Basketball Hoop Buying Guide - DICK'S Sporting Goods
Aug. 04, 2025
Basketball Hoop Buying Guide - DICK'S Sporting Goods
Whether you’re helping your future playmaker improve their game or just looking to shoot free-throws in your spare time, a basketball hoop can become a cherished part of your home for the whole family.
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But where do you start? Which kind of hoop is best for you and your needs? You’ll need to take into account a variety of factors, from location to backboard material. There are a number of styles and combinations, so let’s take a shot to find the type that best suits you.
Do you already know which type of hoop you need? Shop all basketball hoops at DICK’S and get the game going!
- Tempered Glass: This is the material used at the pro level. Tempered glass offers players a similar bounce and spin they’ll find in gyms.
- Acrylic: These hoops offer the look of glass at a lower price. They also tend to be lightweight, so they don't need as much support. More experienced players may notice a different bounce or spin than they'd see at the gym.
- Polycarbonate: These backboards are highly durable and offer a similar bounce as acrylic. They are designed to withstand the elements.
Also take into account the size of the backboard. These can range from 44" up to 72", which is the regulation size at the professional level. The smaller-sized backboards, typically between 44" and 54", save on space and are good for a standard two-car driveway. The 60" backboard is a great midway point, saving space but still offering a larger size for banking shots.
Backboards generally come in two distinct shapes: rectangular and fan-shaped. Rectangle backboards are more common and offer players more space to spin the ball off the glass. The fan-shaped backboards tend to take up less room. Sometimes, it can come down to which look you like better.
Basketball Goal Buyer's Guide - The Backyard Guys
Basketball Goal Buyer's Guide
Should I choose a Portable, Wall Mount, or In-ground goal?
- Portable Goals: Portable goals are excellent for versatility. If you need to frequently change the location of the goal or tuck it away in the garage for storage, then a portable goal may be an excellent option. While portable goals are very versatile, they aren't as stable as In-ground or Wall Mount goals. Hanging on the rim is strongly discouraged with portable goals and backboard response often suffers due to light weight design.
- Wall Mount Goals: Wall mount goals are an excellent choice if your playing surface backs directly up to your garage, home, or other building. This can help save space by utilizing the available structure to mount the goal rather than relying on a pole or portable base that may take up valuable play space.
- In-ground Goals: In-ground goals are the most popular option because they can work for in many different types of spaces with a wide range of performance features. Some in-ground goals are built to handle even the most aggressive game play while others offer great mid-range stability at a competitive price.
The Backboard
Backboards come in many different sizes, from a regulation 72” to a space saving 44”. A good rule of thumb is to choose a backboard size based on the size of your playing space. If you've got a home court or a large driveway, go for 72” - 60” backboards. If you're looking for a goal to put in a one-car drive way, shoot for the 54” - 44” range. This will keep your backboard from invading the play area if space is limited or allow you to get the performance you need for larger areas.
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In addition to sizes, backboards are also made from several different materials. Here is a quick rundown on the advantages of the most popular options.
- Tempered Glass Backboards: Tempered glass is the material that all competitive basketball hoops are made of, from high school to professional playing levels. Tempered Glass offers the best rebound response available.
- Acrylic Backboards: Acrylic backboards are generally the backboards of choice for outdoor goals that are accessible to the public such as schools, parks, and churches. They offer great performance with an added resistance to vandalism.
- Polycarbonate Backboards: Polycarbonate Backboards are very popular in portable goals because they are light weight and durable.
The Pole
The pole is a very important part of any basketball system. Most portable and small in-ground systems use a 2 or 3 piece pole that is great for standard game play but is not designed for aggressive game play.
A one piece pole provides the best goal performance. One piece poles typically come in 4”, 5”, and 6” square sizes. As the backboard and extension sizes increase a larger pole is needed to effectively manage the forces applied to the goal. Most goals with a 5” or 6” square pole are designed to offer excellent performance and handle aggressive game play.
The Extension
The extension or offset of a basketball hoop is the distance from the pole to the backboard. This is important because it keeps the pole away from the backboard, allowing players to pass under the backboard without running into the pole.
A regulation free throw line requires a 4' extension. If you don't have regulation lines on your court the extension is still worth considering because it allows for breathing room at the base line and lowers the risk of collision with the pole.
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