Archives for 2012

Pros

Inexpensive, portable, adjustable, breakaway rim, polycarbonate backboard, small footprint

Cons

Less stable, backboard size, no overhang, 3 piece pole

Overall Rating

The Lifetime Complete Portable Basketball Hoop is primarily designed for children and amateur players. It’s adjustable in 6-inch increments from 7.5 to 10 feet, and the rolling base gives it portability. Featured is a 48-inch shatter guard polycarbonate backboard and a breakaway rim for dunking. The backboard has fade resistant graphics, and the nylon net can stand up to all weather conditions. The telescoping pole comes in 3-pieces for adjusting the height. The Lifetime Complete System is backed by a 5 year warranty.

What To Like

• Inexpensive. At under $250, this doesn’t require a heavy investment. Basketball systems can cost thousands of dollars on the high end. The only cheaper model I have seen from this brand is the Lifetime 90040.
• Portable. If portability matters, then this is certainly a plus. Even if it’s not on your list of criteria, being able to move it around is beneficial. For instance, if you decided to relocate, then you could pack it up and take it with. Or, you may just need to move it out of the way for one reason or another. This of course can’t be done with inground models. Also, portability means no cement installation.
• Adjustable. This feature is ideal for children who aren’t yet capable of shooting from medium distance on a 10 foot high rim. The furthest it lowers is 7.5 feet, which is pretty much the standard for adjustable models. Lowering and raising is a rather easy process.
• Breakaway rim. I certainly would not recommend dunking and hanging on this rim, as this basket isn’t strong enough to handle that long-term. But this style is more suitable for dunking because it has some give. Children and teenagers can have fun with this.
• Polycarbonate backboard. This is a pretty strong plastic that would be very difficult to break. It will naturally suffer from wear and tear over time, but at this price point you aren’t going to get tempered glass. What I like is that it’s see through, so it gives the appearance of glass.
• Small footprint. I couldn’t find the exact dimensions, but I do know that this won’t take up much space. It can be stored in a small area if necessary.

What Not To Like

• Less stable. Portable hoops naturally are going to be less stable, which means you lose some realism. While pouring sand into the base will certainly help, it’s still not going to be nearly as stable as an inground model. However, this probably won’t bother casual players or children.
• Backboard size. At 48 inches, this is on the small end. Shooting bank shots from an angle is more challenging, plus children would benefit more from a larger backboard. This is a good size however if your playing area is limited, or you are on a budget.
• No overhang. This is a downside for almost every portable hoop out there. Regulation hoops have a 4 foot space from the pole to the backboard, which allows for play under the hoop. Also, players are more susceptible to bump into the pole since it’s right next to the backboard.
• 3 piece pole. As you might imagine, a one piece pole is going to be stronger than a 3-piece one. Also, square poles are preferred because they reduce vibration.

Summary

The Lifetime Complete System compares very favorably to the Lifetime 51550 Courtside Basketball System, except it happens to be about $30 cheaper and about 10 pounds lighter.

As mentioned, this hoop works well for children and casual play. It really however isn’t suitable for serious play by adults. Whether or not you should buy it depends on your budget and who it’s for. If this price is what’s affordable or all you want to spend, then this is a good hoop to consider. This is a solid basketball hoop for the price. As long as it’s not abused, it should last for as long as you need it to and children will likely enjoy it.

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Pluses

Portable, adjustable, backboard size and material, easy adjust, breakaway rim

Minuses

No overhang, 3-piece pole, not as stable, difficult assembly

Overall Rating

The Lifetime 1558 XL is a larger, more expensive version of the Lifetime 51550 Basketball System. It features a 52-inch Makrolon (polycarbonate) backboard and a breakaway rim. It’s portable and adjustable from 7.5 to 10 feet. The base holds 35 gallons of sand or water, compared to 31 with the 51550 model. The pole comes in 3 pieces, and is 3.5 inches round. The 1558 XL is backed by a 5 year warranty that covers everything.

What To Like

• Portability. Being able to move it around is advantageous for many homeowners. Portable hoops typically have a smaller footprint and require no installation.
• Adjustability. It adjusts in infinite increments, which is a feature that some other lesser-expensive hoops by Lifetime didn’t have. The 7.5 -10 feet range is pretty typical among adjustable hoops. This feature is ideal if you have children 10 and under who aren’t able to shoot on a 10 foot hoop yet.
• Makrolon backboard. This is a stronger form of polycarbonate, which seems to be a trend nowadays. It’s actually stronger than acrylic, which has been used a long-time for backboards. This certainly doesn’t compare to tempered glass, but is pretty good for a hoop just south of $300.
• Crank adjust. Simply grab and squeeze the handle to lift and lower the hoop. It’s about as easy and it gets.
• Breakaway rim. This type of rim gives so players can dunk without breaking the rim or backboard.

