Customer Reviews

Lifetime 1529 Courtside Base Height-Adjustable Portable Basketball System with 50-Inch Shatter Fusion Backboard

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When you shoot a basketball at this unit, it has the sound of a high quality system that is well designed. It handles shots from every angle well and we are generally happy with this product. I do have some fair criticisms of Lifetime, but that did not keep me from giving this basketball hoop system a five star. It is really a very very good system and we would buy it again even with the assembly hiccups we had.

We bought this at local toy store for about $[...] less (on sale and with a special 20% off coupon). The regular price there is 199.

On this model you need to plan on about 3-4 hours of assembly time if you are not a real whiz at these sort of things. Some less apt individuals may not want to try this. Make sure you have two 3/4" wrenches, two 1/2" wrenches, and two of any other sizes required (I think we needed 9/16" for one step). I found it easier to use one wrench and the matching deep well socket (there was one piece that I could not get without a deep well socket-I didn't have the size socket in my tool kit-so I ran out to a local hardware store and picked up a 9 piece deep well socket set for $9.99). I needed the sockets anyhow, so I didn't mind. The instructions don't tell you that, but you do need double wrenches or the sockets and you do need at least one deep well socket to do this job, and the manual missed that as well. The instructions say you need two adults at the end, but my nine year old son was enough to help me lift it into place. It might be too hard for someone with less strength (I'm just average in lifting power).

I had the feeling that the manual was generally well thought out and written by people who have seen almost every error you can imagine. Still I had trouble keeping on top of all the details in the manual and had some trouble visualizing the steps. As far as manuals go, it was better than most for these type of projects, and there is a pdf copy on their website that is very easy to find and download. Nice job Lifetime on the website design. I liked that a lot.

It would be GREAT if Lifetime would offer video clips for each step on their website. Then you could put your laptop next to the assembly area and watch the clip for the step you are on until you really grasp it.

On the customer service, I have to give any company that sells recreational products or things that men generally assemble at home when they are not at work (evenings), a C at best if they are only open during banking hours. Lifetime's customer service is open LESS than my local bank! They close at 5pm MST. So I was unable to reach them when I had a question. Fortunately I figured out the issue on my own. But they get a C minus for not being available when most of their customers are likely to be assembling these units. What are they thinking about? Only their staff?

The net is shorter than most nets and so they want you to order nets from them. I'm not sure that is necessary. The original net seems to be of a high quality. My sons initial reaction was that his new basketball hoop was better than all his friends. He was very excited to have this, and honestly I really loved the feel of this unit. It feels like a very high quality piece and we only paid $[...] total for the whole thing!

One of the pics in the manual shows a foam wrap around the lower pole, but that did not come with the unit. Neither did a sticker to show raising and lowering of the height.

We give this unit a five star. I believe it will last for many years based on the quality of materials. It has a five year warranty and I would guess that I won't have any parts break in five years. This seems like a great deal to me.

The quality on the pieces (nuts/bolts) is high enough that everything fits together as they say in the manual. The materials and backboard are of a high quality and the entire assembly is slick in my opinion. We are very happy with this unit.

One addendum to this review. We recently had a 60 mph windstorm knock this unit over onto our driveway. It was not damaged by the slamming onto our concrete drive and was easy to return to it's correct position. However, you might lay this on its side when storms come.

With lots of wind in Illinois, we found that to keep this from tipping over you must fill the base with water & put two 70 pound bags of sand on the base. Then you have enough weight on it to hold it up in just about any storm.

I was concerned about quality because this was $50 cheaper than a similar basketball hoop by the same manufacturer at a local store. However, all the parts were first rate, assembly was pretty easy - took about 3 hours. It was good to have a helper as there was a constant switching of wrenches for each step, and getting some of the pieces together took some force - definitely a two person job! Easy to adjust the height. Free shipping was great - it came to my door rather than having to get it home from the store.

