Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Hello! I have had this hoop in use with my two boys (13 & 9 years old)for a month or so (as well as myself) and it works great! Very nice product and we are really pleased. I had seen so many comments (pro and con)on portable basketball hoop systems that I wanted to share my experience. This is my first time I have ever written a review, so please "bear with me" as I am hoping to be of some help as I share some of the questions/experiences I had with you. I was looking for a nice quality basketball hoop, but had to keep the budget around $300.00(spouse's orders). Actually, I was really concerned at finding something of quality at that price point. I wanted at least a decent sized backboard of good material for my boys. At first I was first thinking of an in-ground systems as I thought they would be more stable. However, I was not sure on an ideal location for a permanent mount (each had some drawbacks in our location) due to the way we have our driveway, the slope on part of it, and what car(s) may be parked outside. In addition, I really did not want to get into digging a post hole and cementing in a sleeve only to find out the boys would not like the location. So, I changed my mind and started looking at only portable systems. Please be assured that this portable system is stable. Another concern I had was that perhaps the portable system might not look as nice (I don't know why I was worried about that, I think this hoop looks great!). Amazon did a wonderful job shipping and delivering the whole box right to my garage (free shipping). After reading many reviews about others putting together portable basketball hoop systems I was really DREADING putting this thing together. I consider myself reasonably handy, but frankly some of the other reviews for this or similar systems were troubling... to say the least (i.e. terrible directions, missing parts, holes needing to be redrilled, parts not going together etc. etc.). I opened the box and well yes...it did seem a LITTLE.. overwhelming looking at all those parts at first! If there is one thing I would like to pass on is please do not worry! The directions were extremely clear and parts were grouped in bags by task. On that note as I was looking at the directions my 9 year old son strengthened my confidence by saying... "don't worry dad it is just like following the directions for Legos". So we jumped in. My boys came out a few times to check on my progress or help here or there, but I put it all together myself except for the final step of standing it up on the driveway. Please read on for my thoughts and a couple of tips. (1)Make sure you have ALL the tools they recommend to complete the job. Nothing unusual here (sockets, open end wrenches, screwdriver, pliers, hammer), but you really do need everything. The exception is a rubber mallet(for tapping pieces together), a regular hammer and a piece of wood to cushion the blows is fine. A portable or corded drill is a VERY important (in my opinion) to drive the self tapping screws when attaching the plastic trim to the backboard and also in bolting the three poles together. I used a small bit to drill a small pilot hole for the self tapping screws (on poles and backboard) as I wanted to make sure the self-tappers went in straight. Also, on the backboard I did not want to risk cracking it. A drill with a screw bit really makes short work of driving in the self-tapping screws. I tried using a ratchet at first and it was too slow and much too hard to apply enough pressure to drive the self-tappers in (even with the pilot holes). Yes, get out the power tools and have some fun. (2) Please read and follow all directions carefully (yeh I hate doing that too!). However, I probably escaped without any trouble because I did just that. They even have pictures of the bolts/screws in the directions (that are true-to-scale) you can measure things against the directions to make sure you are using the correct screw or bolt. I often studied the picture in detail to see how things went together. I had no problems. (3) There are 3 poles you will put together to make the one long pole for attaching your rim to the base. When you put the poles together I took a flat mill file and filed off the burrs left by the factory on the inside of poles (where the factory pre-drilled holes were located). I also applied a small amount of lithium grease (I had a small tube already) where the poles go together. I followed the directions and tapped the poles together on my garage floor over a short piece of wood). They went together perfectly and very easily. I only mention this added information (filing the burrs and grease) as in other reviews many people complained on how difficult it was to get the poles together. I think the burrs on the inside must have caused them problems. (4) It took me 4 hours total working by myself to put everything together. I went slow and steady, took a couple of short breaks for water. I then went to the home improvement store for sand. I did not time the sand filling part, but maybe 20-30 minutes or so??? (5) I purchased 6 bags (50 lbs each) of sand. I bought "silica sand" (it is a very fine-grained sand and all grains are uniform). I would NOT recommend "play sand" as it has many different grains sizes and is dusty and it would be hard to pour through the funnel. I bought the silica sand at Menards (I know other stores carry it too). (6) You will need a wide mouth funnel with a good sized hole in it (quarter sized?) to pour in the sand. I had a nice one from an auto parts store in my garage already. I brought out my step ladder so I could rest the bag on the 3rd step of the ladder above the funnel to pour in the sand (the base is tilted up as the hole is in the back end of the base). I put a hole in the corner of the bag and poured while my son held the funnel. You could do it yourself, but he likes to help. I put in 4 bags. Then the last two bags I wrapped in double lined garbage bags and put on top of the base once I had it moved into place. If you put all six bags in right at first you are going to have ONE heavy base to move!!!! I had my dear wife come out and help me tilt the pole in place. I live in a cold climate and did not want to put water in the base with antifreeze or just water (leaving room for expansion on freezing) or mess around with all of that (my opinion again). I think the sand is more stable and will be cleaner. I may put in the last two bags later or leave them on top where they are. (7)The system is very sturdy. We are having fun with it and I come home from work and shoot a few too. Also, my 9 year old son can adjust the height of the hoop all by himself! My 13 year old is working on rebounding (cross training for goal keeper in soccer) and enjoys shooting as well as the 9 year old. I am glad I listened to my wife and did not go out and spend more money (yes dads it is productive to listen to your better half!.. all the moms at this point are nodding and saying...well YES!). Thank you for reading and good luck on all your future basketball careers!