Glass, Acrylic, or Polycarbonate: Picking the Right Basketball Backboard

The basketball backboard refers to the solid and firm board placed behind the hoop through which the ball bounces off during some scoring attempts.

Comparing Your Material Options

Tempered glass 

It provides the greatest consistency with the true bounce and is best suited for competitive and college games; however, tempered glass is the most expensive and the heaviest among all.

Acrylic glass 

This provides the right amount of quality and price for school gymnasiums and community centers which require reliable service without having to pay the premium that is charged by glass. 

Polycarbonate 

It is often the most preferred choice for outside courts due to its durability.

Sizing and Mounting Matter Too

Normal sizes of backboards come in 72-inch widths for adult competition courts, although there are also different sizes available when a court is meant for youth or recreational play with low ceilings. 

There are types of basketball backboards that can be mounted directly to the goal, whereas there are those that will need a separate four-corner mounting system, depending on the design of the backboard.

Longevity by Material

A backboard made of glass lasts longer than one made of acrylic and polycarbonate for several years due to high usage under heavy competition, making it a very important aspect regarding cost per year. 

If an individual is buying equipment from an online store specializing in sports equipment and needs to update their entire basketball program, then they need to do an honest comparison.

A Note on Weather Exposure

The other aspect that comes into consideration in this case is the outdoor environment because UV radiation and temperature changes will have different effects on acrylic, polycarbonate, and glass. 

Polycarbonate will resist yellowing better in the outdoors, while installation of glass will be almost exclusively indoors in gymnasiums with climate control. 

Considering the location of the court, and not only its competitive level, will help make the choice before the order is placed, avoiding costly replacements just a few seasons later.

Get It From SportBiz

All basketball backboards that SportBiz sells come in all three types of material, and information such as size and mounting is clearly available for each and every product page. SportBiz is a trusted sports equipment online store, helping customers pair up backboards to goals and mountings in their first purchase attempt.

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