Backyard bball court

[CycloneNick]

Have any of you put a basketball court in your backyard? My driveway is a little to steep and narrow. If you have, how much did you spend and it would be great if you posted pictures.

I imagine I could be spending a couple thousand, and while it seems like a lot, there would be a lifetime of memories created with my kids.

Let me know if you recommend any contractors. I'm going to get a quote from these guys: Sport Construction Midwest and Sport Court of Iowa Home Page

Thanks!

 

[cymaniac17]

wow wish my parents would have done this. That would be awesome

 

[Benny34]

This would be awesome. A couple of the houses in my neighborhood have these and they look nice.

 

[Vicarious]

I've not done it but I know two people who have put in sports courts. One moved away two years after installation but they did use it, the other does not get as much use as basketball is not the main sport of either of their kids.

I also have a neighbor that built their garage big enough for an indoor bball court (concrete only but with backboard and heat for winter). It got a lot of use when they owned a company and employees would come and play but they have since sold their company and none of their kids play ball.

My recommendation would be to invest in a good, adjustable permanent backboard, maybe some netting and some decent lighting for evening play. That will probably eat up a couple of thousand right there. Then just put in a concrete pad or even patio blocks. It will give you the ability to play basketball but a concrete surface will be more versatile to use from a kid's and a wife's perspective.

 

[ajk4st8]

My neighbor has one, but left out one important element. Lighting.

I had one growing up, and wished I had lighting as well. Not a full court, but plenty of room to shoot 3s.

 

[MNCyGuy]

Have any of you put a basketball court in your backyard? My driveway is a little to steep and narrow. If you have, how much did you spend and it would be great if you posted pictures.

I imagine I could be spending a couple thousand, and while it seems like a lot, there would be a lifetime of memories created with my kids.

Let me know if you recommend any contractors. I'm going to get a quote from these guys: Sport Construction Midwest and Sport Court of Iowa Home Page

Thanks!

Having a steep narrow driveway is how I beat my friends in pick-up games at our house. Gotta learn to take advantage of the quirks in your driveway.:smile:

 

[Clonefan94]

Have any of you put a basketball court in your backyard? My driveway is a little to steep and narrow. If you have, how much did you spend and it would be great if you posted pictures.

I imagine I could be spending a couple thousand, and while it seems like a lot, there would be a lifetime of memories created with my kids.

Let me know if you recommend any contractors. I'm going to get a quote from these guys: Sport Construction Midwest and Sport Court of Iowa Home Page

Thanks!

A couple thousand might cover the price of the concrete. The crazy thing is, you don't realize how big a basketball court really is, compared to the normal yard. Take the cost of the average driveway and probably triple that for the concrete price. My friends and I have had a lot of concrete work done lately. One friend just put in a pad in the back yard that isn't even big enough for a full 3 point line, and that cost about $2500 for concrete alone. So my rough estimate would say that if you are going full court, after you buy some decent lighting and some nice hoops, you'd be lucky to get out under $8,000. I'd imagine $10,000 is more likely though.

 

[cyhawkdmb]

I was kind of thinking of doing the same thing.. I have a 5 year old and 2 year old.. And I play once a week myself.. But the hoop alone is 1200-1400.. I was thinking just lighting and a concrete pad.. prob 30 by 50..

 

[letsCYber]

Have any of you put a basketball court in your backyard? My driveway is a little to steep and narrow. If you have, how much did you spend and it would be great if you posted pictures.

I imagine I could be spending a couple thousand, and while it seems like a lot, there would be a lifetime of memories created with my kids.

Let me know if you recommend any contractors. I'm going to get a quote from these guys: Sport Construction Midwest and Sport Court of Iowa Home Page

Thanks!

I'd just do it big and put one in the house.

 

[CycloneNick]

Thanks for all the input. Interesting to hear the strong support of lighting. I might have to include that.

Regarding size, I'm thinking 25X25 or 30x30. I think just having a cement pad would suffice, but the sport court tiles are pretty cool. I guess if the budget will only allow I'll have to choose the lighting over the tiles.

 

[DurangoCy]

Thanks for all the input. Interesting to hear the strong support of lighting. I might have to include that.

