I bought this for my 11-year-old son a few months ago. Yes, it takes a day to put together by one person and I did have to ask for brief help from a neighbor for one or two parts. But, this is a good hoop, especially for the price at Walmart, which--if memory serves--was about a hundred less than the sporting type stores. I don't think that you can do much better in the price range for this 'movable' i.e., not in-ground system. It's quite stable, compared to the kind that has the pole in the front, versus start in the back of base and angle forward--a much better design. Generally a solid hoop and materials seem of decent quality--not super chintzy. There are a couple exceptions and caveats as follows:
1. It is NOT really movable. With the base 3/4 full of water, it is only really movable (by one adult) in the forward direction (takes two to jimmy it backwards) and the turning radius is like a semi-truck, so don't buy this thinking your child will be free-wheeling it around like the picture on the box.
2. The ball return-handle combo that is supposed to allow you to move it easily worked well as a ball return, but within a month broke off---specifically, the bolt and/or washer is too small, and with the force needed to move the hoop, pulled through the hole in the plastic base. I think I can fix it with a larger washer, but it'll be a bit of work b/c I'll have to empty the base and turn over on its side.
3. Again, it's implied that a child can raise and lower the hoop with ease. No way! Based on experimentation, your average 11-year-old boy can LOWER it (a bit abruptly) b/c the weight of the hoop and backboard brings it down, but can't budge it up very high. It'll take an adult or strong teen to raise to top height. If your under about 150 lbs, it'll take just about the whole weight of your body and a good muscle/effort to raise it.
All this being said, I'd purchase again b/c it is a generally good hoop system for the money. You might want to put a larger washer on the top side of the bolt of the ball return/handle when you initially assemble it and that will save you from a potential repair job.
Print this page
