Basketball Hoop Reviews

First Team RoofMaster Wall Mount Basketball Hoop

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Pros

Stability, 60″ backboard, 3 foot overhang, adjustable, heavy-duty rim

Cons

Acrylic backboard, installation, price

Overall Rating

The First Team RoofMaster features a 60″ acrylic backboard, infinite adjustment from 6-10 feet, and a 3 foot backboard offset. Also included is a heavy-duty breakaway basketball rim. The hoop can either be mounted on a slanted roof or a vertical wall. The height adjustment mechanism is a crank handle. All the mounting hardware and instructions are included. The RoofMaster is backed by a limited lifetime warranty.

What To Like

  • Stability. Mounted hoops are more stable than portable hoops because they are attached to a wall or roof. The large, thick backboard and the extension arms make it that much more stable.
  • 60″ backboard. This is the second largest sized backboard on the market behind the regulation sized 72″ board. It’s perfectly suited for a 2 car driveway, and is great for performance.
  • Adjustable. Not all mounted hoops are adjustable. Plus, it adjusts infinitely between 6-10 feet. This is ideal for children or those who can’t dunk on a 10 ft. hoop. The crank adjust is reliable and accurate.
  • 3 foot overhang. This provides plenty of space from the wall/roof to the backboard for play and safety. Players won’t have to be concerned about running into the wall or garage door. This is an issue with lesser expensive hoops.
  • Heavy-duty rim. It features a 3/16″ steel support and an internal flex spring to protect the backboard from damage. It has a powdercoat finish for rust resistance.

What Not To Like

  • Acrylic backboard. No doubt, acrylic is a strong material. It won’t shatter if you dunk on it, and it looks just like tempered glass. However, it doesn’t quite perform as well as glass and is more prone to wear and tear. If you want tempered glass, then you’re in luck. The RoofMaster Nitro has it.
  • Installation. A heavy-duty basketball hoop like this one isn’t going to be easy to install, and customers confirmed this. You could always hire a contractor to do it for you. Should you decide to do it yourself, I would recommend getting some help.
  • Price. For almost the same price, you could purchase one heck of an in-ground basketball hoop, such as the Goalrilla CV72. In-ground hoops are the best overall for performance.

Other Online Reviews

Currently, the sole review on Amazon.com mentions the difficulty with installation. A contractor was needed to help. After installation was complete, there are no concerns and the customer is happy.

Summary

The First Team RoofMaster is an upper echelon mounted basketball hoop. It’s one of the best available for homeowners. It has the ideal size backboard, a heavy-duty rim, and a wide range of adjustment. The installation is no walk in the park however, and the price tag is high. I can say for certain however that you won’t be disappointed with the overall quality of the hoop.

Spalding 79307 Backboard/Rim Combo

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Pros

52″ acrylic backboard, breakaway rim, easy assembly, warranty

Cons

Mount sold separately, thin backboard

Overall Rating

The Spalding 79307 consists of a 52″ inch acrylic backboard and a pro slam breakaway rim. The backboard is 4.5mm thick, and can be mounted to a wall or a square pole. The mount is sold separately. The backboard/rim weighs a total of 40 pounds. It’s compatible with the Spalding 920312 Extension Arm and the Spalding 316 U-Turn Lift System Bracket Spalding provides a 5-year warranty on the backboard and 1-year on the rim.

What To Like

  • 52″ backboard. It’s large enough to shoot bank shots on from a variety of angles. Being square-shaped is also a positive, considering that some mounted hoops are fan shaped.
  • Acrylic backboard. Even though polycarbonate may be stronger, acrylic is still strong in its own right. It’s used on some hoops that cost over $1000, as it plays similar to a glass backboard. It is more prone to scratching however.
  • Breakaway rim. For those who can dunk, this is a feature that is a must. While it’s not heavy duty, it still gives so you won’t shatter the backboard. Just one caveat: I wouldn’t recommend hanging on the rim. This hoop is not built to take abuse.
  • Removable. A benefit of a mounted hoop in general is that it can be removed at any point in time without much hassle.
  • Easy assembly. In-ground hoops can be tricky to install, but mounted hoops are pretty straightforward..
  • Warranty. While the backboard isn’t the most durable, it is protected by a 5-year warranty. Spalding is a reputable brand, and they will stand by their products.

