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How to make a real basketball hoop
How to make a real basketball hoop
STEAM@Home: Make Your Own Basketball Hoop!
No application or registration needed.
Location
- Only virtual (online or over the phone).
Find an area where you can lay out materials and do some hands-on construction.
Additional information
Materials:
- A wire hanger. It cannot be a partially metal hanger made substantially of wood or plastic.
- A large, flat piece of cardboard.
- The tape of your choosing. Masking tape may be the easiest to work with; duct tape would certainly make the hoop durable.
- Markers or paint.
- Scissors.
- String (optional).
Instructions:
- Bend the wire hanger into a circle. You do not even have to dismantle the hanger, but just reshape it into a hoop.
- Bend the hook of the hanger so that it is at a 90 degree angle with the hoop. Do not cut away the hook, as it still can be of some use.
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- Cut the cardboard to the size and shape of your liking. Standard high school, college, and NBA backboards are rectangular, if you are looking to replicate that appearance. Try to make sure the relative scale of the hoop and backboard seem reasonable. For comparative purposes, an NBA backboard is 6 feet wide, while the basket opening is 18 inches (1.5 feet). That means the basket width is 1/4 (or 25%) as wide.
- Decorate the hoop and backboard to your liking. Traditional hoops are painted red, but you can certainly customize it to fit whatever you desire. The backboard of most high schools, colleges, and all NBA franchises are now made of transparent glass; as there is no transparent cardboard, you can really be as creative as you want.
- Tape the hoop to the backboard. You can attach the hook (which you bent up earlier) to lower back side of the backboard. Make sure the rim is as close to the backboard as possible.
- Attach a net to the basketball rim (optional). You can make make a net out of string, or even out of twisted tape.
- Hang the completed basket to a wall or door. Masking tape will work well for this purpose, as it will not leave a sticky mess behind like duct tape would. There are two different taping methods you can employ.
This activity supports the practice of these STEAM Habits of Mind: Develop craft, engage & persist, observe, reflect, stretch & explore.
Tips for Supporting Your Children's Learning
Get your child actively involved in their own learning and having their questions drive the learning. Let them observe and figure out, and try to hold back from answering questions for them. Instead, try to ask: What do we know? What else can we find out? How might we figure that out? Don't be afraid to ask your child questions. Also, don't be afraid to say "I don't know--let's find out together!" as a way to respond to their questions.
Here's an article to help you support this kind of learning: Of the Value of Saying I Don’t Know
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Want to learn more about making your own sports equipment?
- Science Club for Girls at Home - Make you own sports equipment challenge
- Instructables - MYO Basketball hoops
More hands on activities and learning opportunities:
- Homecourt - basketball skill building app
-
Cambridge Public Schools Virtual Enrichment Recommendations
-
Parkour Generations - Classes
-
Department of Human Services Sports Leagues
More STEAM@Home suggestions!
STEAM Habits of Mind - observe, reflect, engage & persist, stretch & explore, imagine, develop craft
How to Build a Super DIY Wood Basketball Hoop in Hours!
Our DIY Reclaimed Wood basketball Hoop was incredibly easy to make & only took a few hours to build for just the cost of a basketball rim.
Sharing all of our tips & tricks for how to make an awesome DIY wood basketball hoop with pictures. It’s a hit with our kids for those home bound rainy days when they are stuck indoors!
Table of Contents
DIY Reclaimed Wood Basketball Hoop
*this post contains affiliate links for more information check out our disclosure page here*
Hands down our family’s favorite sport is basketball.
With the kids home this Spring & so many rainy days to come we decided to make an indoor DIY wood Basketball Hoop for our new home gym/ office.
With most of the furniture out of the room, thanks to our new bookcase turned entertainment center (see that here) we have plenty of room for the kids to let out ALL this extra energy they have!!!
Although our basement ceilings are low (7 feet), we decided it would still be fun to make the kids a DIY reclaimed wood basketball hoop since they love playing basketball together & can’t play outside when the weather is bad.
Supplies Needed for a DIY Wood Basketball Hoop
Our DIY Basketball Hoop Backboard Dimensions are 27″ inches high & 44″ wide.
- Reclaimed Wood for Basketball Wood Backboard
- Saw to Cut the Wood to Size
- Basketball Hoop (we purchased this one Here)
- Spray Paint
- Scrap Wood to Secure the Wood Basketball Backboard to the Wall
- Screws & Screwdriver
How to Build/ Make a DIY Wood Basketball Hoop in 4 Steps…
Step ONE – Creating the Wood Backboard for the DIY Basketball Hoop
Jason had some leftover wood from our former dining room church pew (see that here) that there had been some controversy over.
