Imagine you’ve spent a handsome portion of your salary on buying a basketball hoop. Few months have passed without any fuss. Then one morning, you discover the hoop is laid down into the ground & the backboard is shattered.
Then after checking the base, you've found out the water level is not up to recommended level. You probably haven’t noticed yet; the net is worn out.
There is rust all over the place. Rim is bent downwards. The height adjuster is also not working properly.
So instead of adding a recreational value in your driveway, there is all sort of chaos happening out there.
What would have happened if you’ve taken a little care of the basketball hoop? Do you realize these small things do matter? Not just for the sake of durability, basketball hoop maintenance is also essential to get a high-class performance.
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8 Ways To Maintain Basketball Hoop Like A Pro
These hoop maintenance tips & tricks shall ensure your basketball goal lasts long & continues to offer quality performance even after years.
Without further ado, let’s find out how you can maintain your basketball hoop:
1. Keep it clean
A portable basketball hoop is moveable and this is why everyone loves it, right? At the same time, it attracts dust, dirt, mud, etc.
The same is the case with in-ground hoops; they stay in an open environment all the time. In fact, of the two, the ground hoop is the most affected.
So both the hoops can get dirty. Not only the newish look can disappear, but also the performance of the hoop will be affected significantly.
Keeping your basketball hoop in usable condition is your responsibility. That is why keeping your hoop clean bears so much importance.
Some components of the hoop should be on top of your priority list. More often than not, dirt sticks to these parts. Therefore they should be thoroughly cleaned; backboard, rim, pole, base wheels.
Cleaning is simple. You don’t need to purchase any expensive cleaner. You can use detergents & household cleaners.
Choose something like dawn dishwashing liquid for acrylic backboards & glass cleaner (white vinegar & water) for tempered glass backboards.
Also, if there are streaks on your backboard and the sunlight directly comes at it, the players might get distracted. Therefore give a good scrub when eliminating streaks from there.
Do keep in mind, you can’t use corrosive cleansers (bleach). It can cause damages to the painted metal surfaces. To make things absolutely clear, pole & rim cleaning should only be done with a rust preventative, not cleaner.
2. Replace the net if necessary
Basically, basketball hoops come with nylon nets. They are generally quite durable and don’t wear out easily. They are resistant to inclement weather.
Despite saying that you should routinely check the condition of your basketball net. If you see your hoop net is worn out, you must get a replacement then.
It is usually the hoop net of in-ground ones that get damaged aster more than the portable hoops. Portable hoops can also go through a lot of wear and tear if you’ve aggressive players on teams.
But in ground hoop nets are constantly staying outside. Whether the temperature is too hot or too cold, they have to go through it all.
Irrespective of the type of hoop you’re using, we recommend changing the hoop net once every couple of months but don’t look for cheap replacements. Because more often than not, you will be handed a low quality replacement then.
It’s not just with the basketball net; it applies to every component of your hoop. If you’re looking for a replacement, try to match the quality of the original product.
Because the manufacturer has crafted your hoop with the best possible equipment, if you go for cheap quality replacements, who knows, you may regret your decision thereafter.
3. Protect basketball Rim
A general rule of playing basketball is that if you can avoid hanging, you will be able to protect your basketball goal rim.
But how many of your players will be listening to your words? Nowadays, rim hanging has become more of a common practice with basketball players.
No doubt there are basketball hoops with pro quality. But keep in mind, excessive hanging on the rim can cause damage even to a professional basketball system. The result is you get a bent rim.
Plus, some basketball hoops come with inferior quality rim springs; those are in great danger if your players have a habit of hanging off the rim. Because not only can it affect the performance of your hoop, but also it poses potential injury risk to players who frequently come in contact with the rim.
For protection, you can pick up a cover of the rim. Contact your manufacturer to get every detail. Also, try to select a rim cover that gives you a warranty.
In terms of high quality performance, breakaway rims are considered the best. They reduce the load you put on the system & protect your backboard in the process.
Also, check the net attachment into the rim. If your net is improperly attached, then it’s functioning can injure your hand.
4. Prevent Rusting
Rusting is one of the major problems faced by basketball hoop users. It becomes a big deal in the wet season of the year or moist in weather.
It is the pole sections that generally get affected most by rusting. A rusted product will be of no use then. We recommend examining your basketball hoop pole once a week and it won’t take you too much time, I guess.
In the case of portable hoops, fix to the lowest height adjustment and store them indoors. They are easy to move, so bringing them in a covered area is the best thing you can do to prevent rust.
In ground hoops can also be removed from the ground if you’ve installed them with ground sleeve. Otherwise you have to leave it outdoors.
Portable hoops (if you don’t have much space indoors) or in ground hoops, if it stays outside, then there are few things you can apply in rust prevention:
Lower the hoop, remove the net, repaint the surface & get a waterproof cover
If you still notice rust, then wipe the affected areas by using a damp cloth and apply a rust converter. After the rainfall, you should allow critical parts of your hoop to dry.
