DIY Gymnastics Mushroom For Under $10

My son Brenden is in Gymnastics. He is really determined to work hard and grow in each event. He has struggled most with the Gymnastics mushroom. In Gymnastics the mushroom is an integral part of pommel horse training. For Brenden to get better we wanted to have a mushroom at home so he can practice as much as he likes. The only problem is they cost around 300 dollars! Here are pictures of two Gymnastics mushrooms that you would find in any Gym.

  

The great thing is you can make your own for under 10 dollars!

Two of the main items you need to make your own mushroom, you can get for free. First you need a Cable Reel which you can get from Home Depot. Just go in and ask for one, they normally throw them away. Then you need a scrap of carpet underlayment which you should be able to score at any carpet store.

You first trace the base of the cable reel on the carpet underlayment and cut it out.

Next you will need some liquid glue and staple gun.

We started out stapling a piece of carpet underlayment to the reel.

   

Then you keep cutting out circles progressively smaller than the base. We cut out about 7 different circles. Then we liquid glued them together.

   

Next you need to cut a piece of underlayment that would lay over all the other layers.

Put more liquid glue over the layers, then turn the reel with all of the underlayment circles upside-down on a piece of Vinyl.

   

Next pull the Vinyl tightly up over the edge of the underlayment and reel and staple it to the wood.

Repeat this step all the way around the reel, stapling the Vinyl to the wood.

There you have it, your very own Gymnastics Mushroom!

   

You can start practicing right away!