Need advice on a basketball goal

billjr · #1 07-13-2010, 09:42 AM

For my son's birthday, I am going to buy him a new goal and paint a section of my driveway to look like a basketball court. I am going to clean the driveway, paint a free throw "key" in his school's colors, paint a three point line, and seal the driveway.

I am now starting to look at goals and poles, and would appreciate any advicee on what works best.

We currently have an inexpensive goal system that has a large plastic base that you fill with sand or water, and a small backboard.

What I would like is a larger, higher quality backboard that will give a solid surface for a true bounce, and a stable support pole/system that will not rock back and forth when the ball hits the backboard. My son will be 11, and he is taking basketball pretty seriously. He just went off for his first camp, and it was basketball camp at Duke. There are a lot of choices out there, and I was hoping that some of you guys have had some experience with what works well and what doesn't.

MakiSupaStar · #2 07-13-2010, 10:57 AM

Not to be nitpicky but it sounds odd when you use 'goal'. They're called nets, rims, and backboards. When you attach basketball to those words in google you'll come up with better results. Really cool you're doing this for your boy btw. He'll be stoked.

karrot-x · #3 07-13-2010, 10:58 AM

Basketball hoop -_-

MakiSupaStar · #4 07-13-2010, 11:03 AM

... and hoop.

bassteban · #5 07-13-2010, 11:04 AM

Be careful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIbp5C-5WXM

Edit: Holy oh my goodness- that's kinda, um well... lovely tune, anyway.

Tommygunn · #6 07-13-2010, 11:09 AM

Don't get the ones with the plastic bottom that you fill with water. They can get holes in em too easy and then its a pain to keep em hunkered down. I have one of those and it got a hole in it, its such a POS. I love it to death cause I'm always playing, but it fall over too easy. I got a old punching bag sitting on it for a weight but if I hit the backboard too hard on a shot or something it wobbles it enough for it to gain enough momentum for it to fall.

Ah.. I see you're upgrading from this. Well kudos to you.

Also tell him to work on his hook shot. His coaches will be amazed, saying "I haven't seen that since the 70's!", I know my coach was. Its pretty effective in pretty much any position, mainly forwards and center.

**jmattbassplaya** · #7 07-13-2010, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommygunn

Don't get the ones with the plastic bottom that you fill with water. They can get holes in em too easy and then its a pain to keep em hunkered down. I have one of those and it got a hole in it, its such a POS. I love it to death cause I'm always playing, but it fall over too easy. I got a old punching bag sitting on it for a weight but if I hit the backboard too hard on a shot or something it wobbles it enough for it to gain enough momentum for it to fall.

Really? Mine lasted about 10 years of serious use and only got taken down when we needed more room in the driveway lol.

MJ5150 · #8 07-13-2010, 11:15 AM

I played on one of those mobile hoops for years, they are fine. James Naismith nailed a peach basket to a pole. Larry Bird played on a dirt pad in his backyard. Michael Jordan played on a creaky old backboard nailed to a wall.

Anything you put up is going to look like garbage compared to what your son is going to be playing on at Duke.

-Mike

DRafalske · #9 07-13-2010, 11:17 AM

If you wanna really do it right, these are the best I've seen:
http://www.goalrilla.com/

D

Tommygunn · #10 07-13-2010, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

Really? Mine lasted about 10 years of serious use and only got taken down when we needed more room in the driveway lol.

Ha well I guess I got a lemon or something.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

I played on one of those mobile hoops for years, they are fine. James Naismith nailed a peach basket to a pole. Larry Bird played on a dirt pad in his backyard. Michael Jordan played on a creaky old backboard nailed to a wall.

Anything you put up is going to look like garbage compared to what your son is going to be playing on at Duke.

-Mike

I used to play on a backboard nailed to a wall, in my front yard (dirt). So that means I'll be better than Bird and Jordan put together!

