, cheaper. Planned to make a little patch of court, maybe 6ft by 6ft. Needed supports underneath. Measured everything like three times – still messed it up somehow. That oak? Heavy as anything. Dropped one plank right on my foot. Lesson one: boots. Always wear boots.

Getting the base level was another story. Used these cinder blocks I had lying around. Took ages shoving gravel underneath to prop them up straight. Sweat was pouring down my back. Finally got ’em kinda level. Plonked down some pressure-treated lumber crossways for support – oak’s gotta sit on something sturdy.

Why Oak? Let Me Count the Ways…

Alright, started laying the oak planks. Tough as nails stuff! Had this smaller plank too – needed to rip it down to fit the gap. Fired up the circular saw… it sounded pissed. Oak fought back hard. Felt like it took forever just to cut one piece. First real “aha” moment: This wood is dense. Really dense. Sanded a spot real quick – smooth like glass but didn’t feel slick. That dense grain? Means it can take years of bouncing basketballs without chewing up or getting weird dents.

Here’s what clicked while wrestling with it:

• Beast Mode Durability: Like, seriously. Slammed a basketball onto a plank maybe fifty times hard. Nothing. Not even a scratch. Compared it to a crappy pine board? Pine started denting instantly. Oak doesn’t care.
• Grips Like a Champ: Took a beat-up old basketball and dribbled. Felt totally solid. The ball kinda gripped the surface just right – not sticky, not slippery. Oak’s got that natural grain texture that seems perfect for grip without slowing you down.
• Lazy Man’s Low Maintenance: Finished my little patch. Thought, “Right, gotta seal this baby.” Didn’t get around to it… for days. Rained twice. Wiped it down? Still looked fine. Other woods warp or crack looking at water wrong. Oak shrugged it off. Barely needs babysitting once it’s down properly.

The Hard Truth (& Was It Worth It?)

Finished the patch. Stepped back, proud for like two seconds. Then reality hit:

• Cost: Yeah. Wallets gonna cry. Oak ain’t cheap lumber. Forget the price per board foot, think price per “ouch”.
• Weight: Moving those planks sucked. Installing a whole court? You’ll need friends. Big, strong friends.
• Cutting Hassle: That saw screamed. Blunt blades? Forget it. Need sharp stuff and maybe an extra coffee beforehand.

But that little patch? Still holding strong weeks later. Looks tough. Feels solid underfoot. Ball bounces true every time. So, yeah, it’s a beast to work with and your budget might hate you, but the benefits? Totally legit if you want something that actually lasts and plays like a dream. Gotta respect the oak.