Spalding 68454 NBA Tempered Glass 54-Inch Screw Jack Portable Basketball System 4.2 5 31 33
Great system, but assembly...sheesh! This is a heavy, sturdy high-quality basketball system, no question. The other reviewers are correct - You MUST read and understand the assembly instructions thoroughly before you even start.The most difficult aspect of assembly - and my biggest complaint about this system- is the 3-piece main pole assembly, which you must complete early on in the process. You need to match up these three system poles exactly according to instructions, but even when you do, Spalding's instructions say that you can easily slide and connect the three pole pieces into each other by "bouncing" them on a piece of plywood. This is patently false. They should replace "bouncing" with "pounding". This is difficult to do and makes a lot of noise. I recommend that you warn all of your neighbors before putting this thing together, because you are going to make a lot of pounding noise...and swearing. Put this baby together it on a Saturday, not a Sunday. The 3rd pole piece is so tall, it will require you to get on a ladder to "bounce" it in to the 1st and 2nd pole pieces. Or you can try to prop the first two connected pole pieces against a cinder block wall and wail the 3rd piece into the other two. Sound like fun? Also, the pieces need to be pounded "all the way in", because if you don't, then the jack screw assembly will not go on right, and the entire system will be unstable. I selected this system based on its high reviews, but you really cannot underestimate (as I admittedly did) the elbow grease required to finishe the assembly. But it is a very sturdy unit and I don't think there's a better one available from a performance standpoint. I disagree with the assertion that assembly is or was "easy". They must have received a very different unit than I did. 02/08/2010
Great Hoop. Read the assembly carefully I bought this mostly for my son, and he loves it. It is a top notch hoop and the glass is great. High quality and sturdy and even includes a tie down, so you don't have to load up the back of it with extra sand bags on top. GREAT PRICE AT WALMART too!You defintely need 2 strong adults for the assembly, this is a heavy rig and one person just does not do the job. Also, you really need to read and look at the instructions, especially for the main post. Line of the holes and the small stickers as in the picture, not the big main sticker as this will throw you off, unless it was just mine that the big sticker in the wrong place. And if you put the main posts together the wrong way, almost impossible to get the apart (I needed a come-along and a couple of cars to pull them apart).Great Hoop though , highly recommend, 05/08/2009
Great portable hoop! Glass rules. This is a great product. Very happy with the purchase. Yeah, I wanted the Beast like a lot of people but for half the price, this is a nice unit. I was able to assemble it myself in about 3 1/2 hours with some help from a jack. Having two people would have been helpful but I couldn't wait to put it together. Putting the post together is a little tricky. You can install it like it says but you have to really bang them down to get it in place. To put the top post on you have to get up high. I was lucky enough to have a retaining wall about 5 foot high so I stood on top and banged it away. don't be afraid to hit it hard and make sure you have a scrap 2 x 4 on the bottom to protect it. Very happy with this purchase. Don't buy a plastic backboard. The bounce is horrible. Make sure its glass. You won't regret it. 09/17/2010
Great Hoop - Highly Recommend So....I read all the reviews before attempting to assemble. My 13 yr old son and I put this thing together in about 3 hours, with no major problems. Before you begin, read instructions carefully and be sure not to overlook the separate "important" note boxes. Tip to help assemeble the 3 pole sections: spray some WD40 on the mating ends of each pole before "bouncing" on a board. Poles slide onto one another much easier. Once assembled, this unit is nearly impossible to upright unless you have partially filled the base with water, or you are using 2 people to heave it up. Glass backboard is awesome, but VERY heavy. Take your time and I guarantee you will be happy with the final product. Kids absolutely love it and so do I. Don't let the other reviews scare you. Anyone with a bit of technical competance can easily assemble. 06/13/2010