Two of the biggest names in residential basketball hoops are Spalding Vs. Lifetime. But which brand is the right one for your family’s court? Well, it really depends upon what kind of basketball hoop you want to get. Here’s a rundown of the best features that both brands offer so you can know what you are getting into.

Price

If you want to get a super cheap portable basketball system, your best bet would probably be a Spalding Basketball system. They have kiddie basketball hoops under $100 like the Spalding Youth NBA Portable Basketball System with 32-inch EcoComposite Fan Backboard and also adult sized cheap hoops like the Lifetime 1221 Pro Court Height-Adjustable Portable Basketball System with 44-Inch Backboard

                                                           

However, if you have your eye more on an In Ground Basketball System, you should instead look more closely at Lifetime Basketball Systems. One of the best selling basketball hoops on the market right now is the Lifetime 1008 In-Ground Basketball Hoop with 44 Inch Acrylic Fusion Backboard , and with good reason. For a basketball hoop under $200, there is just no better value.


Pole

For people who are more interested in a permanent unit, Lifetime offers high quality mid range in ground basketball hoop system that features a four inch single piece pole: the Lifetime 90014 Competition 54 Inch Tempered Glass Power Lift In Ground Basketball System You will seriously be hard pressed to find a basketball hoop with this quality for a dime less.


Adjustment Systems

Adjustment is mostly a matter of opinion, but there is one kind you generally want to stay away from if you plan on adjusting your hoop often: the “broomstick handle” adjustment systems. These are found on the really cheap basketball hoops and are sometimes called “quick adjust” systems. They work fine if you just plan on keeping the basketball hoop at a single height for a long time, but they can be really frustrating if you wind up needing to adjust the height of the basketball hoop all the time.

One smart option in portable basketball hoops if you want an easy adjustment system at a cheap price is the Spalding 72354 Polycarbonate Portable Basketball System . If you want a somewhat higher end portable basketball hoop with an easy to use adjustment system, take a look at the Spalding 74467 Portable Basketball Hoop with 60 Inch Acrylic Backboard. Spalding Portable Basketball Hoop with Screw Jack Lift and 54 Inch Backboard

                                

For in Ground Systems with easy adjustment systems, purchase the Lifetime 71525 In-Ground Basketball System with 54-Inch Shatter Guard Backboard It’s a solid system with an easy to use pneumatic height adjust.

Backboards

For lower end systems, the rule of thumb is that polycarbonate is better than acrylic, and glass is better than polycarbonate. For one of the most affordable in ground glass basketball hoops you can buy, your best choice is the Spalding 54-Inch In-Ground Basketball System with Glass Backboard . But Lifetime offers a similar system in the Lifetime 90013 Competition 60 Inch Tempered Glass Power Lift In Ground Basketball System . The lifetime system is better because it has a bigger backboard and comes with both a pole pad and a backboard pad, plus the it also has superior height adjustment abilities.

                                                         

The Bottom Line

When you Compare Lifetime and Spalding, it’s actually best to look at individual systems rather than the brands. Examining Lifetime vs. Spalding should focus more on finding the features that will enhance your home basketball experience rather than who the manufacturer is.