How to choose a basketball hoop or basketball goal


Portable vs. In-Ground Basketball Goals


A Portable basketball goal system depends on a base filled with sand or water for stability. It will take up more space than an In-Ground basketball goal. The portable base rolls on wheels allowing players to position the basketball system in the desired location. Simply assemble, (these basketball goals ( Lifetime & Spaulding ) are typically VERY hard to put together) fill the base and play today. There is no fussing with concrete. Most portable systems can be Adjustable or Fixed-Height.

An In-Ground basketball goal 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 basketball hoops 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 can be more rigid, and is the best choice if daily height adjustments are not necessary.
Choosing Special Purpose Systems:

A Wall-Mount basketball goal 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. Tempered Glass is the best choice for top of the line outdoor applications. Tinted Acrylic and clear acrylic is available on some systems. The industry has moved away from acrylic in recent years. Though it is stronger than glass the cost is more and there are few companies that manufacture high quality cast acrylic.

Steel backboards very strong and 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.
some major manufacturers only use 1/8" and 1/4" acrylic, which is too thin for any backboard greater than 48" and soft to stand up to hard usage. In addition the rebound on these boards is soft and dead.


Backboard Thickness For Basketball Goals

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

About Basketball Poles

Thickness:
16 Gauge = Poor
14 Gauge = Fair
11 Gauge = Good
7 Gauge = Best this would be the same as 3/16"

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 basketball hoop 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

Most basketball equipment built today have some sort of powder coating applied as a finish. Be aware that those units produced without being sand blasted or acid washed before the powder coating process. This leads to the inevitable flaking off of the powder coating. Lifetime, Mammoth basketball goals are produced without this process and the powder coating will come off resulting in rust! Basketball hoops produced using the sandblasting and acid wash process before the power coating is applied will produce a basketball system that is much less likely to rust. However Barbarian Basketball Systems Destroyer, Raider and all of the Titanium series basketball hoops, are all produced in the with a Zinc powder coating or hot dipped galvanize before the regular powder coating creating a VERY durable and rust resistant pole.

goalrilla basketball goal

Choosing a Safety Set-back

The distance between the pole and the backboard can range from 18"-66" between systems. If you have aggressive players, you should consider a larger safety setback. The regulation overhang is 48" in high school, college and NBA. Choosing Basketball System Accessories: Pole Padding or Backboard Padding for added safety.
Ground Sleeves to add portability to in-ground systems. But the use of these sleeves will result in more movement. Choose A Basketball Goal That Is Right For You!

If you're reading this, chances are you're in the market for a new home basketball system. Let us arm you with the latest information on today's quality home basketball systems. Don't be fooled into purchasing a low-priced, low-quality basketball unit promising the world. Remember, you get what you pay for! Your family's safety, enjoyment and development are worth investing a little more time and money for a better quality product. Basketball has changed over the past decade and so has the equipment the game is played on. The basketball hoop you had on your driveway as a kid has evolved, and in the process, spawned a new generation of high-tech basketball systems. What does this mean to you the consumer? Now there's a variety of basketball systems on the market to choose from, and to some, it can get complicated when it comes to making a buying decision.

There are five types of home basketball systems on the market today:

Which is the ideal home basketball system for your family? Your lifestyle, available recreational space and several other elements factor into the equation. Take a moment to read the following descriptions to determine which system is right for you.

Portable Basketball Goals

Barbarian Destroyer Inground 
      	Adjustable Basketball Goal

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

Barbarian Destroyer Inground Adjustable Basketball Goal

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 Basketball Goal


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

A combination unit comes equipped with a basketball goal backboard and rim and is mounted directly on a roof, pole or vertical wall. Like an in-ground unit, expect a certain amount of installation time when buying a backboard and rim. To ease the installation of a combination, purchase a universal mounting bracket or Converter™. A universal mounting bracket allows for installation on a wall, slanted roof or pole. The convenient elevator system allows for seven different height adjustments (maximum 3ft.). Similar to the universal bracket, the Converter™ can be mounted to a 3.5" pole or virtually any type of roof or wall.

Youth Portable Basketball Goals

Developmental youth portable basketball goals are a great way to introduce a young child to the exciting game of basketball. Playing on a full-size unit can sometimes be challenging for a young child. Frustration -- from a lack of success -- can lead to a child's disenchantment with the game. Poor skill development can also result when a small child overexerts to score on a full-size system. If you're ready to start a young child in the exciting game of basketball, a youth system is a smart move. Think of it as training wheels for the game of basketball. Every child needs help getting started. Beginning on a smaller system will help a child develop important game skills and confidence.