Portable Basketball Hoop Buyers guide

The 4 Main Benefits Of Choosing A Portable Basketball Hoop

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1. No council permit needed.
2. You can move it around your driveway or yard relatively easily.
3. If you purchase an adjustable hoop you can lower it so that you can dunk.
4. The ability to lower the height of the hoop allows kids to develop correct shooting form from a young age.

The following article will highlight the shortlist of what we consider to be the best value for money transportable basketball hoop systems for a range of different budgets and personal requirements. 

After investigating over 40 different products we are proud to present you with our top 5 picks for 2018. 

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5 Important Things To Consider Before Buying A Portable Basketball System

There are a number of important things to consider before purchasing a portable basketball goal system online.

Here are the main 5 topics that you should educate yourself on before parting with your hard earned cash:

1) Choosing A Backboard

Backboard Size Considerations 

The standard backboard used in the NCAA and NBA is 72 inches wide and 42 inches high. A backboard of this size is a little overkill for most driveway basketball hoop setups.

However, for those with the money to spend a full size backboard will deliver the ultimate gaming experience.

Nothing feels better than hitting a Tim Duncan style banked jump shot from the 45 off the tempered glass.

“When it comes to choosing a hoop for your needs and budget,  it is usually the backboard which determines the price”

Backboards on the most popular cheap portable basketball hoop systems usually start at around 44 inches wide.

This size is great for beginners however this size makes it more difficult to utilise the backboard for bank shots and layups.

If you or your child plan on playing for many hours on end then you must be aware that this can hinder you game.

54" inches is the best size to go for optimal entry level play-ability. A backboard of this size provides a much more professional feel.

If you want a quality, yet great value for money 54 inch backboard on your system check this out!

On this size backboard your bank shots and layups will respond similar to professional hoops that you most likely play on at club or representative level.

For those who want the ultimate basketball experience the best choice is a 60"+ backboard such as this one.

Backboard Material Considerations 

Most of the bestselling basketball backboards are commonly made of either one of Polyethylene, Acrylic or Tempered Glass.

Let’s take a closer look at each particular variety of backboard.

Unfortunately, by purchasing a plastic backboard you are sacrificing rebounding ability.

This is a very important aspect that should not be overlooked if you take gameplay seriously.

Acrylic Backboards: The Perfect Combination Of Pro Feel & Affordability

Acrylic backboards offer much better playability than plastic backboards.

These acrylic backboards are also usually transparent and therefore gives off that pro feel.

This is the sort of portable basketball hoop you will feel proud to show off in your driveway.

Click Here to check out our highest rated acrylic backboard

Unfortunately these acrylic backboards tend to scuff and stain after a few years. They can also be scratched quite easily.

Acrylic is the best-selling variety of back board as it plays much more true than plastic and is much more affordable due to it’s lightweight than tempered glass.

However, the lightweight structure of acrylic backboards also come with relatively light frames and rim structures.

This style of basketball hoop setup is usually fine for the majority of athletes, but for those of you who want to throw down some serious dunks and hang from the rim a tempered glass setup would be a better option.

Tempered Glass Backboards: Must Have For Serious Ballers Who Are Cashed Up

Tempered glass is the gold standard material used by professional basketball hoops in most professional leagues around the world.

Tempered glass basketball systems are solid and durable with heavy base and support pole to support the weighty glass backboard.

Tempered glass offers the greatest playability out of all backboard material varieties.

Best yet it doesn’t scratch and is very easy to keep clean and tidy. If you can afford it this is definitely the option for you.

Click Here to check out our highest rated hoop system that ships with a tempered glass backboard

Backboard Design Considerations 

It is very important to consider how the design of the portable goal system can affect your gameplay.

One of the most important design aspects to consider is the offset of the backboard.

The offset is simply the distance between the backboard and the support pole.

Many of the cheaper hoops only have a very small offset which makes it impossible to follow through under the rim when attempting a layup or dunk.

This is a major limiting factor of the cheaper units which greatly reduces gameplay and can lead to collision injuries.

The basketball hoops used in the NBA feature an offset of around 4ft.

Most portable hoops offer an offset considerably lower than this, however systems such as “THE BEAST” still provide enough clearance for optimal gameplay and safety.

2) Choosing A Rim

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The Standard Rim

Dunking on these hoops is prohibited as it can and has resulted in many deaths in the past.

Support Pole Considerations

A stable pole is a vital for the safety and gameplay of a basketball hoop for home driveway.

Most hoops know come with the ability to adjust for varied heights.

This adjustability option is great for families with kids of various ages.

However, we must acknowledge that the adjustment mechanisms used in the design of the cheaper units are more cumbersome to operate than the quality devices integrated in the more expensive models.

Cheap basketball hoops often use a telescope pole which is adjusted by a knob in 6-8 inch increments.

Anyone who has used this adjustment system knows that it is an absolute nightmare operate. Often two relatively strong adults are needed to make a simple adjustment.

More expensive hoops like the Spalding Beast offer a screw jack adjustment system.

The screw jack system is much easier to use for people of any age and definitely a better option if you are regularly raising the hoop up and down.

Base Considerations

It is very important to purchase a portable hoop system with as stable of a base as possible.

Hoop systems come with a range of different height adjustment setups which ultimately determines the base design and overall size. Obviously the larger the backboard the more heavy duty the base will need to be.

The position of the base can also hinder gameplay on some models.

This is particularly true in the cheaper model basketball hoop setups that have a vertical pole.

3 Things Serious Ballers Must Have In Their Hoop System

1. Ensure the post has maximal off set to allow for follow through after layups and dunks
2. Ensure that the system has a breakaway (spring loaded )hoop.
3. Ensure the backboard is made from tempered glass for maximal responsiveness and gameplay

Click here to see the ultimate portable basketball hoop for serious ballers

Searching all over the internet for the best basketball hoops and systems can be very time consuming.

We’ve saved you the time and energy by doing all of the investigative work for you.

Now all you have to do is read our easy to follow roundup reviews below and make your decision on which movable basketball hoop system is right for you.

Our Final Word On The Best Portable Basketball Hoop Systems Of The Year

We hope you have found our comparison and reviews of the best portable basketball hoops currently available online helpful in empowering you to make an informed decision upon purchase.

Hopefully you know have better idea of the differences in the features and benefits that the more expensive hoops have over the cheaper options. 

Be sure to check back to this page regularly as we frequently update the page with the latest and greatest portable basketball goals on the market.