I see lots of freestanding goals on Craig's List. Should I get one of those or should I buy one to install over the garage? What are the pros/cons? Thanks!
Most neighborhood associations in the area have rules against basketball goals attached to the house. That's why you see so many freestanding. We live in the country & I wanted to put one on the house, but my husband did not. We got a freestanding goal & I'm SO glad we did. We can move it and it just provides much more flexibility.
We had one on a pole - my husband installed it on the edge of our driveway. There was nothing to it - just dig a hole, put the pole in, fill in with quickset concrete. The pole was adjustable, so we could raise it for our oldest then lower it for our youngest. When we got rid of it, my husband cut it down. But, those are things you would have to deal with if it is installed. If it's free-standing, all you have to do is wheel it away. I would NEVER mount one to my house.
When we were kids, we had one over the garage. We were constantly having to climb the tree near the house and walk on the roof to go get the ball that was stuck behind the goal on the roof. It does get loud and not fun to listen to if you are in the house. I say go free-standing.
When we had one we got the freestanding. Once daughter outgrew it, we rolled it to the neighbor's house for their 3 girls.
I am not one to attach anything to my house, garage, etc. It is not worth defacing the property in my opinion. I like to keep our house clear of anything attached to it except what it needs structurally.
Freestanding is easy to move, adjust, etc. When you get tired of something attached to your house, you will have to repair the spot where you had it attached.
It depends on your roof gable. You do not want the basketball to constantly be hitting the shingles. We have always had freestanding ones because of how our driveways were shaped. You also do not have all of the noise you have with one attached to the house.
It might depend on your HOA if you're in such a neighborhood. Ours only allows freestanding.
If you can position a freestanding goal away from your house and car, you should be fine. We have a freestanding goal (actually, it's our third). The only workable place for it on our property is the corner where our two garages meet. We have had damage to the house (gutters mashed flat, outdoor lights broken), damage to the car (basketball-sized dent in the rear) and wear and tear on the garage door. Also, the goal itself gets damaged when the base, which is filled with water, gets side-swiped by the car -- it leaks and then we have to put heavy stones on it to keep it from falling over. Another thing is kids like to hang from the goal and that can damage it by loosening the rim. I have considered replacing it with one attached over the garage, but I think the damage to house and car would probably be the same. And I don't want kids on my roof dislodging basketballs. So I am sticking with the freestanding goal.
Another alternative, if you have a good place for it, is to have an in-ground goal installed on your property. This is quite a bit more expensive but I would have preferred this in the long run if we had a good place for it, rather than keep replacing the freestanding goals.
If it were me, I would go with freestanding. I couldn't imagine over my garage and the constant banging into the house or the potential damage to the garage door.
Having one mounted on the house is the better choice. It is more rigid and will be more like the ones in the gym. However, two things must also be in place: a flat driveway that is big enough and the ability for your house and garage door to take some hits. Pole-mounted goals are what people use because there house and/or driveway isn't suitable in those ways.
I have to say, as a neighbor, I find the non-permanent free-standing goals trashy and unsafe. I know, I will probably get flack for that comment, but I love the idea of a more permanent free standing that susiet suggested (if allowed).
Growing up we had one mounted to our house, but my best friend had hers on a pole as suggested below ( permanent, not rolling). We always played at her house and I loved playing there!! regulation height, easily adjustable as kids, didn't rock or fall, when we played with boys they could dunk and not have the thing fall on them:) It was positioned that if we missed the ball didn't go into street.
On the other hand, I hated that my house mount 1. not regulation height, 2. it hit the roof/garage/side of the house if I missed (i think my parents hated that, too) 3. I couldn't play if the car was in the drive. 4. always went into the street or down our acre and 1/2 hill (lots of running as a kid).
Hope that helps a little.
