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Lifetime 71566 XL Portable Basketball System

May 2, 2012 By Scott Gump

Pros

Polycarbonate backboard, portable, affordable, spring rim, easy height adjustment, 5 year warranty

Cons

Small backboard, incremental height adjustment, lack of stability

Overall Rating

The Lifetime 71566 XL is an entry-level portable system that features a 50″ shatter-proof polycarbonate backboard. The height adjusts from 7.5 to 10 feet with the use of a handle. You raise and lower the handle to make the adjustment. The 3.5″ round pole is broken down into three sections. Included is a solid steel double compression rim for dunking. The backboard offset is 22 inches. The base holds 35 gallons of water or sand. The 71566 XL is backed by a 5 year limited warranty.

What To Like

  • Portable. Talk about stating the obvious. Nonetheless, portability allows you to move it from one spot to another and requires no installation. You can take with if you relocate.
  • Affordable. Basketball hoops can get awfully expensive, but the 71566 XL is priced in a range that is affordable for many families.
  • Polycarbonate backboard. This is a very strong material, as it’s stronger than the often seen acrylic backboards. Therefore, it’s not as likely to break because of dunking.
  • Spring rim. It provides some give so players can dunk. However, I wouldn’t recommend hanging on it.
  • Easy height adjustment. Squeeze the handle, and lower it up or down. That’s it, the process is quick and easy.
  • 5 year warranty. If something breaks within five years, Lifetime will send a replacement part.

What Not To Like

  • Backboard size. 50″ is a bit small, so players don’t have as big of a target when shooting.
  • Height adjusts in increments. If you look at more expensive hoops, they’ll adjust infinitely. In other words, you’ll be able to set it anywhere in the height range, typically 7.5 – 10 feet. This hoop adjusts in 6-inch increments, so users don’t have as many options.
  • Lack of stability. Naturally, a portable hoop isn’t going to be as stable as an in-ground. Plus, the pole and backboard aren’t very sturdy, so it will have some wobble.
  • 22-inch offset. Not much space under the basket. Not a huge deal, but it’s less safe and doesn’t give players as much room to maneuver.
  • 3-section round pole. A one-piece square pole is best for performance.

Summary

The Lifetime 71566 XL is pretty similar to many entry-level hoops. It’s well-suited for children or adults, as long as they don’t abuse it. The backboard is solid, the spring rim allows for dunking, and the height adjustment is pretty straightforward. It’s not going to perform as well as an in-ground. But if you want a portable hoop at a reasonable price, then it’s a good option.

As with all of the portable hoop systems that we have reviewed, installation is not a cakewalk. Once the hoop is up, it is actually a pretty sturdy hoop for the price. I would say that this hoop is fine for families with young children or old people with young grandchildren. I would not consider this the best alternative for families with rough teenage children that like to play basketball.

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Filed Under: $300 to $500, Lifetime, Portable Basketball Hoops, Reviews

Lifetime 90014 Competition In Ground Basketball System

April 2, 2012 By Scott Gump

Pros

Stability, pneumatic lift mechanism, tempered glass backboard, 4-inch square pole, 27″ overhang

Cons

Thin backboard, direct burial installation

Overall Rating

 

The 90014 Competition is one of the top in-ground basketball systems sold by Lifetime. It’s suited for a 1-2 car driveway playing area. It features a 54″ tempered glass backboard, a 4-inch square pole, and a 27-inch offset. The height adjusts from 7.5 to 10 feet in infinite increments with the use of the Power Lift® pneumatic mechanism. The Slam-it Ultra rim is made of solid steel and has a wrap-around brace. The The 90014 is backed by a 5 year limited warranty. Dimensions: 58 x 36.5 x 7 inches; 125 pounds.

What To Like

  • Stability. In-ground hoops are best for stability. The tempered glass backboard adds to this because it’s a heavier material compared to polycarbonate and acrylic. The square 4-inch pole helps reduce vibration.
  • Infinite adjustment. You can raise or lower it to any height between 7.5 and 10 feet. Some mid-level hoops only adjust in increments of 6-inches.
  • Power Lift® pneumatic mechanism. This is a gas assisted adjustment mechanism that makes it easier to lift and lower the hoop. You grab the handle and simply raise or lower it depending on what height you want. The downside is that it may start leaking gas a few years down the road, which can affect precision.
  • Tempered glass backboard. Simply put, tempered glass is the best of the best. It’s used at the college and pro level. It’s heavier, more rigid, and durable compared to other materials. A huge plus.
  • 4-inch thick square pole. Less expensive hoops typically have round poles that are between 3-3.5 inches thick. Certainly, this is an upgrade. The square shape is superior as far as sturdiness is concerned.
  • Overhang. The thicker pole leads to a greater backboard offset, which is the distance it extends out from the pole. A 27″ offset is very impressive for a hoop in this price range. To put into perspective, the Mammoth 98856 is $200 more and has the same overhang. The benefit is more playing space under the basket so players are less likely to bump into the pole.

