Why I Tested Volleyball Floors

My gym buddy was redoing our community center volleyball court last month. He asked straight up: “Should I splurge on hardwood or try cheaper soft maple?” I realized I had zero clue which actually performs better when balls fly and shoes squeak. So I grabbed stopwatch, measuring tape and water bottle to test both.

Scouting Locations

First I drove around town hunting real-life examples. Found hardwood floors at the high school sports complex and soft maple courts at two recreational centers. Talked with caretakers to confirm installation dates – all around 3 years old for fair wear comparison.

The Footwork Test

Wore my regular volleyball shoes for testing. Started with hardwood:

• Hardwood felt like dancing on concrete – crazy grip but zero cushion. My knees rattled after jump serves.
• Soft maple had slight bounce like walking on firm mattress. Less ankle strain but sometimes slid half inch when stopping hard.

Ball Bounce Challenge

Dropped same volleyball from 10ft height 20 times per surface. Measured rebound height with tape:

• Hardwood shot balls back like angry hornet – average 7.5ft bounce. Spikes felt explosive but receivers struggled with control.
• Soft maple averaged 6.8ft bounce. More predictable trajectory but power players complained about “dead spots”.

Sweat Wars

Spilled water to simulate slippery dives. Here’s the shocker:

• Hardwood became instant ice rink – needed full minute mop job after wet test.
• Soft maple drank moisture faster – safe to play after 10 seconds wipe. Grain pattern helps somehow.

Court Battle Scars

Got permission to scrape surfaces with keys (crazy I know!).

• Hardwood barely dented – just shiny scratch marks
• Soft maple showed small pits like someone pressed fingernail hard

Final Verdict

If money grew on trees? Pick hardwood for tournament venues needing maximum speed and durability. For community centers or schools watching budget? Soft maple delivers 90% performance at 70% cost plus easier maintenance when kids spill Gatorade. My gym buddy chose maple – we’ve played thrice this week with zero complaints.