Your basketball hoop is only as good as your backboard. Before you invest in a basketball hoop for your home, a gym, or a park, the first things that you have to do is ensure that you are purchasing the correct basketball backboard for your needs.

Acrylic – Acrylic is the most common basketball backboard material, though it may be outpaced by polycarbonate soon. This is simply a clear, durable a plastic material. While they can last a long time, acrylic basketball backboards tend to yellow if they are placed out in the sun for a couple years.

Molded Plastic - “Molded plastic” goes by several different names depending upon the manufacturer, but you can always find them on the cheapest hoops. With molded plastic hoops, you generally get what you pay for. They vibrate a lot and have the worst rebound of any basketball hoop . They are only really suitable for children or if you can’t afford a higher quality hoop.

Polycarbonate – Polycarbonate is a plastic material that is clear like acrylic, but is much stronger. So they are much less likely to break because of dunking or other rough play. Don’t be confused by basketball backboards that advertise themselves as “acrylic polycarbonate,” as these are just polycarbonate basketball backboards.

Glass- Glass backboards can only really be found on premium and higher end basketball hoops. Ninety percent of the time, glass basketball hoops will be more expensive than their acrylic counterparts, but every once in a while you might encounter an acrylic model that is actually more expensive than a glass model. This is because acrylic is made of oil, and as the cost of oil increases, so does the cost of

Some people avoid purchasing glass backboards because they are worried that the glass is more prone to breaking than other models. Really, despite what NBA highlight reels might have you believe, there is little chance of a glass backboard breaking even after years of use. If you are worried about your backboard breaking

Steel – Steel backboards are almost exclusively found on in ground basketball hoops designed for use on school or public playgrounds. They are ideal for when you are placing a hoop that is an area that at risk for vandalism. The thick steel can put up with even the harshest treatment without suffering too much damage.

Fiberglass - Like steel backboards, fiberglass backboards are typically only found on institutional systems, though they are typically more found in indoor courts than outdoor basketball courts. But for when they are used in outdoor systems, fiberglass basketball backboards are typically weather sealed to prevent moisture from causing the fiberglass to rot.