Long story short, I wanted to keep the church pew & Jason wanted to build benches for our dining room instead.
Jason won & he built 2 benches to replace the pew.
However, I do have to admit that I love the character the old reclaimed wood from our former church pew gives to both the DIY wood basketball hoop backboard as well as our bookcase/ entertainment center.
Our custom DIY wood basketball hoop backboard is a bit smaller than regulation size so we could fit it in our room. Jason cut the reclaimed wood boards for the backboard to be 27 inches high and 44 inches long.
Once the pew boards were cut to the same length Jason attached some spared oak boards to the attach to span any board seams and hold the boards together.
Step TWO – Painting the White Square on the Wood Backboard
Once the DIY wood basketball hoop backboard was together Jason painted on the white square with the same spray paint we used for Audrey’s nightstand & desk. (see those makeovers here)
Printer paper & masking tape did a great job creating the perfect square for our wood basketball hoop with spray paint.
Step THREE – Securing the Basketball Hoop Wood Backboard to the Wall
To secure something heavy to a wall a good method is to cut 2 boards at a 45 degree angle the length of it.
You can then attach one board to wall securely finding the studs to screw into such that it will receive the similar board attached to the backboard and draw it into the wall.
For the DIY wood basketball backboard Jason doubled this up and did 2 boards on the wall and 2 boards on the back of the backboard.
Measure carefully to space out the angled boards appropriately that are attached to the wall and the angled boards attached to the back of the wood basketball hoop backboard.
Once these are attached you should just be able to lift the backboard up to the wall and set it in place.
Jason found that the backboard rattled when a ball bounced against it more than he liked so he also put 2 screws through the front of the wooden backboard to the wood he had already screwed into the wall.
As you noticed from the picture of the back of the backboard Jason finished off the sides with some wood from the pew to give it a nice finished look and hide the support boards on the back of the wood basketball hoop backboard.
Step FOUR – Attaching the Hoop to our DIY Wood Basketball Hoop Backboard
We added this basketball hoop to the wood baseboard.
It took the kids no time to start putting our DIY Reclaimed Wood Basketball Hoop to use.
Our family is not known for our height & everyone was excited to FINALLY be able to dunk. 🙂
See our Home Gym & Exercise Room with our DIY Wood Basketball Hoop (
here)
I hope this inspires you & answers all your questions about how to create a DIY Wood Basketball Hoop at your home!
by Tara Lehman
DOn’t forget to pin & save our DIY Wood Basketball Hoop to your Favorite Pinterest Board!
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Basketball hoop - how to make a stand with a backboard with your own hands
Love basketball and want to make a hoop? I wanted to make it myself, not buy it, and I ended up making it. It's pretty cheap, especially if you have some of the stuff you need to assemble.
Let's start assembling the basketball hoop with our own hands.
Step 1: Shape the Ring
The first thing you will need is a ring, I made it with 12mm rod, but it doesn't have to be that size.
The standard diameter of a basketball hoop is 450 mm.
To make it flat you need something to wrap it around, this thing should be about 400mm in diameter.
I found an old car rim of the right size, you will need to clamp it to the table with a clamp using a piece of wood.
As shown in photo 2, place another clamp a little further from the first with a rod between them.
As shown in photo 3, slowly wrap the rod around the disk, once you wrap the rod and its edges overlap, cut off the straight ends.
Use a clamp to press the ends together, then weld them together.
To complete this part, place the ring on the ground and straighten out all the curves.
Step 2: Frame
- Bend a piece of flat metal, mine was 4mm thick.
- Weld it to a flat point in the ring.
- Cut two rods 320 mm long.
- Weld them as shown in the photo.
- Drill four holes to match your existing bolts.
- If you need a netball ring, you can simply attach it to the pole and skip the rest of the steps.
Step 3: Mesh Staples (Optional)
Show 7 More Images
Do this step if you need mesh. If you need a network, you will have to buy it.
This step is not as difficult as it seems.
- cut 12 pieces of wire 90 mm long (I would recommend making a few spare parts, as they are easy to ruin.)
