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Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description
Amazon.com Basketball System Buying Guide
With the high-quality construction of many portable basketball systems, turning your driveway into a basketball court can be as simple as hooking up your garden hose. But while a portable system may ultimately be your best choice, there are reasons you may want to consider an in-ground or wall-mount system before you decide.
In-Ground Systems
In-ground systems are permanently cemented into the ground--either via a bolt mounting kit or directly into the ground--and are generally more rigid and take up less space than portables. In-ground systems often require that you hire a professional to complete the task, but when the cement dries you'll have a hoop that can take punishing dunks with ease.
Many in-ground systems are height-adjustable, include removable post features that let you take the system down for off-season storage, and feature heavy-duty break-away rims. You'll also want to research the adjustable mechanisms on the systems, as there are several types to choose from. Some feature a counter-balance spring that lets you perform easy, one-hand adjustments while others may feature a sturdy, pneumatic system.
Wall-Mount Systems
Wall-mount systems can be mounted to the side of a house, a tall retaining wall, or a garage. Generally sturdier than portables, wall-mounts have the added advantage of optimizing your existing ground space for the court, since you won't take any space up with the base or pole. Not all systems include the necessary hardware, so make certain you add a mounting kit to your list.
Portable Systems
Portable systems require minimal installation and offer ultimate convenience. These systems generally feature a base that can be filled with sand or water to stabilize them and include wheels for portability. Although they are not as sturdy as in-ground or wall-mounted hoops, portables are simple to set up and can often be folded for convenient storage.
Backboard Considerations
Regardless of which system you choose, you'll want to brush up on Backboards 101. Most residential systems feature backboards made of acrylic, fiberglass, graphite, or various other composite materials. While clear acrylic gives the professional look and feel of glass, it is not as rigid as fiberglass or graphite. Some systems may offer steel or aluminum backboards, which are virtually vandal resistant, but don't offer the true rebounding action.
The regulation size of an NBA backboard is 72 inches wide and 42 inches high. Most portable hoops are 42 or 44 inches wide and 36 inches tall. In-ground systems tend to be a bit larger, with 54-inch and 60-inch widths being the most popular. While rectangular shaped backboards provide more bank shot opportunities, they are generally more expensive than the streamlined fan-shaped board.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Portable Basketball Systems,
By
This review is from: Spalding 68454 Portable Basketball System - 54" Glass Backboard (Sports)
I extensively researched all the available portable basketball systems. That included reading independent reviews and visiting Dicks and Sports Authority to see and test the various makes and models. Although, Spalding's "The Beast" was far and away the best portable unit that I examined, its cost is $250 more at Amazon. This unit was not difficult to assemble. My 13-year old son and I accomplished that task in about four hours (he is much more handy than I am). The unit is rock solid. The 54" glass backboard is the real advantage that this unit has over the competition. It is just like playing in the gym. There is no backboard movement on shots that hit high off the backboard. It is just like playing on an in-ground unit. I only wish that moving it was easier once assembled. The Spalding Beast allows you to lower a handle which lowers the wheels and easily move the unit wherever you wish. Moving this system once the reservoir is filled is not an easy task. But, for the money, you will be happy that you spent the extra two to three hundred dollars for a system so beefy and a big glass backboard.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice goal - confusing instructions,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Spalding 68454 Portable Basketball System - 54" Glass Backboard (Sports)
I don't often review products simply due to time but I have to get the word out about this goal. First off, this is a great portable goal. It's well built, the frame is solid, backboard is solid, the base once filled with 500lbs of sand is solid. My kids love this goal. All around, its great and it would have received 5 stars had it not been for the installation instructions.All that said, assembly went well at first. I had two other adults helping so it went fast at first. Be sure you follow the instructions precisely for pounding the 3 poles together. If you get it wrong, you are hosed. Now, there are two things in the instructions that everyone needs to know but of course Spalding doesn't tell you. First, the hardware spacers #30 that get assembled on Section A, step 11 are plastic spacers but they look nothing like the hardware identifier chart on the top of page 7.. The width is correct in the drawing but the circle circumference is WAY off. This slowed us down while we double and triple checked to make sure we had nothing else that matched that #30 spacer. The second and most frustrating part of assembly was Section B, Step #2. Parts 51 and 27 were NO WHERE to be found in the box. We spent the better part of an hour searching for these parts. We finally gave up and I resolved myself to having to call Spalding for replacement after the weekend. We continued our installation for the remaining sections which went smooth. When we finally stood the goal up, we noticed that the #51 spacers were already in the backboard covered by part 27 which turned out to be a foam pad. First of all, there is NOTHING in the drawing to indicate this is a foam pad (it looks like it should be metal from the drawing) and secondly, the drawing clearly shows that parts #51 and #27 need to be assembled into the backboard when in actuality, Spalding did it for you at the factory. I hope this saves someone out there time.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great portable system,
By G B "Garrett" (Colorado) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Spalding 68454 Portable Basketball System - 54" Glass Backboard (Sports)
Wow!! Surprised at how much we enjoy this portable basketball system. I read the reviews and most were positive but I was still suspect and was concerned about the assembly. Not only were the reviews that were favorable accurate but I assembled it with my 8 and 9 year old sons and it was easier than I thought and having their participation was a great father and sons experience. All of the parts were included. The labeling of bolts and screws might have been a little better but that maybe added five minutes to the work. The quality of the system for a portable is great. Much more stable than I thought it would be and the backboard is by far the best for a portable. If there were anything I would change to this product, it would be the hole for adding water or sand in the base. We chose sand as we live in a colder climate and feared freezing. There is only one hole which is very small and required a lot of effort to fill. This would have been much easier with water but since they provide sand as an option I would have thought they would have made the entry larger or added a second hole at a better location(the very end). Be warned that with the overall quality and glass backboard it is very heavy and does require two strong adults to move, but once in place it is very secure and stable. I strongly recommend this product and could not be happier.
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