First I Wanted Shock-Absorbing Floors

So volleyball season started, right? My knees screamed every time I landed on that concrete gym floor. Saw expensive shock-absorbing systems online. Yeah, no way I’m paying that. Thought: “Maybe wood? Portable? CHEAP?”

Grabbed my dusty beech wood planks leftover from that failed bookshelf project. Beech’s hard – figured that might be good. Hammered some scraps into a 2×2 foot test square. Threw it down, jumped. Felt like landing on a brick. Zero bounce. Wasted morning.

The “Science” Phase (More Like Guessing)

Okay, needed cushion. Remembered those anti-fatigue mats in garages? Too squishy. Then saw my kid’s memory foam pillow collecting dust. Jackpot?

Step-by-Step Disaster #1:

• Cut the foam to fit under my wood planks.
• Glued foam directly onto the beech wood.
• Put it on the driveway. Jumped.
• Wood slid right off the foam. Almost ate concrete.

Foam was too soft. Glue failed instantly. Back to square one.

Getting Clever (Or Stubborn)

Scavenged the shed. Found:

• Old rubber welcome mat (thin, but grippy)
• Cheap carpet underlay (like bumpy foam)
• More beech planks (obviously)

Decided to layer it like a sad sandwich. Did this:

1. Laid the rubber mat down first – grip the floor.

2. Put the bumpy carpet foam on top of that – for squish.

3. FINALLY, screwed my beech planks into a grid on top of the foam layers.

No glue this time. Used small screws around the edges going THROUGH the wood, foam, and rubber. Felt like wrestling an octopus.

Does It Work? Sorta?

Dragged this frankenstein panel onto the patio. Took a deep breath. Jumped.

HOLY CRAP. Actual give! Not pillow-soft, but way better than concrete. Knees didn’t instantly hate me. The screw sandwich held together! Tried spiking a ball. Ball bounced like normal, but my landing? Much kinder.

Big downside? Looks janky as heck. Beech wood’s scratched, foam bulges out the sides a little, rubber mat fringe shows. Portable? Yeah, if you mean “draggable”, not “carry like a laptop”.

Would I Do It Again?

For my busted knees needing CHEAP relief? Yeah. It’s a pain in the neck to build, and it looks homemade (cause it is). But landing on it doesn’t feel like punishment. Total cost? Basically free (already had all the junk). Professional sports floor? HAHA, no. Garage volleyball hero? For sure.