Man, volleyball practices were wrecking my knees on that old concrete floor. So I got this idea to build a shock absorbing wooden court in my garage. Started by measuring the space – turned out I needed 250 square feet of maple planks. Maple’s tough but springy, perfect for jumps and dives.

Digging Into Research Mode

Hit up forums late one night. Folks kept saying don’t skip the underlayment. Ordered specialty rubber pads designed for gym floors – supposed to absorb 30% more impact. Almost bought cheap foam mats instead, glad I didn’t.

Prepping the Battlefield

Dumped everything out of the garage first. Swept like crazy then found uneven spots with a laser level. Mixed concrete patch like pancake batter, filled holes with a trowel. Waited two full days tapping the patches – solid as rock.

Tool Time:

• Chalk line for snapping grid patterns
• Rubber mallet for snugging planks
• Vapor barrier roll smelling like burnt tires
• Wood glue that stained my favorite jeans

Laying Puzzle Pieces

Unrolled the vapor barrier first – crinkly plastic covering every inch. Then the rubber pads clicked together like giant Lego tiles. Started with maple planks in the corner, tongue-and-groove edges. Had to recut three boards when I misaligned the pattern. Glued every seam as I went, wiped excess with rags. Took three full weekends hammering and sawing.

That Sweet Moment

Dropped a volleyball from shoulder height – bounced clean without that nasty “slap” sound. Tried some fake dives: knees felt zero shock. The slight give underfoot? Exactly what I wanted. Neighbors saw me doing victory laps barefoot.

Reality Checks

Warped three planks by leaving them in damp weather – rookie mistake. Had to rip up a whole section when the glue set wrong. Humidity changes still make tiny gaps appear, but nothing my wood filler syringe can’t fix.

Would I Do It Again?

Hell yes. Even my lazy husky naps on it now. The bounce when you spike? Chefs kiss. Sweaty kneepads don’t stick like plastic courts. Saved thousands doing it myself – but my forearms were jello for a week. Worth every splinter.