- bend them in the middle (it doesn't matter if the tips are the same length)
- clamp the wire in a vise with a steel rod at one end
- bend wire over rod
- repeat this with all parts of
- retighten the wire wrapped around the rod (see photo)
- bend it
- repeat with all parts
- retighten the wire wrapped around the rod
- bend it (at this point you can't just remove the wire from the rod - you will need to slide it to one of its edges and remove it from the edge)
- repeat with all parts of
- divide into 12 pieces and weld on the brackets
Step 4: Backboard
Cut the board to size.
My board does not fit the full size of basketball boards. (the second picture shows the dimensions of a standard shield).
My measurements are 1100mm wide, 700mm high and 25mm thick. (You don't have to be that size.)
Step 5: Paint the Shield
Once you've drawn all the lines on the shield, lay masking tape over them. If you try, everything will look neat.
If you are using MDF, you will need to take care to protect the edges from moisture (as shown in photo 2).
Carefully paint over the areas around the masking tape.
Remove masking tape after enough coats of paint have been applied and the board looks complete.
Step 6: Paint the ring
First you need to sand the metal. I used a grinding disc on a grinder.
The ring must not be black or white, it must stand out from the shield. Usually the ring is painted orange or red.
The easiest way to paint inventory is from a can.
Step 7: Assemble
Put it all together.
Screw the ring to the shield, hang a net on the ring.
Step 8: Installation
DIY Basketball Post is great to mount on a garage or house wall, but if you want to mount it on a pole, you can create one too.
I installed my ring in the yard using heavy duty wood screws.
A standard basketball hoop must be placed 3 meters from the ground.
I am not responsible for any damage you cause to yourself or your property - you make your own ring.
Successful throws!
Basketball hoop - how to make a stand with a backboard with your own hands
Love basketball and want to make a hoop? I wanted to make it myself, not buy it, and I ended up making it. It's pretty cheap, especially if you have some of the stuff you need to assemble.
Let's start assembling the basketball hoop with our own hands.
Step 1: Shape the ring
The first thing you need is a ring, I made it with 12mm rod, but it doesn't have to be that size.
The standard diameter of a basketball hoop is 450 mm.
To make it flat, you need something to wrap it around, this thing should be about 400mm in diameter.
I found an old car rim of the right size, you will need to clamp it to the table with a clamp using a piece of wood.
As shown in photo 2, place another clamp a little further from the first with a rod in between.
As shown in photo 3, slowly wrap the rod around the disk, once you wrap the rod and its edges overlap, cut off the straight ends.
Use a clamp to press the ends together, then weld them together.
To complete this part, place the ring on the ground and straighten out all the curves.
Step 2: Frame
- Bend a piece of flat metal, mine was 4mm thick.
- Weld it to a flat point in the ring.
- Cut two rods 320 mm long.
- Weld them as shown in the photo.
- Drill four holes to match your existing bolts.
- If you need a netball ring, you can simply attach it to the pole and skip the rest of the steps.
Step 3: Mesh Staples (Optional)
Show 7 More Images
Do this step if you need mesh. If you need a network, you will have to buy it.
This step is not as difficult as it seems.
- cut 12 pieces of wire 90 mm long (I would recommend making a few spare parts, as they are easy to ruin.)
- bend them in the middle (it doesn't matter if the tips are the same length)
- clamp the wire in a vise with a steel rod at one end
- bend wire over rod
- repeat this with all parts of
- retighten the wire wrapped around the rod (see photo)
- bend it
- repeat with all parts
- retighten the wire wrapped around the rod
- bend it (at this point you can't just remove the wire from the rod - you will need to slide it to one of its edges and remove it from the edge)
- repeat with all parts of
- divide into 12 pieces and weld on the brackets
Step 4: Backboard
Cut the board to size.
My board does not fit the full size of basketball boards. (the second picture shows the dimensions of a standard shield).
My measurements are 1100 mm wide, 700 mm high and 25 mm thick. (You don't have to be that size.)
Step 5: Paint the Shield
Once you've drawn all the lines on the shield, lay masking tape over them. If you try, everything will look neat.
If you are using MDF, you will need to take care to protect the edges from moisture (as shown in photo 2).
Carefully paint over the areas around the masking tape.
Remove masking tape after enough coats of paint have been applied and the board looks complete.
Step 6: Paint the ring
First you need to sand the metal. I used a grinding disc on a grinder.
The ring must not be black or white, it must stand out from the shield. Usually the ring is painted orange or red.
The easiest way to paint inventory is from a can.
Step 7: Assemble
Put it all together.
