Started this project after watching our local volleyball team limp off court – too many knee problems from slamming onto concrete-like floors. Figured it was time to build something kinder on the joints. Grabbed some decent wood planks, decent being the key word, nothing fancy.

The “Absorb Shock” Puzzle

Okay, shock-absorbing was the tricky part. Normal hardwood floors bounce the ball fine but don’t cushion squat. Did some digging, found these rubberized shock pads meant for gyms. Ordered a bunch online, felt like squishy bathroom tiles. Hoped it’d hold up.

Assembling the Layers

• Leveling the Ground: First job? Sweeping out my garage-turned-workshop. Concrete floor was dusty and uneven. Laid down thin plywood sheets as a base. Took forever just to get it flat-ish.
• Sticking Down the Snoozey Pads: Rolled out adhesive, stuck those rubber pads down. Felt like assembling a giant jigsaw puzzle where all pieces looked identical but somehow fit wrong. Cut corners to size, got sticky fingers everywhere. Glue fumes were strong – kept the door open.
• Wood Plank Woes: Here’s the mistake. Laid the first wood plank parallel to the garage door… only to realize the expansion gap would mess up anchoring. Had to rip ’em all up and rotate 90 degrees. Wasted half a Saturday.

Bolts & Buzz Saws

Bolting planks together was worse than assembling cheap IKEA furniture. Pilot holes everywhere to stop wood splitting. Measured thrice, still drilled wrong twice. Used heavy-duty bolts though, because wobbles weren’t an option. Sawdust covered everything. Sweat dripped onto the wood. Used sandpaper afterwards to smooth things out – literally.

Jump tested it myself. Stomped like an angry toddler. Felt… forgiving? Like walking on packed sand, not concrete. Took volleyball – old and scuffed – gave it a solid serve. Bounced high, but landed softly. No jarring thud. Success!

What Went Wrong? Everything!

• Rubber Pad Warping: Humidity made pads bulge slightly in corners. Had to weigh ’em down with concrete blocks overnight like some weird DIY stress dream.
• Gaps Galore: Precision wasn’t my forte. Filled minor gaps between planks with wood filler. Still see ’em if I squint.
• Painful Payoff: My back ached for days. Tools were scattered everywhere. Workshop looked like a tornado hit.

Team tried it yesterday. They jumped. They dived. They walked away without wincing. Worth the chaos? Damn right. Next time? Maybe buy pre-made pads. My spine says yes.