Tommygunn · #11 07-13-2010, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRafalske

If you wanna really do it right, these are the best I've seen:
http://www.goalrilla.com/

D

But can it survive Darryl Dawkins' gorilla dunk?

billjr · #12 07-14-2010, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRafalske

If you wanna really do it right, these are the best I've seen:
http://www.goalrilla.com/

D

Yeah, those are awesome and are available at the local Dick's, but they are a bit expensive.

billjr · #13 07-14-2010, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Not to be nitpicky but it sounds odd when you use 'goal'. They're called nets, rims, and backboards. When you attach basketball to those words in google you'll come up with better results. Really cool you're doing this for your boy btw. He'll be stoked.

When you put a net on a rim and attach it to a backboard you have a basketball goal. It's a term for the complete ensemble, regardless of what it is attached to (pole or wall).

billjr · #14 07-14-2010, 08:13 AM

I started cleaning my driveway yesterday, and began looking at paint for the driveway. Lowes has some concrete epoxys that seem to be a very affordable route, but I found a website that has a coating surface used on outdoor recreation courts (basketball and tennis). It has a base coat with sand to even the surface and provide an adhesive base for the color coating, then it has color coatings with sand to provide the finished coat. I estimated about $400, and I would have a real tennis court/basketball court surface that should last 7-10 years. The less expensive option would be to use concrete paint from Lowes, and I am guessing that it will need to be refinished every 2-3 years.

Anyone with experience painting driveways?

I'm still researching all issuea as I clean the driveway over the next week. I have until 8/18 to finish, but am getting things done as I can because of the increased rain this year.

Bob Lee (QSC) · #15 07-14-2010, 11:03 AM

Very cool idea.

Re painting driveways: make sure the coating and paint are okay to be driven on. You wouldn't want to do all that work and then ruin it when you park the car.

When I was a kid I remember many people choosing can spray paint because it seemed easy, but it always took more time and paint than they anticipated.

billjr · #16 07-15-2010, 07:59 AM

Thanks. I have noticed references on some of the products that they are not designed for "hot tire" applications. I guess those are for patios, walls, etc.

I decided last night to go with the more inexpensive paint instead of the heavier duty surfacing products. I know it won't last as long, but with preparation and quality work, it will last long enough, be easier and cheaper to touch up, and will be much easier to change in case my son changes schools and/or wants to change the color of the "key." The entire surface is going to have a neutral beige/sand color that will mimic natural wood, and the rectangular part of the key will be green, with his school's initials in front of the free throw line. All of the lines will be done in white.

Using concrete paint will keep the costs down so that I can upgrade the goal somewhat. I still can't afford the nicest goalrilla system that I want, but I really do want to get above the $200-$300 level to get a larger, sturdier backboard that will not rust away in the weather.

I guess since I've gotten all of the bass equipment I need and can use, I'm replacing my music "gas" with home fix-up "gas." But I really do like to do things as best I can. I've seen too many "daddy projects" that were done in a quick afternoon,and they really didn't functiuon as well, or turned to crap within a few weeks or months. Last year I painted his room for his birthday (yeah, I know that sounds really lame, but wait...) and did it in a Clemson theme. It looks as good as any of the photos on the Home Depot "Team Colors" brochure. I added many extras, such as a Clemson scoreboard style clock, banners, posters, etc. So my projects really do go above and beyond so that they are special and worthy of considering as gifts.

I hope to have some photos tonight of the projects start and plan to document my progress.

Thanks for all the ideas. Please keep me on track!!!

MJ5150 · #17 07-15-2010, 10:12 AM

Wow, you're going all out. Back in the day, we did the same but it involved a couple of my buddies, my dad and I using cans of spray paint to do up the lines. We played on that "court" for about 10 years.

-Mike

**jmattbassplaya** · #18 07-15-2010, 10:42 AM

Sounds like a fun project that your kid will love. Definitely take lots of pictures and keep us updated

MJ5150 · #19 07-15-2010, 01:33 PM

Once you're done, maybe we can have the first of the annual TB 3-on-3 challenge at your joint every summer.

-Mike

billjr · #20 07-15-2010, 03:33 PM

I'll go ahead and have the wife start preparing some snacks.