This system is very sylish and easy to use (the height adjustment). It took some time to put together and at times the instructions took a second or third glance. Luckily some of the diagrams for the hardware is drawn in "atcual size" so it makes it easier to match up. I had all the tools required already in my toolbox. Being a portable, it is very sturdy when the weight is added. The backboard shake was more than I expected. It is, however, much better than the portable Huffy system that I previously owned (no height adjustment). The Huffy backboard was so dead you would almost have to throw the ball at the backboard to bank it in. This was better, but don't expect to hit a Tim Duncan style banker with ease. This isn't a big deal though as IT IS a portable. Another issue is that the top pole slides out after a brick is shot (when it goes hard off the front of the rim). The top pole slides up a little making the hoop lean forward. It cannot come off becasue of a screw, but because there is a slot instead of a hole there is some movement. This was after following intructions and pounding it in. It also only comes loose with those types of shots only and not when dunking at 8 feet. This could be just mine and I have to pull it down every once in a while -- its not that big of a deal to me but could be for others. I remember having simlar problems of pole movement with the Huffy too. Some of the poles arrived with minor scratches on it. You also need a lot of patience putting in sand instead of water. It may take a while, but it's the same with all portables if you want to fill it up completely. Other than that it plays really well for a recreational system. I gave it 5 stars based on a cost-benefit type theory. There are more expensive systems out there that probably have more solid backboards (I've seen some in the stores at more than double the price). Free shipping to Hawaii also sweetened the deal. It's perfect for shooting around or for a casual one-on-one or two-on-two game. It's one of the better "driveway" portables that I've played on. As a backyard or driveway hoop it is a winner. If you want to use it for a more uptempo or competitive game you should head to the park or gym that have solid backboards for your Duncan-like bankers and Kobe double clutch off-the-glass scoop shots.

This took about three hours for a reasonably competent male to put together. The instructions are better than many I have dealt with, but there are confusing parts. The hardest part was the spring mechanism. Unless you have good upper body strength it will take two people to assemble.

The hoop is affordable at around 200 bucks and is generally sturdy. There is a bit of wobble. All in all, a good hoop for younger players. Changing heights is really easy. The backboard size is large for hoops in this price range.

It's easy to install. The delivery company broke the box, then one of the wheel was lost. I called the Lifetime listed number for replacement. No hassle at all. The phone conversation lasted less than 2 minutes, and in 3 days I got the replaced part. I put the basketball system up. The hand-held click handle of the height adjustment is very handy. After filling the sand in the footing base, the system is very steady and firm. The kids enjoy to play basket ball at 8ft high. The adults enjoy to play basket ball at 10ft high. For slam dunk, I have to put two bricks on the base. I brought the basketball system Lifetime 1529 from Amazon is $50 off the regular price. Therefore, it's good price for good system. I highly recommend it

I just set it up so I cannot speak yet to its durability. I like its size and stability and it is a good system.

HOWEVER, please be prepared to invest some time assembling this. I enlisted the help of a mechanic and it still required 4 hours and both of us to assemble. You will need a good set of tools, mainly socket wrenches of the right size and someone strong to set the pole into the base with the basketball hoop attached.

Not a bad setup for the price. Assembly was not too difficult, and the quality ok, but backboard "glass" a little thin. No problems with it though. Easy rim height adjustment from 8' to 10' in half foot increments, great for my 7 year old.

We got this Basketball system for our daughter and we have really enjoyed it. We felt it was easy for us to put together, it is very sturdy, the kids are loving it. The quality is good and we are very pleased with this product.

I bought this sytem couple of weeks ago. It looks cheap when it arrived, especially the plastic base. I re-enforced with some iron rod. Still, two weeks after its erection. it was blown down by a gust of wind. The base folded. I live in Philly, it is not a high wind area.
My advise will be: Don't buy Lifetime. Period.
Their product looks nice on Amazon. They are actually cheaply designed.
They should first reenforce their base with better quality plastics. They also need to enforce the boards better and specify how much wind could it stand. If they tell me they system can not stand 50mph wind, I will never buy it.
I was misled by hte reviews. I am wondering, how many people really bought the system and it is still standing?
Worst of all, they don't cover it at all if it is action of Nature...


My advise is don't buy, don't buy, don't buy... Double think it if you want buy something like this on-line.
It could be worse, if the board fall to the other direction, it could have smashed my car.