When I was a kid, there was nothing better than walking with my older brother over to the old local elementary school playground for a game of basketball. The hoops were bent, the backboards killed the rebound, and the old metal nets rained down rust if you were lucky enough to even get the ball through. But at the time, the game and the company were all that really mattered. That was, until the day my parents surprised us with a brand new basketball hoop in our driveway. After that, life was never the same! We’d play every day on that amazing basketball hoop, and the neighborhood kids would all come to our house to shoot around. All growing up, our driveway was THE place to be.
That’s the amazing thing about basketball. It’s one of those universal sports that almost anyone can play, whether you’re a serious baller, or just a bunch of kids playing a fun game of HORSE. And a great basketball net can really make all the difference!
But for the one’s buying the new hoop (parents, I’m talking to you here), it can be a serious investment, and also a confusing venture. Typically, parents looking for a residential basketball hoop don’t even know where to begin!
To help you narrow down your decision, and have a place to start from, try answering a few questions that should give you a better idea of what to look for:
1. Are you looking for a basketball hoop for your house, playground or gymnasium?
At SU, we offer a full assortment of residential, playground, and gymnasium basketball hoops, from the most basic fixed hoops to the most advanced ceiling-mounted basketball nets on the market. We even have some great systems for your pool! Once you know where the net will be going, it makes it easier to narrow down what general type of net you’ll need.
2. Would you like to permanently install your basketball hoop in a backyard or driveway, attach it to a roof or wall, or have the ability to store and move it around?
In ground basketball hoops are incredibly popular, and easier to install than ever before! The best in ground basketball hoop can be bolted down, buried in the ground, or anchored using a ground sleeve. Where once this was an arduous process with cement and tools, installing modern in ground basketball hoops, with advanced installation tools is easier and faster than ever.
Roof- or wall-mounted residential basketball hoops are great and more affordable options when play space is limited. Typically, they bolt right onto a wall or roof, and extend out over the driveway or backyard. Most can even retract back right against the wall, to stay out of the way when not in use.
Portable basketball hoops are perfect for seasonal use in backyards, driveways, and side streets. They usually feature a weighted base, which you can fill with water or sand, and wheels to make transportation a breeze. Most feature an adjustable hoop, which you can lower to make storage simple when it gets cold out.
3. Would you like to be able to adjust the height of the hoop, or keep it at a fixed height?
Adjustable basketball hoops are great for households or neighborhoods with kids of all ages. Hand cranks, advanced internal compression systems, or traditional broom handle systems let you raise or lower the height of the hoop to fit the size or skill-level of everyone playing. If you have little ones, they can start playing with a lower hoop, and then simply raise it higher as they grow and improve! Typically adjusting from 5 or 6’ high, up to 10’ (regulation height), adjustable nets are great options to meet almost any need.Fixed height basketball hoops are good options for serious and usually older players. They are also typically more affordable than adjustable height nets.
Fixed height hoops are more simply designed, with a central pole and backboard system. They come in a variety of pole heights and gauges, and some can even be adjusted by loosening the bolts on the backboard pole, and re-attaching it at any height on the central pole.
4. What is your basketball hoop budget?
Residential basketball hoops range greatly in price, from about $200 all the way up to $2500. A huge variable in the price of a hoop is the type of pole it uses. The metal of the pole, and its width directly influence its durability and performance, whether it’s fixed or adjustable. The width of the pole can range from 3” up to 8” and should be something you definitely consider when looking for a new net. Generally, if it’s a net you’re going to use regularly, all year round, it is worth it to spend a little more for a better, and more durable pole, about 5” or 6” in width.
Once you have an idea of what type of basketball net you’d like, where it will go, and how much you have to spend on it, check out our brand new basketball system comparison chart, or take a look at our huge selection of residential basketball hoops, to find the one that fits all of your needs. And as always, if you have any more questions or need further assistance, simply call our customer service associates at 800-693-6368, or leave a comment here.
| By Brandon Porter.
Brandon is a product specialist at Sports Unlimited. |
Thank you very much for this advice. I too have very fond memories of going with my brothers to play basketball at the elementary school. In fact, my brothers and I still get together with our kids to play basketball. I’ve been thinking about getting a basketball hoop for the house, so the advice that you provided was very helpful.