With all the different choices out there we thought we could offer our many years of experience to help you select a basketball system that fits your needs. If you still can't decide or if you have questions please feel free to call or email us, our hoop expert has over 35 years of experience and can answer most any question about most any brand basketball system.

In-ground vs. Portable
There's no question that an in-ground system is a better way go. More stability and higher end features are just two of the reasons. If your site situation requires a portable, systems that have 4 wheels are easier to move with the ballast in it. If you choose a 2 wheel system due to the cost factor look for one with the wheels in the front of the unit for easier mobility. The height adjustment mechanism varies a lot between brands with some latching type and grip-and-adjust gas shock type models being at the lower end of the quality scale because they can be hard to use plus wear out or break easliy. Worm-gear crank style adjustment mechanisms are considered the gold standard in height adjustment.

Adjustable vs Fixed Height
This decision should be made based upon the ages of the players and the level of basketball you want to play. The official regulation height of a basketball goal is 10', but a new basketball system fixed at 10' will be a big disappointment to youngsters learning to get the ball into the goal. Also with today's high quality adjustable systems anyone can lower the hoop and slam-dunk like the big boys. A 10' fixed height system is a good choice if you only want to play at regulation 10'. In youth Park/Rec and League play kids start out at 8 feet and move up from there so an adjustable system is great for growing kids. Some systems can even lower to 5' for real little ones.

Backboards
Glass backboards are used for competition play in high school, college and the pros because glass gives you the best ball rebound. A home court with a glass backboard is the best possible training ground to work on competitive-level skills. One of the reasons we sell the brands we do is because they offer more systems with glass backboards for than any other manufacturers. Acrylic (plastic) backboards will give you the look of glass but if you want a decent rebound buy a system with a minimum of 1/2" thick acrylic material, real glass is the best choice for a real gym feel rebound. Acrylic backboards scuff and scratch very easily and over time will look cloudy, Tempered glass will not scuff or scratch. Nothing compares to playing on real glass.

Poles
Try to buy a basketball system with a one piece pole. This is the most important thing you can do in selecting a system. Most basketball systems sold at major department stores and chain sporting goods stores have a two or three pole that you have to put together. The reason for this is it makes it much easier for the store to stock the item and the customer to put in the car and take home. 2 and 3 piece poles can become wobbly after a few years.. Square poles are also better than round poles because of strength. The square corners provide for more rigidity, beware however of square poles that are multi-piece. Always insist on a system with a one piece pole. Bolt Down vs. Direct Bury: Some of the systems we sell are available in a bolt-down pole system also known as a "pier" mount. This design allows for easy leveling and also makes it easier to relocate it if needed or take it with you if you move. Direct bury poles are systems where you cement the pole directly into the ground and are good for parks and schools where you don;t want someone tampering with it.

Goals
Not all goals are the same. Look for goals that use heavy duty construction. Features like wrap around braces, heavy return springs, and metal net ties are very important. A lot of manufactures today use plastic net ties that are clipped on the rim to hold the net on. These break off very easily and now the net won't stay on, nobody wants to play on a hoop with no net.

Plan ahead
Select a system that will keep up with changing skill levels. Kids that are young now and are happy to have any hoop to play on will probably want to play/practice on a quality system when they get older, a system that duplicates the same feel they have playing at the gym. If you choose the right system now you will only have to buy one.

Need Sales Help or Installation Information? Call our Hoop Expert toll free at 888-836-2992 7 days a week!