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The choice of basketball rim sounds simple. To a casual observer, it would seem that all you need is a complete packaged piece. Something bought at the store and simply placed upon the court. When you actually set out to purchase one, you see that there are a lot of intricacies involved here. Here is a guide to help you choose a basketball setup which is appropriate for your use and is within your budget. Consider these questions before spending your money.
Price
Before setting out to purchase a setup, decide the purpose for which you will need it for and how much are you prepared to spend on it. You may find that you don’t really need to purchase a complete setup. In India, you can find a workable basketball rim for as low as Rs. 200. If the constraints are too tight, you can just affix the rim to any flat surface at a height.
Location
I’ve incorporated the guidelines by FIBA on building outdoor basketball courts here. If you are just setting up a rim or two without a full court, bear these points in mind-
Shade: Having a shaded area to practice on makes a difference. One’s first response may be to scoff at the notion of avoiding the sun in an outdoor sport. But the play area being shaded allows you to practice longer. It does not necessarily have to be a roof over the setup, just observe if there are any trees or buildings around which give shade during various times in the day.
Ground: I practiced shooting on muddy grounds. I couldn’t practice dribbling and shooting at the same time till I was 18 years old. Having a spot which lets you play even in bad weather conditions is very rewarding. Otherwise, you end up having to clean the mud off the balls half the time and you feel like you are dribbling in sand.
Size
While it is always a safe bet to go for a standard size, your court may be catering more to tiny tots who just want to see the ball go in the hoop. It is advisable to get a eight foot tall setup in that case. Your primary objective when building a playground for kids should be about teaching them the sport and also making sure that they enjoy it. One of the best qualities you can ingrain in them is the love for the game. That comes easier when they are playing on a rim which is their size. For teens and adults, opt for a full sized rim, even though they may enjoy dunking on smaller rims.
Choice of backboardIf you are setting up a rim to be used in state level competitions or above, you ought to opt for FIBA approved standard fiberglass boards. But not many need something like that. It does not even have to be a rectangle. Think of the courts littered around beaches you see in movies. Many courts just have a half moon backboard. Not everybody needs a full sized backboard with markings. Sometimes, just a small surface behind the rim is enough for playing. Unless you’re Tim Duncan.
If you are opting to purchase a backboard, you have a slew of choices for the material. Wood, plastic, graphite, acrylic, polycarbonate, aluminum, steel or tempered glass boards are the most common types.Wood is one of the cheaper options, and the returns match the price too. Graphite boards are sleek. Acrylic is soft and light while tempered glass is heavy. Tempered glass boards allow for the best rebounds, are strong, and don’t chip easily. Aluminium and steel are quite durable but the rebound leaves something to be desired.
Portable or fixed setup
You can opt to have a portable base for your rim, a full sized Spalding one costs about Rs 20,000. A portable rim makes sense if you don’t have a dedicated spot which you can earmark for a basketball court. If you plan to have matches in different locations, a portable setup is for you. Just use a truck/tempo for transport and fill the base with sand/water upon arrival at location. You can also just buy a rim and drill holes in a wall and affix the rim to it. Or figure a way to attach it to a pole.
Regardless of your budget or space constraints, if you can spare about Rs 300 and have about 15 feet of space to play, you can figure out a way to indulge in the love for the game.
Check out basketball equipment you can use for your dream court here.
