Okay, so I’ve been playing volleyball for a while now, mostly on those fancy sprung floors in gyms. But recently, I joined a more casual league that plays on, get this, a regular hard wooden floor. My knees were NOT happy about this. So, I started looking into ways to make it a little easier on my joints.

Finding the Right Cushions

First, I tried those thin, cheap knee pads. You know, the ones that look like they’re made for toddlers? Yeah, those did absolutely nothing. They were basically like wearing thick socks. Still felt every bit of the impact.

Then, I upgraded to some slightly thicker volleyball-specific knee pads. These were a little better, definitely more padding, but still not quite cutting it. I could still feel the jarring impact, especially after a long game.

• Attempt 1: Cheap, thin knee pads – FAIL
• Attempt 2: Slightly thicker volleyball knee pads – Somewhat better, but not great.

The Winning Solution

Finally, I stumbled upon these heavy-duty knee pads, marketed more towards construction workers or maybe wrestlers. I figured, “Hey, if they can protect knees from concrete, they can probably handle a wooden floor.”

And guess what? They worked! These things are thick, like, really thick. They have this gel padding inside that really absorbs the shock. When I jumped and landed, it felt like landing on a pillow (okay, maybe not quite a pillow, but you get the idea). My knees were so much happier.

I also started wearing thicker socks, like the kind you’d wear for hiking. That extra layer of cushioning, combined with the heavy-duty knee pads, made a huge difference.

The Final Result

Now, I can play on the hard wooden floor without feeling like my knees are going to explode. It’s still not as forgiving as a sprung floor, but it’s totally manageable. I can actually enjoy the games without worrying about ending up with sore joints for days afterward. It’s made my volleyball experience better, I can feel that.

So, if you’re stuck playing on a hard floor, don’t give up! Invest in some serious knee protection. Your body will thank you.