What Not To Like

• No overhang. One of the downsides that you often get with portable hoops is no overhang, which means that there is virtually no space from the pole to the backboard when at 10 feet. Players become more susceptible to running into the pole, and this doesn’t allow for play under the backboard.
• Backboard size. At 52 inches, it’s not large enough for a 2 car driveway. It’s also not suitable for adults to play on.
• 3-piece/3.5 inch pole. One-piece poles are ideal because they are the most rigid. The 3.5 inch pole is strong for this hoop, but still doesn’t provide a ton of stability. Square poles are better for performance as well.
• Stability. In-ground hoops are best for stability, so it should come as no surprise that a portable hoop isn’t as stable. It’s one of the downsides when you buy a portable model.
• Assembly. A few customers said they had a difficult time understanding the directions and assembling the hoop. In general, basketball hoops are not easy to assemble. Most people say it takes at least 3-4 hours to complete, depending on the hoop and if others are helping.

Summary

The Lifetime 1558 XL is an upgrade over the 51550 model. It has a larger size and stronger backboard, a larger base, and a slightly thicker pole. This hoop is built well and is big enough for adults to play on. If you need a portable and adjustable hoop at an affordable price, this is a pretty good option.

The goal’s design is fairly heavy duty, and holds up well to fully grown people hanging briefly from the rim, along with the other expected abuses a hoops goal goes through.” – T. Piedmont (Amazon Review)

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Pros

Portable, breakaway rim, adjustable, space efficient, affordable

Cons

Backboard material and size, 3-piece pole, no overhang, not as stable

Overall Rating

The Lifetime 51550 Basketball Hoop is a entry-level basketball designed primarily for children and teenagers. It’s portable and is able to adjust between 8-10 feet in six inch increments. The backboard is 48 inches in size and made out of a shatter-proof polycarbonate material. It comes with a breakaway rim that allows for dunking. The pole is made up of 3- pieces 3-inches around. The Lifetime 51550 is backed by a 5 year warranty. Dimensions: 48 x 32 x 10 inches ; 80 pounds

What To Like

• Portable. This hoop does have wheels so it can be moved rather easily even if its filled with sand. If you want nothing to do with installation, then a portable hoop is the way to go. You can move it anytime you need to, and you don’t have to worry about pouring cement.
• Breakaway rim. I was a pleasantly surprised this had a breakaway rim. It allows for dunking, and most hoops nowadays have them anyway. Nice addition.
• Adjustable. This is particularly beneficial if children under the age of 10 will be playing on it. Raising and lowering can be done by squeezing the handle and moving it up or down. It adjusts in 6-inch increments.
• Polycarbonate backboard. At this price, you can’t expect to get a real high quality backboard. But polycarbonate is pretty solid for an entry-level hoop. It should stand the test of time, assuming that it’s not abused.
• Space efficient. For one-car driveways, this hoop is perfect. You can always move it even should it get in the way. The backboard size is suited for small areas. So if space is lacking, this is a good option.
• Straightforward assembly. Most customers said they didn’t a problem putting it together, though it will take some time to complete. A few noted that it took them around 3 hours. The instructions are clear and the packaging was thorough.
• Pole padding. Included is a pad the wraps around the pole so it adds some cushion if someone were to crash into it.
• Affordable. Relatively speaking, this is an inexpensive hoop overall. It’s ideal for those on a budget or simply don’t want to invest a lot of money in a basketball hoop.

What Not To Like

• 3 piece pole. One piece poles are best for performance, but is probably not an issue for casual players. The pole thickness is only 3 inches, so it’s going to be less rigid compared to more expensive models.
• Backboard size? 48 inches is still relatively small for a basketball hoop, as regulation size is 72 inches. However, if you have a one-car driveway or just limited space in general, then it should be suitable. Bank shots are more of a challenge with smaller backboards, and it general just isn’t as favorable. For kids however, this probably isn’t an issue. If you want a larger backboard, the Lifetime 1558 has a 52-inch one.
• No overhang. A downside with portable hoops is that they usually have little to no overhang. This is the distance from the pole to backboard. Why does this matter? Well, having space allows for play under the hoop, and it decreases the chances of someone being knocked in the pole. Not a huge deal, but it’s a con nonetheless.
• Stability. What you gain in portability, you are naturally going to lose in stability. A heavy wind could be enough to move it. Filling the base with sand as opposed to water will help. Water is easier to manage, but you will have to empty it during the winter so it won’t freeze. The hole is small, so filling it with sand will take longer.

Summary

The Lifetime 51550 Courtside Basketball Hoop is well-suited for children, teenagers, and casual players in general. What it’s not: a hoop designed to handle serious games played by adults. It’s also good for those who are just interested in shooting around on occasion. It’s portable, adjustable, and is reasonably priced. If this is what you’re looking for, then is one to consider.

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