Being a seasoned player means having experience playing on several basketball court flooring materials. You would probably agree that some are built differently, or you may have noticed that your performance is better when your match is on a specific avenue. Having said that, have you ever asked yourself, “does wood or concrete make you jump higher?”

To answer, the quality of equipment you use dramatically impacts your stint aside from innate athletic prowess and acquired skills. For instance, hardwood flooring facilitates a spring-like jump compared to concrete—however, there are more technicalities that you need to learn to have a broad perspective on which basketball court layout is better.

The following sections will discuss the pros and cons of wood vs. concrete flooring, so check them out. Read until the end and don’t miss any detail to distinguish the significant differences between playing basketball outside vs. inside and many more. 

Which Surface is Best for Basketball?

It is better to understand the technicalities between wood and concrete floorings before we differentiate these two according to your preferences. First and foremost, both of them have weak and strong points that go well with your skills and ideals.

For instance, a specific type or brand of sneakers is ideal for wood or concrete. Hence, you must look at your basketball performance, such as rebounding and sprinting, from different angles and myriad factors.

Starting with concrete flooring, coaches and players alike know that playing basketball on concrete is slightly challenging due to its surface texture. Traction is a critical angle in rebounding—the gravitational pull or grip of a surface onto anything above it.

Concrete is considered to have more excellent traction compared to wood. In other words, the greater the traction, the more compact it seems to jump from a surface. Thus, it feels harder and slightly tricky to jump while playing on concrete basketball courts.

Also, they are denser than wood, which makes them vulnerable to leg and joint injuries when landing and do not give you enough “bounce” and shock absorption when hitting the floor—it is more compact in terms of flight and riskier to land upon.

On the other hand, jumping off from hardwood provides enough comfort to the leg and joints because they are designed to absorb the impact when jumping or running. You will notice that the wood flexes while stepping on it, giving you a slight push as you step off its surface.

Most indoor gymnasiums are built according to this technology, which makes it more straightforward to jump higher than your standard jump measurement. When you land on the floor, you will feel the absorbing effect of softer surfaces like wood—which poses a lesser threat to injuries like tearing off ligaments, ankle injuries, etc.

Going back to the million-dollar questions, does wood or concrete make you jump higher? Which surface is better for basketball?

The answer is softer surfaces like hardwood are better than denser ones. The simple reason is their ability to make you jump a bit higher because of the pressure it provides when the bent wooden surface is released. In layman’s terms, it gives you a push when jumping due to the stress it releases from the flexed surface.

Lastly, landing is tantamount to flight. Wood surfaces give you pressure resistance that protects you from game injuries. They provide you with the essentials for flight and the vitalities in landing. As a result, they are preferred by most coaches and basketball players like you. 

Do You Jump Higher on Hardwood than on Other Surfaces?

Definitely! You jump higher on the hardwood than on other surfaces because of its texture and composition. However, it would be best to remember that a surface is not the only reason you jump lower. Some basketball sneakers are designed for indoor gyms that use wood—it would be difficult to perform when you use the wrong shoes on a specific surface.

The reason why hardwood is better than other surfaces is because of the texture. When walking on a wooden material, you feel the texture is slightly pushed or bent, which makes it ideal for landing because it receives impact better than others. It is much easier to jump off from this kind of surface because it gives you a little push when you take off from it.

Also, the bent surface will give you a thrust once it is released, which makes you jump higher than other surfaces. Concrete floors, on the other hand, are denser and are usually painful to land on. They do not provide enough shock resistance and pushing effects compared to softer surfaces like wood.

Moreover, this question is similar to whether playing basketball outside vs. inside is better. Indoor courts are built with softer materials like wood, so running, jumping, sprinting, and walking are easier. On the other hand, outdoor sports facilities use concrete floors, which give you lower aid in jumping.

Why is it Hard to Jump on Concrete?

The good thing about concrete floors is it makes you jump faster. Therefore, it is best for rebounding and agility jumps to block shooting attempts. Nonetheless, it is composed of texture that makes it harder to jump off.

It is hard to jump on a concrete floor because the surface is more condensed, with little to no shock resistance. In this case, you are prone to landing mishaps that lead to injuries during a game. 

If you are not confident with the surface area, you have second thoughts about rebounding. The less focused you are, the lower your flight measurement. Hence, jumping on hard surfaces like concrete floors is vulnerable to shin splints, leg injuries, and tears in ligaments, among others.

Jumping on concrete limits your potential because of the risk it gives you. Fortunately, sports technology has constantly evolved over the years. However, some sneakers designed to receive impact while landing, softer surfaces are still favored by the majority.

What Materials are NBA Courts Made Of?

Most indoor arenas like the NBA courts are built with wood materials like Acer Saccharum or hard maple. This type of wood is sourced from North America and is processed to meet the standards of the NBA that prevent them from breaking apart while ten people are jumping off and running on its surface.

Hard maple is significantly more complicated than other woods and lighter in appearance, which is ideal for sports floorings. The exact measurement of wood that the NBA courts have used since the 1800s is ⅓ of an inch—so much thinner than you think it is. 

The accurate NBA flooring specifications require a 36.6 X 18.3 meters measurement of the wood surface. Experts attach them in small interlocking portions to ensure safety and quality assurance.

Nonetheless, not all NBA courts use the same wood material. The Boston Celtics are the only court with a parquet pattern of red oak wood. 

What Helps You Jump Higher in Basketball?

There are numerous reasons why you jump higher on specific courts. Below are a few reasons that may help you; check them out!

• Strength Training

Vertical jumping is a skill that requires so much training plus the quality of equipment you use. The essential exercise that helps you improve your jumping ability is strength training. You may do weightlifting exercises to increase your endurance while on the court. You will likely increase your jump measurement over time if you have proper and adequate training.

• Shoe Quality

Aside from training, you can also use high-quality shoes designed explicitly for detailed surface textures. Some shoes are heavier to wear, and some are lighter. Choose the best one that will make you comfortable while playing. If you are playing on a concrete floor, use a pair of sneakers that will absorb impact.

• Softer Surface

Surface texture plays a massive role in rebounding. It is proven that wood surfaces are much better than concrete ones. Hardwood materials are less dense and are easier to bend. You will feel a slight push when stepping on a hardwood. Once you jump off, the flexed part will push you a little, which makes you jump higher and lighter. Hence, all NBA courts use hard maple wood because of these perks.

Wrapping Things Up: Does Wood or Concrete Make You Jump Higher?

Jumping higher is an edge in sports like basketball that require vertical jumping for rebounding, shooting, and blocking. Some courts are designed to make the game better and more exciting with the quality of equipment they have. Now, does wood or concrete make you jump higher?

Hardwood is the standard the NBA courts use. They are much better compared to concrete floors because they have shock resistance effects that prevent game injuries. In addition, they are easily bent and flexible. This quality allows you to jump further and higher since it pushes you above.

No matter what, vertical jumping is not just about the equipment. It should be coupled with training. If you wish to jump higher, train as hard as you can. Not all courts are built with hardwood materials, so you must be as flexible as wood—concrete or wooden floorings.

We hope you enjoyed this post! If you did, be sure to check out our other basketball FAQ articles here.