Regarding size, I'm thinking 25X25 or 30x30. I think just having a cement pad would suffice, but the sport court tiles are pretty cool. I guess if the budget will only allow I'll have to choose the lighting over the tiles.

Add me to the pro-lighting team. We had a pretty solid court in HS with a large, flat, asphalt driveway complete with lights and an adjustable hoop. My parents probably hated it, although I suppose it was better than being out drinking.

 

[Clones1414]

Cyclone Nick -

First, thanks for the post. After reading CF for two years, your post made me actually get signed up. I just put in a outdoor court this past summer. I have kids that are 7, 5 and 3, so the timing was right. Unfortunately your budget may be a little off, but hopefully I can add my insight.

I am traveling early this week, but when I get back home I will take some pics and post them. Maybe the wife will email me some, but don't count on that.

My cement pad was 30' by 50', so essentially I have a true half court. I did do the sport court which is really nice as well. I put in a Goal Setter hoop and a net on one of this sides. I also agree with the folks above and put in a 20' light.

However, if I had to do it in order. I would do the pad and hoop first, then I would do the sport court. The light is nice, but honestly my kids are in bed before they need it at this point. Ask me in 10 years, I am sure I will give you a different answer. I would do the light after the sport court and before the net, but I am not discounting the net. They can hit baseballs off the tee, or kick balls into the net etc., so it is nice.

Give me a PM and I would be happy to talk more and give you some people that I worked with if you would like. One funny story, after we got 6" of snow several weeks ago, my oldest son (remember 7), grabbed the snow shovel and told me he wanted to go scoop the bball court off. He has a sweep left handed shot, which he gets from his mom!

 

[cyguytillidie]

Got one about a year and a half ago! Unfortunately, I haven't gotten much use out of it as I am up here at Iowa State and not at home.

 

[Clones1414]

The wife came through. Not sure if I know how to post pics, but here we go:

 

[Clones1414]

Nice - it worked.

He's the oldest, big Jake fan.

 

[CynadoAlley]

My sister and brother were 4 and 7 years older than me respectively, so when they started getting to upper middle school/high school, my dad (a basketball coach) decided to put in 2 basketball courts (of the redneck variety :wink

All he did was put in a 15x15 foot slab of concrete in the backyard with a street style hoop. And for winters-sake, he bought us a moveable full sized hoop and put it in our (then and now) empty hayloft in our barn, then threw a couple heaters in there.
We spent a ton of time up there, whether it be playing basketball, pitching (a spray painted square on the door), or an awesome indoor wiffleball game! lol

Probably the funnest part was putting up fake advertisements and acting as if our hayloft was an actual sponsored arena.

 

[driegner]

My sister and brother were 4 and 7 years older than me respectively, so when they started getting to upper middle school/high school, my dad (a basketball coach) decided to put in 2 basketball courts (of the redneck variety :wink

All he did was put in a 15x15 foot slab of concrete in the backyard with a street style hoop. And for winters-sake, he bought us a moveable full sized hoop and put it in our (then and now) empty hayloft in our barn, then threw a couple heaters in there.
We spent a ton of time up there, whether it be playing basketball, pitching (a spray painted square on the door), or an awesome indoor wiffleball game! lol

Probably the funnest part was putting up fake advertisements and acting as if our hayloft was an actual sponsored arena.

Sounds awesome. I hope I never outgrow that sounding awesome.

 

[CycloneNick]

My sister and brother were 4 and 7 years older than me respectively, so when they started getting to upper middle school/high school, my dad (a basketball coach) decided to put in 2 basketball courts (of the redneck variety :wink

All he did was put in a 15x15 foot slab of concrete in the backyard with a street style hoop. And for winters-sake, he bought us a moveable full sized hoop and put it in our (then and now) empty hayloft in our barn, then threw a couple heaters in there.
We spent a ton of time up there, whether it be playing basketball, pitching (a spray painted square on the door), or an awesome indoor wiffleball game! lol

Probably the funnest part was putting up fake advertisements and acting as if our hayloft was an actual sponsored arena.

I think a Duff Beer ad would have been perfect!

 

[cymaniac17]

The wife came through. Not sure if I know how to post pics, but here we go:

Dam I wish I was ur kid!! That is an awesome court. I would be on that thing 5 hours a day if I had one.