Does a thicker hardwood sports floor perform better?

Not necessarily. Board thickness can affect construction options, wear life, and the amount of wood available for future refinishing, but it does not determine sports performance by itself.

Shock absorption, vertical deformation, ball rebound, friction, stability, and load capacity come from the complete floor system. The resilient subfloor, support spacing, connections, hardwood, finish, installation, and supporting slab all contribute. A thicker board installed in an unsuitable system is not automatically higher performing than a thinner board in a well-designed, tested construction.

Specifiers should compare documented results for complete systems under the relevant sports-floor standard. They should also consider intended sports, build-up height, moisture conditions, bleachers, rolling loads, repairability, and maintenance. Board dimensions remain important, but only within the system for which they were designed and tested. Avoid using thickness as a shortcut for quality or athlete protection; verify the performance profile and technical suitability of the entire floor build-up.