What Not To Like

  • Mount sold separately. I mentioned the two mounts above that are compatible with the Spalding 79307. One is a extension arm with a 4 foot offset, and the other is adjustable up to 3 feet. Regardless of which one you choose, it will cost you at least another $100.
  • Thin backboard. It’s 4.5mm thick, which is not even 1/6 inches thick. A thin backboard isn’t going to be as rigid or durable long-term. A few customers noted that the backboard arrived cracked. Here is what one customer had to say:”….the actual backboard material is much thinner than I expected………I was expecting something much thicker and more robust.” – Daniel Druker

Summary

Overall, the Spalding 79307 is a good option for hoops in the $200 range. It’s produced by a reputable brand, has a 52″ backboard, and a breakaway rim. An adjustable mount can be purchased so it raises or lowers. The backboard however isn’t the most durable, but it’s covered by a solid warranty.

Buying A Basketball Hoop: What To Look For

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The first step when deciding which basketball hoop to purchase is to determine what requirements you have. For example, where is it going to be installed? Do you have enough space for an inground model? How often will it be used? Are serious games going to be played, or will the hoop mainly be used for shooting around? Also, who will be using it? If you reside in a housing community, check to see what type of basketball hoop is allowed. A lot of times, only portable ones are allowed.

When you buy a basketball hoop, here are the three types to choose from:

3 Types of Basketball Hoops

Inground Systems

An inground hoop is pretty self-explanatory: the pole is buried into the ground using cement, either directly or it’s placed into a mounted anchor. Directing burying the pole makes it completely permanent, while using an anchor does allow for it to be removed. While the installation is work, this type is the most stable and durable. You can always hire a contractor to help or do the job for you. What’s nice about these hoops is that they have an overhang (distance from front of the pole to front of the backboard). This allows for play under the hoop, and no other type allows for this. If serious games are going to be played, then a premium inground hoop is the best choice; especially if there is going to be dunking. The price range for these models is around $800 into the thousands. This is also a good option if you are looking for a long-term solution. For a basketball enthusiast, there is no better option.

Mounted Systems

This type involves a backboard being mounted on a garage or the side of a house. This is also a more stable option. It’s ideal if the driveway lacks space for a pole. It’s also a good choice if you mainly plan on just shooting around, and only want something basic. They can be taken down and re-installed, which is nice if you don’t want it up forever. The only problem is that unless the hoop is extended out a few feet, it could be inconvenient when playing games.

Portable Systems

Portable basketball hoops include a base, pole, backboard, rim, and a adjustable bracket. The height is typically adjustable, and the base has wheels so it can be moved. For this reason, they are quite popular. No real installation is required, as all you really have to do is fill the base with sand or water so it’s stable. The downside is that they are not as rigid as the other options. The best portable units also fold up so they can be moved easier. This is the ideal choice if you want nothing to do with installation and want to move the hoop around. What you lose however is the realism that comes with an inground hoop.

Additional Considerations

Adjustability

Do you need an adjustable hoop? If people of various sizes and skills are going to be using it, then it should be considered. It’s really only necessary if children around 10 and under are going to use it, or you are an adult who wants to dunk. The adjustment is usually done with a broomstick or by hand, so this won’t be difficult. You will pay more for this feature, so keep that in mind.

Backboard

You will have to decide the size and material you want the backboard to be. Some of the most common materials include acrylic, tempered glass, graphite, and fiberglass. The best is tempered glass, as it’s used in the NCAA and NBA. Acrylic is fine, but it’s not as heavy and will begin to show signs of wear and tear over time. If you can get tempered glass, it’s a no brainer. The regulation size backboard is 72 inches across, 42 inches high, and 1/2 inch thick. The rule of thumb is to get the biggest and thickest backboard you can afford, as it will provide the most playing surface.

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