Topic: platform question

[Tom Banister]

I'm about to build my own platform at home. I'm seriously considering having dense rubber for the entire lifting surface. In other words, dense rubber where my feet will be, as well as where the weights will drop. The reason for this is because at age 49, anything that will save wear and tear on me, is a good thing. But, can practicing almost exclusively on the rubber throw me off when I compete on plywood?

[Jim Hooper]

I'd advise not to go with rubber underfoot.  Among other things, your feet will deform (sink into) the surface on the explosion of the snatch and clean pull phases and the jerk drive phase, and you will likely feel the feet "catching"  when you reset your feet into the receiving positions.  The heavier the weight, the more the problem will manifest.  For technical lifting, raw plywood is just about perfect in terms of solidity and traction underfoot.  (Cheaper, too!)