Backboard – Height Adjuster – Manual Hand Crank

1. Portable: These systems often contain a base that is weighted down with sand. They usually include wheels to make portability easy.
2. Bolt-Down: This involves digging a hole and pouring fresh concrete in order to install a secure, bolted system.
3. In-Ground: This also involves digging a hole and pouring fresh concrete, but these systems do not include bolts.
4. Wall Mount: These systems attach to the wall and may fold to the side or up out of the way when not in use.
5. Ceiling Mount: These systems attach to the ceiling and may have a retractable system so that they are out of the way when not in use.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions that come with your basketball system to ensure a proper, safe installation!

In the winter, if you do not plan to play basketball on your outdoor system, it is best to remove the net. Otherwise, you might cover your net with a trash bag and duct tape during heavy periods of snow/rain.

In the summer sun, polycarbonate quickly yellows and becomes brittle. As a result, we recommend acrylic for outdoor backboards. Acrylic does not become yellow, cloudy, or brittle over time and offers much better long-term durability.

A breakaway rim contains a hinge and a spring at the point where it attaches to the backboard so that it can bend downward when a player dunks a basketball, and then quickly snaps back into a horizontal position when the player releases it.

This allows players to dunk the ball without shattering the backboard. It also reduces wrist injuries.

We carry backboards that range from 48″ wide up to 72″ wide. The most common backboards are rectangular, which is what the NBA and other major basketball teams use.

The NBA and NCAA use regulation backboards that are 6 feet (72″) wide by 3.5 feet (42″) tall.

Generally, we recommend choosing a backboard that is at least 54” wide as bank shots are impossible on anything less. However, smaller backboards save on space and might be the best option for slender driveways.

It depends on your needs. If the hoop is for a growing child, an adjustable hoop is likely a better option. For example, the Rampage system adjusts from 6.5 feet up to 10 feet.

If you are looking for an adjustable hoop, also pay attention to the ease of adjustability. If tools are required every time you want to adjust the goal, that may be a deal breaker. Instead, look for basketball goals using a spring-aided crank system and built-in rim height indicators to ensure precision.

On the other hand, fixed-height basketball hoops are durable and built to last. Once they are installed, you are done. Generally, fixed-height hoops are set to the NBA and NCAA regulation height of 10 feet.

In basketball, the overhang is the distance from the front of the backboard to the front of the pole.

It’s important to have some space so that players aren’t running into the pole often. However, too much overhang shrinks the court and makes the backboard unsteady.

Ideally, shop for hoops with 2 feet to 4 feet

Polycarbonate quickly yellows in UV sunlight and becomes very brittle in a matter of just 2-3 years. As a result, many vendors stay strictly with acrylic for outdoor, clear backboards. Acrylic does not become yellow, cloudy, or brittle over time and offers much better long-term durability than a polycarbonate backboard.

Yes, when using a metal-framed backboard, bolt-on padding is strongly recommended. The padding helps prevent head and hand injuries. According to NCAA, FIBA, and NBA official rules, the backboard and backboard support structure must be padded.

Yes, polycarbonate and acrylic are both strong, durable plastics. In fact, polycarbonate is more resilient than acrylic initially. However, acrylic holds up in sunlight, withstands impact, and remains clear (scratch-free) over time. On the other hand, polycarbonate becomes brittle, yellow, and cloudy in UV light plus it scratches easily. 

Additionally, acrylics are less expensive to produce, and they are lightweight which keeps shipping costs down. If you’re looking for a portable goal or worry about the installation, the fact that the material is lightweight is just another reason acrylic is the best basketball backboard material.