When building a new basketball setup in your backyard, you can easily get caught up in those “fun” jobs, such as finding the right hoops, and the backboard you end up choosing becomes an afterthought. However, the type of backboard you choose can affect your game more than you’d think.
Acrylic and tempered glass basketball backboards are both durable and perform remarkably well. However, acrylic is the most accessible option for home setups – it’s cheaper and easy to install, but it doesn’t last as long or perform as well as tempered glass, which is used in professional settings.
Read on if you’re interested in learning more about how these two basketball backboard alternatives compare. Below, I’ve compiled a handy table comparing the most important features of each option. I’ll also explore each option’s advantages and disadvantages in the following sections, so read on!
Acrylic vs. Tempered Glass Basketball Backboards: Comparison Table
Here’s how acrylic and tempered glass basketball backboards compare in terms of price, ease of installation, performance, durability, and aesthetics.
| Acrylic | Tempered Glass | |
| Price Point | Lower | Higher |
| Ease of Installation | Pretty easy, the material is lightweight | Trickier, the material is heavy and needs to be properly secured by professionals |
| Performance | Good | Excellent, ball bounceback is better than on acrylic |
| Durability | Moderate | High |
| Aesthetics | A more casual, laid-back look | Sleek, elegant, high-end-looking |
Now that you’ve got a better idea of where these two options stand against one another, let’s discuss their advantages and drawbacks.
Acrylic Basketball Backboards
Acrylic backboards are the go-to option for most residential setups and casual playing facilities. They’re cheap, easy to install by almost everyone, and pretty durable, offering excellent value for the price.
However, keep in mind that not all types of acrylic backboards are created the same— thicker options are usually much more shock-resistant and better performing. Still, there are some general pros and cons that all backboards made of this material share.
Pros
- Excellent value for the money
- Perfect for residential set-ups
- Affordable
- Easy to set up
- Extremely resistant to chipping
Cons
- Ball bounceback isn’t optimal.
- They don’t last as long as their tempered glass counterparts.
- They fade quicker than their tempered glass counterparts.
Tempered Glass Basketball Backboards
You’ll often see tempered glass backboards in professional arenas. However, how come something made of glass can be so durable? The strength of this material lies in the thermal tempering process used in its manufacturing, which you can learn more about here.
So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of these backboards?
Pros
- Excellent performance
- Extremely durable
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Perfect for professional games
- Low-maintenance
Cons
- Expensive
- Need to be installed by professionals
- The reflection that bounces off it can be distracting.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the choice between acrylic and tempered glass backboards is up to you. Consider your budget, playing needs, frequency, and overall priorities when deciding. Both options are durable and perform well, so all you have to do is think about how much you’re willing to spend for improved performance.