5. Check Routinely
Up to this point, everything else needs to be done by keeping few days in between. But there are few things that you should check out daily.
A. Water or sand level:
This is for the portable basketball hoop. You need to see whether your hoop base is properly filled with water/sand or not.
The stability of your hoop depends on the base. You should look to fill it up at it’s maximum capacity. Otherwise, your basketball hoop can wobble, and a gentle push might be enough to tip it over.
B. Look for cracks in hoop base:
This is an essential criteria if you’re using a moveable basketball goal. Those who fill their hoop base with water should be aware of base leakage or cracks.
Because water can be easily drained out of the base then leaving it empty in no time. If the leakage goes unnoticed, your hoop may fall over. Investment wasted.
C. Examine Pole Section:
Look for any form of crack or tear developing in the basketball hoop pole. It diminishes the aesthetic look of your hoop, and it is quite risky to use in the long term.
The situation can get worse if it happens during the rainy season. Because if water somehow enters into the pole, it can cause damage (like rust). Then you should ask for a replacement immediately.
Knowing your hoop is safe to play can ensure you enjoy the game at it’s fullest level.
D. Tightening hardware & lubricating movable parts:
Portable basketball hoops are frequently moved from one place to another. Therefore you should be extra careful when tightening nuts & bolts. It can get loosened at the time of movement.
Or you can be in a hurry, and it can end up having not properly secured. You should be solely responsible if anything bad happens.
If you’ve a height adjustment involving nuts & bolts, make sure there are no loose ends. If it accidentally comes down, you may not get too much time to move away.
Besides, you should lubricate all the moving parts to function without any obstructions in their way properly.
6. Respect warranty & follow the guidelines set by the manufacturer
Well-known hoop manufacturing brands offer a warranty on their products. You’ll also find a warranty book which contains clear cut guideline about caring your basketball hoop. Warranty may not cover the whole product but only for a few individual components, so check carefully.
Also, get the warranty duration in your brain. If you notice any defect or damage in the basketball hoop, ask for replacement before the warranty ends.
The warranty book is given for a reason. Instructions are there about what you can do & what you can’t.
For example, there must be informed about which type of cleaner/detergent you can use to clean different parts of a basketball hoop. But if you clean all parts with the same cleaner, it can be damaging.
So read the instructions and get to know which products you should not be using.
Another thing is that some manufacturers clearly say players shouldn’t hang on the rim or they aren’t eligible to dunk. There must be some safety reason, and this is why they are discouraging you, right?
The bottom line is that you should always look to follow the maintenance tips recommended by the manufacturer. To secure the warranty, you should have a clear idea about warranty restrictions. Otherwise, there is every possibility of your warranty getting void.
7. Protect from winter
If there is heavy rainfall in your area during the winter season, you should look to winterize basketball hoop.
Portable hoop users should take a clear note of that. At low temperature, water can freeze inside the base and it can crack then. Therefore, you will either look to add antifreeze into water or replace it with sand.
BaseGel is also known for all climate use.
For in ground hoops, rusting is a major concern so do as we’ve said earlier.
You can read more about winterizing a basketball hoop here: sportszpro.com/how-to-winterize-basketball-hoop/
8. Secure From Wind
In ground hoops are perfectly installed deep into the ground, so there is no issue with that. But portable hoops can be blown away by a strong wind if not properly secured. There are several strapping methods & you can try any of them.
We suggest you read our guide on how to keep basketball hoop from falling over.
FAQs
1. How to get the rust off the basketball pole?
a. Use a sand paper of 180-200 grit & evenly sand down the affected area
b. Clean with soapy water and then dry the surface.
c. Get a water based primer, Bulls eye 123. This works as a rust preventative. Also a smooth finish will be created.
d. Then the final coating should be done with a high performance enamel spray paint, rust oleum. This is to ensure the moisture can’t go through the paint & damage the pole.
2. How to paint a basketball goal?
a. Remove the backboard from the pole. Take out the rim then
b. Scrap & remove old paint
c. Create a stencil
d. Begin painting both the backboard & rim using a quality paint
e. Reassemble the hoop
You get a detailed guide on painting your own basketball goal here
Final Verdict
If you’re thinking of purchasing an expensive, super sturdy basketball hoop and hoping that this will automatically survive years while completely ignoring the maintenance tasks, then you are totally wrong.
Lack of care can reduce the lifespan of anything, and it is true with the basketball hoop. And the maintenance of basketball hoops is not something very difficult.
Examine your hoop, look for damaged parts than either repair or replace it. Anybody can do it if there is some time in hand.
After all, you are doing these things for the sake of your property. In the end, you get a durable hoop, superb performance & the highest level of satisfaction, all of the three.
Hopefully, you've found this basketball hoop maintenance guide pretty useful.