Pros

Portable, adjustable, polycarbonate backboard, overhang, breakaway rim, affordable

Cons

Adjusts in increments, backboard size, 3 piece round pole, front cover, stability

Overall Rating

The Spalding 66349 is a entry-level portable basketball system. It features a 50″ polycarbonate backboard with a steel frame and a pro slam breakaway rim. The height adjusts in 6-inch increments from 7.5 to 10 ft. The round pole comes in 3 sections, and has a diameter of 3.5 inches. The base holds up to 34 gallons of water or sand. A front cover is included to serve as a rebounder. The 66349 is backed by a 5-year limited warranty.

What To Like

• Portable. No cement installation is required, it can be moved around whenever necessary, and is convenient. You can play on it anywhere as long as it’s on a flat surface. The two wheels make it fairly easy to move.
• Adjustable. Ideal for children under 10 who are not yet capable of shooting on a 10 ft. hoop. It’s also good for families who want to play together. A lift system is used, which involves manually lowering or raising it. Raising it to 10 ft could require a ladder or step.
• Polycarbonate backboard. This material is a very strong plastic. It’s actually stronger than acrylic, which you sometimes see on more expensive hoops such as the Spalding 68562. It’s not likely to break even when dunking or exposed to rough play.
• Overhang. Overhang refers to the space between the front of the pole and the bottom of the backboard. I can’t tell for sure how much overhang there is, but the angle of the pole helps provide some space underneath so players don’t run into the base.
• Breakaway rim. Having a breakaway rim allows for dunking, since it gives when you pull down on it. Without this give, dunking would put a lot of stress on the backboard. It also prevents the rim from breaking as well. Children (or even adults) can have some fun with this.
• Affordable. With a price tag just below $320, it can still be classified as affordable for many people.

What Not To Like

• Adjusts in increments. Some hoops have infinite adjustment as opposed to increments. This means you could adjust it to any height between 7.5 and 10 feet. However, this hoop adjusts in 6-inch increments, limiting the number of heights you can change it to.
• Backboard size. 50″ is a bit small, and for another $50 you could buy 4 more inches with the Lifetime 71524. To put into perspective, 72″ width is regulation size. The closer you can get to this number, the better the performance. 50″ is fine for a 1-car driveway, but relatively speaking it’s small for a basketball hoop.
• 3-piece 3.5″ round pole. A single section, square pole is ideal because it limits vibration. This one has neither. It’s round, and comes in 3 pieces. Naturally, it’s not going to perform as well as a single pole. The 3.5 inches is relatively small, which doesn’t give the backboard as much sturdiness compared to larger poles.
• Front cover. This refers to the plastic cover that you see attached from the base to the pole. I don’t care for this simply because the ball bounces away if it strikes the cover at an angle.

One reviewer said that his cracked w/in 3 weeks. Mine shattered in only 2 weeks. Bottom line here: the plastic isn’t strong enough to handle normal use so if you get this model, PLAN on it breaking soon and then either not having it or making your own.
– B. Walker

• Stability. A portable hoop with a base naturally isn’t going to be as stable as an in-ground model, or a more expensive portable one. Filling it with sand does help, but the backboard won’t be as rigid. A few customers noted that the hoop moves a little while shooting off the backboard.

Summary

The Spalding 66349 is pretty typical of a basketball hoop in this price range. It has a smaller, but strong backboard, a breakaway rim for dunking, and adjustability for children.

The Spalding 66349 is a entry-level portable basketball system. There are alot of mixed reviews on this puppy. First of all, installation is more difficult than you think. It generally comes with a DVD of instructions on assembly, but it will still take many hours to get this set up. Next, it is not as sturdy as other Spalding brands. It has a tendency to vibrate and does not feel like a really well built hoop. Personally, I think this is actually a very good alternative to an expensive system. It is a good portable basketball hoop system for children. Don’t love it, but I would definitely buy it if it fit my family.

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Pros

Micro-adjustable, 60-inch backboard, Arena Slam breakaway rim, stable

Cons

16-inch overhang, round 3.5 inch pole, acrylic backboard

Overall Rating

The Spalding 6852 is a mid-level portable basketball hoop. It features an acrylic 60-inch backboard and heavy-duty steel frame. The Arena Slam breakaway rim has steel support braces and an institutional style wrap. The adjustment ranges in infinite increments from 7.5 to 10 feet with the Screw Jack lift system. Once the height is set, the handle can be removed. The base can hold 40 gallons of water or sand. The three-piece pole is 3.5 inches in diameter, and the overhang is 16-inches. Dimensions: 58 x 35 x 15 inches ; 100 pounds.

What To Like

• Portable. This is ideal for those who want nothing to do with inground models, and would like to move it around when necessary. You can take it anywhere you want it as long as it’s on a level surface.
• Adjustable. While a lot of hoops nowadays have this feature, this one has infinite adjustment. This separates it from some of the less expensive hoops that adjust in 6-inch increments. You can remove the handle from the jack to prevent injury and tampering. Children benefit the most from this feature.
• Backboard size. Regulation sized width is 72-inches, and this one is 60-inches, so it’s not far off. It’s big enough for a 2 or 3-car driveway, and allows for bank shots from various angles. It’s suitable for more serious play by adults.
• Arena Slam breakaway rim. The design mimics some of the rims you would see in gym. The support braces and smooth spring action will take some pressure off the backboard during play. It also makes the rim softer, allowing for the ball to bounce in more frequently while shooting. It’s strong enough to handle adults dunking on it.
• Front cover. The cover gives the hoop a more professional look, plus it serves as a rebounder when the ball goes through the net.
• Stability. While it’s $200 more, the Spalding 6852 is 50 pounds heavier than Lifetime 71524 model, even though it basically has the same pole and base. This added weight makes it more stable. Of course, it actually will weigh a lot more once the base is filled up.

What To Like

• 16-inch overhang. This doesn’t provide enough space to play underneath the basket, and players will be more susceptible to bumping into the front cover.
• Round 3.5 inch pole. Square poles are the strongest, plus 3.5 inches isn’t any larger than some of the less expensive models. I would have expected a stronger pole, especially for a 60-inch backboard. Plus, it comes in sections of 3, which is not ideal.
• Acrylic backboard. Polycarbonate is actually a stronger material than acrylic, which is found on some lower level hoops. Acrylic isn’t bad, as it does mimic indoor baskets in appearance. However, you will notice little scuff marks after a while, and it can attract mildew.

Summary

The 60-inch backboard is probably the most appealing trait of the Spalding 68562. There is nothing extraordinary about it, but it’s a pretty solid hoop all around. It’s stable, has a large-sized backboard, and has a high-quality rim. I would say that it’s worth the price tag.

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