Tips to Selecting a Home Basketball Goal

Ten Things to consider in selecting a home basketball goal followed by our picks for Goals!

1.    Where will you be playing?

• Outside or Inside? What is your climate and space available?
• Specially built court, slab, driveway, parking area, home gym?
• On Concrete, Asphalt, Wood Flooring, Brick or Stone?

2. When you miss a shot where will it go?

• Putting a basketball goal next to a neighbors fence is asking for trouble since missed shots will always be going into someone else’s yard.
• Same is true if you put it next to a lake or pool or flower gardens, etc. Location is important.

3. How will you expect to install it? Will you need a pole, in ground or portable, or mount a basketball goal backboard on an existing structure like a garage, house or tree?

4. Who will be playing? What size players will be playing, for example, you might want to adjust the basketball goal height lower for smaller children and be able to raise it as they grow or adjust it higher for adult play.

5. Is it a public or private area? Will you want it to be “exposed,” “enclosed” or “hidden”.

6. Will others be sharing the basketball goal space for other uses or will it be a dedicated basketball play area? How will you resolve conflicting claims to space?

TIP: Putting the basketball goal on the North side of the court or play area outside ensures that no one will be trying to shoot directly into the sun anytime. Putting it on the west side means players in the middle or later in the day will also share this advantage.

7. If a player runs in for a layup what will be encounter past the basketball goal? A pole, fence, garage door, wrought iron furniture, rocky cliff with a drop-off?   Ensuring there is a clear area past the goal or minimal dangers for the player to become injured is important as well as helpful for ball retrieval.

8. How much are you willing to spend?  $250-$2500?

9. Where will you buy it? What will you look for in construction for durability, ease of use, attractiveness, functionality and maybe portability?

10. What size? NBA rules are for a basketball goal backboard rectangle measuring 6′ (60 inches) horizontally and 31/2′ (42 inches) vertically. The front surface shall be flat and transparent. Many of the basketball goals sold in stores and online are not regulation size but some are. http://www.basketball.com/nba/rules/rule1.shtml

INGROUND, PORTABLE OR MINIMALIST BASKETBALL GOALS?

We have found some of the best In-Ground Basketball Goal and Portable Systems below as well as an inexpensive backboard and mounting hardware which together are probably similar to the style many of us grew up playing on.  There are many more in a variety of materials and sizes.  Local major sporting goods stores in the DFW area include Sports Authority, Dicks Sporting Goods and Academy Sporting Goods and there are other major department stores like Sears and ToysRUs who provide additional alternatives.  Shopping around can save you money and get you the best warranty on new products.

IN-GROUND HOME BASKETBALL GOAL SYSTEMS

We like these two dream systems.

1.  The GOALSETTER 60-INCH GLASS CAPTAIN INTERNAL IN-GROUND BASKETBALL SYSTEM.

Sears  Goalsetter Captain Glass_____$1867.00

Dick’s
Sporting Goods__Goalsetter Captain__$1899.99

Sports
Authority_____Goalsetter Captain ___$1899.99

 

2.

Goalrilla GS-I Basketball System with Anchor Kit
Item Number: 11454095
Price: $1799.99

Play like a champion with the Goalrilla® GS-I Basketball System. This basketball system features a 72″ long x 42″ high tempered glass backboard and heavy-weight pro-style flex rim. Set your hoop to the perfect height with the all-steel, precise height adjustment. 4′ overhang welded extension arms provide extra support.

FEATURES:
72″ long x 42″ high tempered glass backboard
Heavy-weight pro-style flex rim
6″x 6″ one-piece steel pole
All-steel, precise height adjustment
4′ overhang welded extension arms
Anchor kit included

Limited lifetime manufacturer’s warranty

AVAILABLE AT:

 

 

 

PORTABLE BASKETBALL GOAL SYSTEMS

1.  Spalding 68562 NBA 60 Inch Acrylic Screw Jack Portable Basketball System – SPORTS AUTHORITY

Item Number: 3732003

$749.99 List Price: $799.99*

You Save $50.00 (6%) Work on your game right in your own driveway with this Spalding® NBA 60″ acrylic Screw Jack™ portable basketball system. The system features a steel pole and board frame for long-lasting durability. Perfect for any size player, the easy-to-use Screw Jack™ lift system allows for easy height adjustment. An Arena Slam™ rim is also included.

Key Specs:

• Model Number:68562

• Backboard Size:60 inches

• Pole Diameter:3.5 inches

• Handle Crank :Yes

Benefits

• • Backboard Shape: Rectangular / Square

• • Basketball Backboard Material: Acrylic Transparent backboard that offers an exceptional rebound.

