How to choose a basketball hoop or basketball goal.

Facts You Need To Know About Basketball Goals.

Portable vs. In-Ground Basketball Goals

" A Portable system depends on a base filled with sand or water for stability. It will take up more space than an In-Ground system. The portable base rolls on wheels allowing players to position the basketball system in the desired location. Simply assemble, fill the base and play today. There is no fussing with concrete. Most portable systems can be Adjustable or Fixed-Height.
" An In-Ground system is permanently cemented into the ground, so be sure to pick an ideal location. In-ground systems tend to be more rigid and take up less space than portables. In-Ground systems can be Adjustable or Fixed-Height.
Adjustable basketball goal, In-Ground vs. a Fixed-Height basketball goal, In-Ground System:
" An Adjustable system is desirable when used by younger players who vary in age or who enjoy lowering the basket to dunk.
" A Fixed-Height system will be more rigid, and is the best choice if daily height adjustments are not necessary.
Choosing Special Purpose Systems:
" A Wall-Mount system can be mounted on the side of a house or garage. Wall-Mount systems generally include backboard, rim, net and mounting kit.
" Playground systems are built for rugged playground use.

Choosing Basketball Backboards

Backboard Material:
" Glass is used for all competition basketball goal backboards in high school, college and pro arenas because a glass backboard gives a good ball rebound. However glass can break very easily so it is best to limit its use to indoor applications.
" Clear Acrylic backboards provide the look of glass at a more economical price and 10 times the strength. Acrylic is the best choice for top of the line outdoor applications. Tinted Acrylic is available on some systems.
" Steel backboards are vandal resistant.
" Aluminum and Fiberglass backboards have an extra measure of rust resistance.
" The rebound effect of acrylic, steel, aluminum or fiberglass backboards can vary significantly. The thickness and weight of the backboard will in large measure determine the quality of the rebound effect, with thicker and heavier backboards having the more authentic rebound effect. However, for gymnasium ball response, glass backboards are often the choice.
Major manufacturers only use 1/8 and 1/4 acrylic, which is too thin and soft to stand up to hard usage. In addition the rebound on these boards is soft and dead. Acrylic is 10x stronger than tempered glass. It is not subject to breakage due to temperature change or impact. Acrylic should always be used for an outdoor system. As long as the basketball goal backboard is constructed with a full steal frame ( a tubular steal frame around the entire perimeter of the acrylic) and an "H" frame (2 vertical steal tubes running from top to bottom behind the shooting square) the backboard will have an even better rebound than ½" tempered glass. Avoid 3/8" glass at all costs - IT WILL BREAK! AKA most Mammoth and Gorilla glass backboards.

Basketball Goal Backboard Size

Backboards come in many sizes - 42", 44", 48", 54", 60" and 72". This measurement is from side to side. This height is usually 32" to 42". There are fan shaped and rectangular shaped basketball backboards.
" Official gymnasium size backboards are 42" x 72" and are offered on the best systems.
" Backboard sizes are matched to a system's strength with larger backboards offered on the more rugged systems.

Choosing Poles

The lower the number, the thicker the steel & better play
Every manufacturer and sporting goods store selling regular/standard sets such as those manufactured by Lifetime basketball hoops are usually only using 16 & 14 gauge poles. Most of these systems have 2-3 piece (sectional) round & square poles. These poles are of a lighter steel and do not have the rigidity or strength of heavier poles. Sectional poles are not the best in the performance department, and the thickness of these poles are thin. Round sectional poles are 16 gauge (very poor). Square sectional poles are 16 & 14 gauge. The BIG problem with sectional poles is at each section, or seam, is a weak spot. When kids have the basket lowered and grab or hang on the rim, that force and leverage goes to the pole, bending and breaking the pole at the section or seam.
Why should you consider getting a thicker pole? A thicker pole reduces shaking and vibration when playing. All poles will have some shake, but a thicker pole reduces that shake. Your kids will not bend a thinner pole (14 gauge) if it is made from a single piece. A pole will should never bend, no matter the thickness, as long as you use a one piece pole. Upgrading to a thicker, better pole is the #1 key to a system shaking less. Most of the single piece poles will be 4" square, 5" square, 6" square or even 6 x 8" as with the Barbarian Basketball Systems.
A bolt on system (one that has 4 bolts imbedded in a concrete footing) and a direct bury pole (one that has a single piece pole buried in the concrete) perform to the same levels. However the bigger the bolts that come out of the concrete the better. Most anchor bolts used to mount basketball hoops are 5/8". There is one manufacturer that uses larger bolts a full 1" and that is Barbarian Basketball Systems.

Basketball Goal Finish

If you have any question as to how important the finish on a basketball goal is, take a look at this Goalrilla basketball hoop that was installed just over 1 year ago:

Choosing a Safety Set-back

Portable Basketball Goals

Portable basketball goals are a product of the nineties. They offer all the benefits of a full-size, in-ground unit with the convenience of portability. Large front-mounted wheels make moving a unit a snap, giving you the freedom to control your outdoor recreational space. Portable units feature a heavy-duty plastic base that must be filled at assembly with either water or sand. Properly filled, a portable unit should provide a minimum 200 pounds of pullover resistance. Some portable home basketball systems on the market today provide as little as 70 pounds of pullover resistance. Rugged play or strong winds can tip a system that doesn't provide adequate pullover protection. Protect yourself and your child from the hazards of an unstable portable unit that can fall down and cause serious injury. Look on the packaging for a Stability rating before you choose a portable basketball goal.

In-ground Goals

As the name indicates, an in-ground basketball net is anchored in the ground and encased with cement. The advantage of an in-ground system is its stability. Because of an in-ground unit's permanence, make sure you select an area that allows enough room for play and will not interfere with your day-to-day life. Don't install an in-ground system near trees or other shrubbery that may, over time, overgrow the unit. When purchasing an in-ground unit, make sure it comes with a plastic, non-corrosive ground sleeve or an anchor bolt mounting system. A ground sleeve will help ease unit assembly and will help protect the base of the pole from elements that could cause corrosion.

Wall Mount Basketball Goals

Wall mount units come in many shapes and sizes. These are the basketball goals that you might see in a high school setting. Most indoor basketball systems are of the 72" variety. However there are other sizes to choose from.

Storable Basketball Systems

Are you looking for a way to store your basketball system during the winter? Do you live in a community that doesn't allow portable basketball systems? If you answered yes to either question, then you're in the market for a storable basketball system. Portable basketball units with a storability feature are the wave of the future. But before you purchase a storable unit, look for these important product features: * For easy assembly, make sure the unit can be assembled using just one tool. * Find out if the system is easy to prepare for compact storage. A quality system should take less than two minutes to fold down and should require no tools. * Can the unit be moved even when the base is filled with water or sand? You shouldn't have to empty the base to move the unit.

Backboard and Rim Combinations

Youth Portable Basketball Goals