What Not To Like

  • Thin backboard. 1/5-inches thick is below average for tempered glass, as most premium hoops have a 3/8 backboard. But, they also happen to be more expensive.
  • Direct burial installation. While in-grounds do provide more stability than portable hoops, this type of installation does require time and effort. Plus, it can’t be removed. You can purchase a Lifetime ground sleeve for 4-inch square poles. The pole slides into the sleeve so it can still be removed if necessary. However, it’s still inferior to the anchor mount installation.

Summary

What’s most appealing about the the Lifetime 90014 Competition system is the tempered glass backboard. It’s truly the best for overall performance. You won’t find too many other hoops in this price range with tempered glass. The thick pole and 27″ offset are also positives. The backboard is a bit thin, so I would be careful about hanging on the rim and being rough with it. The installation will also require time and effort. Overall, it’s well worth the price.

Filed Under: $700 to $900, Inground Basketball Hoops, Lifetime, Reviews

Lifetime 71523 Competition XL Portable Basketball System

March 5, 2012 By Scott Gump

Pros

Portable, 54″ polycarbonate backboard, infinite adjustment, 22-inch overhang, breakaway rim

Cons

3-piece 3.5″ round pole, lack of stability, value

Overall Rating

The 71523 Competition XL is the second highest priced portable hoop sold by Lifetime. Featured is a 54″ polycarbonate backboard and infinite adjustment from 7.5 to 10 ft. The slam-it pro rim has a wrap-around support that mimics what you would see in a gym. The rectangular extension arms allow for a 22 inch overhang, which is an increase over lesser priced models from Lifetime. The pole comes in 3 sections and has a diameter of 3.5 inches. The base holds 35 gallons of water or sand. The 71523 is backed by a 5 year limited warranty. Footprint: 49 x 24 x 12 ; weight: 118 lbs.

What To Like

  • Portable. This type of hoop is suited for those who don’t want to install an in-ground model, or would like to store the hoop while it’s not being used. Portables are also ideal for casual players who won’t care as much about a lack of stability.
  • Infinite adjustment. Some portable hoops adjust in increments, but this one can adjust to any height between 7.5-10 feet. It’s raised and lowered with a pneumatic handle assist. This makes it easier to adjust, but doesn’t have the reliability long-term that a manual one does.
  • 54″ polycarbonate backboard. It’s well-suited for a 1-2 car driveway, and is big enough to shoot bank shots on from all angles. Polycarbonate is stronger than acrylic, which makes it less susceptible to damage if exposed to dunking and rough play.
  • Breakaway rim. What’s different about this rim compared to other similar models is the wrap-around brace. It gives it a more professional look, and plays better because of it. Players can dunk without worrying about causing damage.
  • 22-inch overhang. This isn’t much, but the Spalding 68564 costs $60 more and has an overhang of 16 inches. The more overhang a basket has, the more safe it is for players. That’s because there is more room to maneuver under the backboard. It also provides a little more realism.
  • No installation. Another benefit of buying a portable hoop is not having to dig a hole or pour cement.

What Not To Like

  • 3-piece 3.5″ round pole. The best poles are square and come in one-piece because they all but eliminate vibration. For casual play, it’s not a big deal however. But if you want performance, I would look for a hoop with a single pole. The other downside is that the sections have to be put together, which can be a challenge at times.
  • Lack of stability. What you gain in portability, you lose in stability.
  • Value. The Lifetime 71524 almost has the exact same specifications, yet costs $100 less. I think the main difference is that the 71523 has stronger extension arms, which results in a larger overhang. But is that alone worth an extra $100?

Summary

The Lifetime 71523 is ideal for casual/recreation play among children or adults. It’s a quality hoop, and there isn’t much to gripe about. Lifetime produces a really solid line of affordable basketball hoops. What’s strange how much this hoop resembles the Lifetime 71524, yet costs $100 more. What you have to decide is whether the additional overhang is worth the difference in price.

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Filed Under: $300 to $500, Lifetime, Portable Basketball Hoops, Reviews

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