• • Rim: Arena Slam® Rim A heavy-duty solid steel rim with ultra-smooth spring action that is designed to flex when pressure is applied, helping to relieve stress from the backboard during game play. The Arena Slam rim features institutional-style wrap steel support braces and steel rams that maximize durability and rim support. A steel box cover encloses all of breakaway rim components, optimizing aesthetics and safety.

 

2.  Lifetime 90088 54 Inch Steel Framed Shatter Guard Acrylic Portable with Frame Pad – Sports Authority Exclusive!
Item Number: 4428664The Lifetime® 90088 54″ steel-framed Shatter Guard acrylic portable basketball system can be placed anywhere you want to play hoops — no cement needed. Lifetime®’s portable basketball hoop relies on a heavy-duty polyethylene roller base filled with sand or water; this makes the basketball system easy to install and transport. It also features a Slam-It® Pro rim with spring-back action and welded steel net hooks.

Price $849.99
Key Specs:
• Model Number:90088
• Backboard Height:33 inches
• Backboard Width:54 inches
• Backboard Size:54 inches
• Thickness of Backboard :1.5 inches
• Rim Size:5/8 Inch
• All Weather Basketball Net: Yes
• Portable Base Fill: Sand or Water
• Pole Pieces :3 Poles
• Pole Diameter:3.5 inches
• Overhang from Pole:27″ Overhang
• Adjustable Height Minimum:7.5 ft
• Adjustable Height Maximum:10 ft
• Assembly: Assembly Required

 

THE MINIMALIST APPROACH – BASKETBALL BACKBOARD AND GOAL WITH ADAPTABLE MOUNTING HARDWARE

$130.00 The Lifetime 73650 Acrylic Fusion™ 44-in basketball and rim combo matches a durable, acrylic backboard with a Slam-It® rim. The rim utilizes double-compression springs to offer spring-back action and the backboard includes a strong, high-impact polyethylene frame and fade-resistant graphics.

Features Benefits

• Backboard Shape: Rectangular / Square

• Basketball Backboard Material: EM5™ Break-Resistant Acrylic with High-Impact Polyethylene Frame Offers a pro-style look to your backboard with additional strength and durability.

• Rim: Slam-it® Featuring double compression springs that provide spring-back action, the Slam-it® is constructed of solid steel with 1/2-inch braces and welded steel hooks.

Key Specs:

• Backboard Size: 44 inches

• Rim Size: 5/8 Inch

• All Weather Basketball Net: Yes

• Mounting Hardware: Not Included

Warranty:

Warranty on Parts: 5 Year

Backboard Warranty: 5 Year

Rim Warranty: 5 Year

For details about a manufacturer warranty or to learn how to obtain a copy of a warranty, contact us.

Features and Benefits
• Backboard Material: Acrylic–Transparent backboard that offers an exceptional rebound.
• Break Away Rim: Slam-it®–Featuring double compression springs that provide spring-back action, the Slam-it? is constructed of solid steel with 1/2-inch braces and welded steel hooks.

 

Spalding 79351 NBA Acrylic 44 Inch Basketball Backboard & Rim Combo
Item Number: 2649989
Price: $129.99
If you are looking for a forgiving rim and a soft backboard receptive to all
bank shots, the Spalding® NBA® Acrylic 44-in Basketball Backboard and Rim Combo
satisfies all hoop needs! The 44-in polycarbonate backboard holds the solid
steel Slam Jam breakaway rim complete with an all-weather net. The combo fits on
round or square poles.

Features

• 44-in polycarbonate backboard
• 0.625-in solid steel Slam Jam breakaway rim
• 2.875-in x 2.5-in hole pattern
• White all-weather net
• Fits on round or square poles

BASKETBALL GOAL MOUNTING HARDWARE

Price: $99.99
You can practice your jump shot right after you park your car or bike  thanks to the Spalding® 8839R Universal Adjustable Basketball Backboard Mounting Bracket. The bracket adopts backboards to 3.5-in diameter round poles, the roof or wall. It fits all Huffy® Sports and most Spalding® residential backboards up to 48-in and offers a 3-ft height adjustment in 6-in increments.

Features
• Adopts backboards to 3.5-in diameter round poles, roof or wall
• Fits all Huffy® Sports and most Spalding® residential backboards up to 48-in
• Offers a 3-ft height adjustment range in 6-in increments
• Provides approximately 3-ft of offset from pole/wall
• Backboard not included

 

INDEX of ALL BASKETBALL GOALS AT
DICKS SPORTING GOODS: http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/gridFamily/index.jsp?subtypeId=1160062