The basketball pole is fundamental to the overall stability of a your basketball hoop. If the pole is flimsy, even the best backboard in the world isn’t going to help you get the rigidity that you need,

Take these factors into account when looking at the poles on basketball goals you are interested in.

Number of Sections – Poles for residential basketball hoops typically come in either one or three sections, though you may occasionally come across a unit that has a two section poles. If you are primarily concerned with the quality of play, try to get the single piece poles. They are usually found on some of the more expensive models, but single they are a single, solid piece of steel they are less likely to wobble. You should really only get three piece basketball poles if you want the installation process to be easier of you just can afford a one piece pole.

Gauge of Steel - This information is sometimes hard to come by, especially for lower-end hoops, but you should also check the gauge of the steel of the poles on your basketball goal. The lower gauge of a steel means that the steel wall is thicker and stronger. Cheaper basketball poles usually have sixteen on eighteen gauge steel. Middle range units, such as those that cost between a thousand and fifteen hundred dollars, usually have eleven gauge steel. Very expensive units, such as those that cost over two thousand dollars, can have as low as seven gauge steel.

Shape- Basketball poles comes in two shapes: square and round. The most common shape is round, especially on lower end Lifetime and Spalding basketball hoops. If you can afford it, always opt for the square basketball pole, because that shape provides for the least amount of vibration when bouncing the basketball against the backboard.

Size- The size of basketball poles can range anywhere from three inches in diameter all the way up to eight inches on higher end basketball standards. Obviously, the thicker the pole, the more stable the hoop. The most common size is three and half inches on round basketball poles, and the smallest square pole is usually around four inches. Five and six inch poles are most commonly found on mid range residential units, such as Mammoth and Lifetime.