When to Use Rubber for Basketball Courts

Rubber Basketball Courts

Rubber is super slip-slip resistant, durable and affordable, which makes it an enormously popular flooring material for a variety of sports. You can find rubber flooring in almost any gym or exercise room you walk into. Many people know how popular rubber flooring is for a variety of sports, so they wonder would rubber basketball court flooring would be like. As often as you see it for some sports, you rarely see rubber basketball flooring. Why is that? 

Too Much Grip 

For one thing, basketball courts need just the right amount of traction. Too much traction and athletes are hindered. Too little traction and players lose control. The friction coefficient of rubber is too high for basketball. Rubber ends up hindering the quick cutting movements of athletes too much. With all the stopping, starting and cutting that goes on, too much traction can be almost as dangerous as none. 

Wears Down Shoes 

Another less obvious reason is the way floor surfaces interact with basketball shoes. Choosing the correct footwear is an important means for athletes to protect their feet and thus the rest of their bodies. Part of choosing the right footwear is choosing shoes that bode well with the floor. Shoes last longer and are more protective when kept clean and new. A rubber basketball court chews up standard basketball shoes, gets them dirty and wears them out much more quickly than other surfaces do. 

Increases Possibility of Injury 

Overall, rubberized surfaces can do more to increase basketball-related injuries than to protect players from them. In basketball, it is important that there is some give in the surface to lessen the impact shock of all of the running and jumping that occurs. Rubber would have to be as dense and hard as concrete for it to yield the right bounce back for the ball. Without any cushion or give, over time rubber basketball court flooring would contribute to impact damage in the joints and limbs. For examples, super hard surfaces can lead to ''jumper's knee'' or problems with the with the patella, which connects the kneecap to the shin bone. Plus, as mentioned before, too much traction would make rubber basketball court flooring a hotbed for ankle sprains, knee sprains, and toe stubbing.

Basketball Floor 

If Rubber Basketball Court Flooring Isn't Ideal, What Is? 

Classic materials for a basketball court include wood for indoor play and concrete for outdoor. Wood is the standard choice for college and professional basketball, especially maple, which provides the right amount of traction, bounce, and flexibility. There are many options beyond the traditional, however. Synthetic materials for basketball courts or multi-purpose sport courts are becoming more and more popular - especially plastic interlocking sport court tiles. 

Modular Tiles 

Interlocking sport court tiles are becoming more and more common in gyms, homes, schools and rec centers. These tiles are typically constructed of a durable plastic material designed to withstand heavy loads. Sport court tiles are often a more economic basketball flooring choice because they can be easily assembled by hand. Users also appreciate the creative freedom that comes with interlocking sport court tiles. With modular tiles, one can choose from a variety of fun colors, and it is simple to construct the floor to fit any desired area. 

One of Gym Rubber's most popular modular sport court tile is the Court Floor Tile Flat Top. These tiles connect with a unique tab and loop connecting system that are extremely tight fitting and will not come apart over time. Putting tiles together and taking them apart is a painless process. They just need to lined up and snapped into place by hand. Court Floor Tiles are designed and tested to handle over 10,000 pounds per square foot of static weight, so there is no need to worry about tiles breaking. Plus, they come in black, white, grey and red and can be painted with court lines. In addition to Court Floor Flat Top Tiles, Gym Rubber by Greatmats carries a variety of other awesome modular court tiles. 

Where Rubber Comes Into Play 

With any interlocking, modular tile, it is important to take advantage of a subfloor. That is where rubber comes in for the win. Although it may not be the right surface layer, rubber is absolutely perfect as an underlay. Even just half an inch of rubber under a basketball surface will increase cushion and thus safety and health of athletes. Plus, rubber acts as sound insulation and lowers the high levels of noise on a basketball court. Clearly, an purely rubber basketball floor is no good, but it does wonders underneath the surface of an indoor basketball court. 

Gym Rubber by Greatmats offers a wide variety of rubber products that make top-notch basketball court underlayment. Customers can choose from both rubber rolls and rubber interlocking tiles, all of which come in a range of thicknesses and densities. No matter the style, size or design, all of Gym Rubber's rubber basketball court flooring products will last for season after season. Some customer favorites include Black Rubber Flooring Rolls and Plyometric Rubber Flooring Rolls.

Rubber Basketball Court Flooring

Other Basketball Court Options 

Gym Rubber by Greatmats sells a variety of high-quality, affordable sports court flooring in addition to the best possible basketball court underlayment. Popular products include interlocking sport court tiles, padded vinyl rolls, and outdoor perforated sports tiles. All of Gym Rubber's products come in different shapes, colors, sizes, and costs so customers can always find the perfect fit. Find all of the assistance, support and product options you want at Gymrubberfloor.com, where you can easily create an awesome basketball court at a low price.