The Best Location to Install a Basketball Hoop

Early on in the basketball goal shopping process, you’ll want to consider the best location to install your basketball hoop. This will be an important factor in which hoop you choose. If you plan to purchase a portable hoop, where you position the goal is not as crucial since the hoop can be moved fairly easily. If, however, you decide to invest in a more permanent goal such as a semi-portable in-ground unit or wall-mount hoop, the installation location becomes significantly more important.

Location, Location, Location!

You’ve probably heard this phrase a time or two in reference to purchasing a home or other property. The same holds true for installing your basketball hoop, especially if you’ve chosen to invest in a hoop that will, at least in part, be cemented into the ground (like a Goalrilla or Goalsetter goal).

So, where is the best location to install a basketball hoop? Here are a few factors to keep in mind as you decide.

Playing Surface

Your intended playing surface will play a large role in determining where you install your goal. The surface should be hard, level, and free of bumps, holes, or other tripping hazards. For these reasons (among others), grass as a playing surface should be avoided at all costs. Even if the location seems advantageous, grass (or even just packed dirt) will lead to very frustrating play and practice time since basketballs are not designed to bounce on grass. Movement for players is much more hazardous as well on a natural surface.

Many people choose to install their basketball hoop at the edge of a driveway, as it is a convenient, ready-made court. This can work well as concrete provides an adequate playing surface. Even so, there are a few drawbacks to installing your goal at the edge of a driveway. For one, most driveways are slanted at least a few degrees, so the playing surface will not be completely level. Also, games can be interrupted by vehicles entering or exiting the driveway. And this poses a potential danger to younger players who may not be as aware of their surroundings.

Still, installing your goal at the edge of a driveway is a great solution for the casual player, or in situations where space, budget, or other constraints don’t allow for a home court to be built. Ideally, you’ll have a minimum of 15 feet in front of the hoop since that is the standard distance of the free throw line.

Home Court

If space and budget do allow, however, building a home court is the best way to get the most out of your new basketball goal. A multipurpose court is a great option for home courts. These courts are made from flexible, interlocking tiles. They can accommodate a variety of sports like volleyball, tennis, pickleball, and of course, basketball. Asphalt is a bit more affordable and an ideal choice for outdoor courts. Concrete can work well too. Of course you’ll also need to determine whether you’ll be building a full court, half court, or some variation of either.

If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out our 2-part court building blog series. These articles will give you a more in depth understanding of the different types of common home court surfaces, as well different sizes of courts.

Sun

When possible, pay attention to the direction of the sun when choosing the best location to install a basketball hoop. Will you be playing mostly in the evenings? If so, try to avoid positioning the hoop so that you will be facing the west when playing. Sun in the eyes can make it difficult to see the backboard! Positioning your hoop to face the north will allow you to have the sun on your back for as long as possible.

Lighting

Speaking of (sun)light, you’ll also want to consider available lighting and how it will affect play in the evenings after the sun has gone down. Does your home’s exterior lighting provide enough illumination? Or will you need to install additional lighting for visibility once the sun goes down? If you’re installing a Goalrilla goal, you may want to add an LED hoop light. This add-on attaches to your hoop and shines powerful LED light down onto the court.

Surroundings

The immediate area surrounding your preferred hoop install location should be considered also. If there are nearby bushes, shrubs, or other plants, they will need to be cleared to make room for the goal. You’ll also want to take into account how close you are to neighboring homes or properties, and what effect stray basketballs might have. (See our yard guard as a handy resource for keeping your basketball in play). Pay attention to nearby trees well; you’ll want to ensure your hoop can be raised to its full height without coming into contact with wayward limbs.

Installation Resources

Installing your own Goalrilla goal? Check out our installation resources for helpful tricks and instructions. And of course, ALWAYS remember to call before you dig! Checking the location of underground utilities is a critical step when installing your basketball hoop. And if you’re re-installing a Goalrilla goal, you’ll need a replacement Goalrilla Anchor Kit System.

To Sum Up: Best Location to Install Your Basketball Hoop

When choosing the best place to install your basketball hoop, a little planning goes a long way. If you have any questions on how to go about deciding on the right location to install your basketball goal, give us a call at (800) 689-0281 and a BasketballGoalStore.com expert will be glad to help you get the ball rolling!

If you are a big fan of basketball and you love playing the sport, then you most probably own your own basketball hoop at home. But if you don’t, and you’ve always wanted them, there’s never a better time to purchase a basketball system than now!

Basketball goals are considered a sound investment for people passionate about the sport. However, when it comes to owning hoops, you must ensure you know how to manage them well to guarantee you can keep utilizing them for the years to come.

Keep reading below to learn how to care for your basketball goals regularly:

Initiate Routine Checkups

It’s not enough to simply clean them a couple of times a year. If you want to keep using your hoops, you should initiate checkups frequently. 

For those who own portable basketball goals, since you need to fill them up with water or sand, you must ensure they contain the proper amount at all times to avoid accidents. Moreover, you should stay on the lookout for cracks and holes that could be draining out the water inside. Failing to notice the issues could cause your basketball goal to fall over and break!

Inspecting its pole section is also recommended because if you see any signs of rust, it’s best to replace it right away before it deteriorates further.

Stick to the Warranty and Manual

Depending on where you decide to purchase your basketball hoops, they will most likely come with a warranty from the manufacturer. They will also provide a manual to give you tips on taking care of your rings and its other parts!

Remember not to forget when the warranty expires. That way, if you notice a malfunction or defect from your goals and you still haven’t reached the due date, you can contact the manufacturer to get it fixed up or replaced! 

Keep Them Away from the Cold

During seasons where snow and rainfall are prominent, and you have your basketball hoops outdoors, you may want to invest in winterizing them to prolong their lifespan. It’s vital for homeowners that own portable goals to prevent snow from making an impact on your rings. 

When you experience colder temperatures, the water inside your portable hoops can freeze and end up damaging them. For best results, you should apply antifreeze products in the water or think about opting for filling it with sand instead.

Protect Them from Strong Winds

If you own indoor basketball goals, you have no problem dealing with the winds outside that can become strong depending on the season and time of day. The same goes for in-ground hoops you fix in place to keep from moving or falling over.

However, portable basketball hoops are a different story and will require careful solutions to secure them and prevent them from being affected by the harsh winds. Thus, you need to strap your goals correctly to avoid unwanted accidents.

Conclusion

Your basketball hoops, whether you choose to get indoor or outdoor ones, require proper maintenance to prevent them from depreciating so quickly. It will help to initiate routine checkups, stick to the warranty and manual, keep them away from the cold, and protect them from strong winds accordingly. That way, you can wake up every day knowing that you still get to play basketball whenever you want without worrying!

Are you looking to purchase outdoor basketball goals in Guthrie, OK, for your residential home? Quality Hoops provides basketball hoops, gym equipment, and other sports-related items for those in need. Browse through our collection to learn about what’s in store for you!

Post by worthit » Tue May 03, 2022 5:10 pm

OP,

I was looking at hoops during Covid heights and almost decided on a brand from Dick's around $1000 I think including installation. It came recommended by my neighbor who had it installed and I have seen his son and friends use it. Pretty solid. Now, it doesn't get used as his son is in college out of state. I did not go through because I wasn't sure if my son would pursue it seriously and it would be worth the investment. Also, I was concerned about injuries as there will be no supervision and my son has a propensity to get hurt easily. So now he plays in a recreational league with proper guidance. As others have mentioned if your kids are serious then your best bet would be local YMCA, schools or gymnasiums.

My 0.02