Okay so last month I was messing around with my old volleyball pad – you know that bit of cushioning right under the net? Mine was beat up. Like, really beat up. Pieces flaking off, felt like kicking concrete. Needed a fix, fast.
Getting Sick of Flimsy Fixes
Started digging online, like you do. Saw folks using some fancy foams or recycled mats. Tried a couple quick patches myself:
- Duct Taped Foam: Felt okay for like, five serves. Then it bunched up worse than cheap carpet. Utter fail.
- Old Yoga Mat Scrap: Too soft. Felt like punching a pillow when I needed solid bounce. Plus, got torn apart just setting up the net poles. Seriously?
Felt totally stuck. Nothing lasted. Everything either turned to mush or felt way too rigid. Started thinking maybe the base material was the whole problem.
Stumbling Onto Timber Weirdness
Down at the local hardware yard one Saturday morning – don’t judge, it’s cheaper than therapy – I saw these weird planks stacked off in the corner. The guy running the forklift shouted, “Rubber tree timber!” over the engine noise. Had a weird, smooth look about it. Tapped it with my knuckle. Solid. But… slightly springy? Huh.
Got curious. How does wood made from rubber trees even work? Asked him. He shrugged. “Dunno mate, tough stuff. Weirdly bouncy. Hardly ever sells.” Weirdly bouncy? That clicked. Hard surfaces kill a pad’s feel. Soft ones die fast. Maybe “weirdly bouncy” was exactly what I needed?
Looked at the price tag. Dirt cheap because nobody wanted it. “Screw it,” I thought. Grabbed a plank. Smelled faintly sweet and earthy. Weird. But promising.
Giving It a Go (And Messing Up Twice)
Got home, hauled out the saw. Cut the plank into the rough shape of my old pad frame. Didn’t sand it at first – rookie mistake.
- First Try (Rough Edges): Slapped it under the net. Looked awful. Worse, those rough edges snagged the net cord constantly. Tore up my fingers setting up. Felt like dragging barbed wire. Back to the workshop grumbling.
- Sanding Like Crazy: Spent a whole hour sanding that sucker down. Smooth as a pebble. Rounding every corner. Had sawdust everywhere. Looked like a snowstorm hit my garage.
- Testing The Feel: Lowered the net onto it. Tightened it up. Pushed down. It yielded, just enough. Gave that slight cushion. Not squishy. Firm, but forgiving. Kicked the base pole. Solid thunk. No wiggle. No flaking.
- Adding My Old Top Layer: Kept the actual surface pad that touches the ball, the grippy part. Just glued it right onto my sanded-down timber base. Clamped it overnight. Simple.
The payoff? Used it at our club game last Tuesday. Three hours of hard play. Guys are diving, knees hitting the deck, poles getting knocked. Pad held its shape perfectly. Felt responsive under the net – you could feel the bounce without it being spongy. Best part? Zero damage. Didn’t dent, didn’t crack, didn’t flake. Just worked.
Why You’d Want This Thing
Look, it’s not magical space wood. But compared to the junk solutions I wasted money on?
- Cheaper Than Expected: That plank cost less than the foam roll I tried.
- Surprisingly Tough: Feels like hardwood when you knock it. Looks it too.
- Has Some Give: That “weird bounce”? Perfect for absorbing shocks without folding. Saves your equipment and your knees.
- Laughably Durable: Takes beatings. Rain? Sun? Shrugs it off.
Honestly? I felt a bit dumb for not thinking about the base material sooner. Kept fixing the top and ignoring the foundation. That rubber tree timber, it’s ugly as sin before you sand it. But underneath? Rock solid. Changed the whole game for our pad. If yours feels dead or falls apart constantly, trust me, go ask about it at your lumber place. You’ll look at flimsy foam pads the same way you look at soggy cereal after that.
