Installing basketball net to a rim is a smooth process that varies for small kids hoops, portable ones at a driveway or on the playground. Today, we’re covering everything, including the chain nets and rims without hooks.

Sure, you don’t need a net on the basketball hoop to play basketball. But, playing the game without it seems like watching a movie without popcorn.

A net makes basketball so much more interesting. Nowadays we see lots of public basketball systems without nets, and usually, we don’t even want to shoot hoops there. I mean, where’s the fun without the “swish” when you’re shooting the ball?

The net slows down the ball as it goes through the rim, and this makes a huge difference to your game.

If you’re playing pickup basketball or practicing for 5-on-5 games, this trivial difference in the way the ball acts at the rim can be critical. Plus, it’s better aesthetically and functionally – the net will feed the ball straight down, rather than bouncing it around the court.

For those who want a simple solution, this can soon become a problem of the past thanks to Swishnet – portable basketball net.

This thing is awesome. All you have to do to attach Swishnet is use the stick you get with the package and put it up there. Or you can climb the ladder and do the same. That’s it.

Choosing the right net (Quit replacing cheap nets every season!)

Not all nets are the same. And that’s a fact. So be careful when you’re buying one. Some budget lightweight nets won’t last you more than a month.

When buying a net you need to pay attention to weight. The more weight, the better the product. Spalding Basketball Net is the best heavy-duty net I’ve ever played on. It lasted for years on our playground. We changed it only because it became dirty, not because it wore out. If you want a straight drop when you’re shooting hoops or playing pickup, you need a heavy net.

Don’t allow your rim go naked! Picking up a few replacement nets is the best thing to do if you have an extra buck to spend.

The best net for your hoop

When searching for the right net, look for the right size for your rim. Most replacement nets fit regular rims, including Lifetime portable basketball hoop rims. Also, check for quality before making your pick.

The best nets are made of tightly-woven synthetic fibers that stand up to harsh weather conditions.

Heavy Duty Basketball Nets are ideal for outside use. With a life span up to 15 times longer than conventional nylon and chain nets, you can completely eliminate the necessity to frequently replace or re-install your nets. Patented design and high strength materials will save you money and time.

How to install a basketball net

First, you need to make sure which end you’ll attach to the hoop. You’ll figure it out by laying the net on the court and determining which end has a smaller diameter. The bottom is narrower than the top. A larger end attaches to the rim.

Next, you’ll need to prepare a ladder to reach the height of the hoop. Set it up right beneath the basketball system. The surface needs to be level for the ladder to stand still.

Don’t stand on the top rung, work with a suitable ladder tall enough for you to reach the rim height without any worries. If you have a portable basketball hoop, or there’s a chance to lower your in-ground basketball hoop, bring it down to do the job.

Grab the net by the upper end and climb to the level of the basketball hoop. Holding the net with your hands two inches apart, between your thumbs and forefingers, slide one strand down over the closest hook on the bottom of the rim.

Do the same for the next hook, and move on with the same method for all the hooks on the rim. Pull down the net to fix it after all metal hooks have strands. This also helps eliminate any ridges. You are now set to play and own the court. Burn the tops to avoid shredding.

Fun fact
The net in the NBA (as the rules imply) must be white, from 15” to 18” in length, and the cord of the net must be between 30 and 120 thread. It also must be formed to control the ball momentarily as it goes through the hoop.

How to install chain basketball net

If you want a net that can stand extreme weather conditions and usually lasts much longer than usual nylon nets, chain metal net is the right choice for you. They’re perfect for outdoor basketball systems and much easier to install. Just follow these few easy steps and you’ll put it up there in less than five minutes.

Make sure you have the right net size that will fit your basketball rim. A metal net build for regular size steel rim will normally have 12 loops.

Take a look at your net and locate the loops at the top. Usually, these links will be larger than the normal chain loops. Identify open hooks.

Push one of the loops over one of the basketball rim hooks. It doesn’t matter which one you choose because later they’ll all set in. Do this for the remaining loops, carefully watching you follow the order.

If it happens that you get to the last hook and you don’t have enough metal net left, there’s a great chance you missed a link somewhere in the process. Go back and do the job right before moving on to step no.5.

Take a pair of pliers to safely close off the hooks. Try the chain net by playing a one-on-one game with a friend.

Installing a net on small kids basketball hoops (Little Tikes, Fisher Price, etc.)

The first issue you could have is using the wrong side of the net. Make sure you use the side of the net with longer strands.

Insert one loop through the hole on Little Tikes basketball hoop hook. Pull it up at least two inches to get enough length on the net.

Wrap one end of the loop on one side of the hook, and the other end on the other side of the hook. Continue doing that for the hooks all over the rim.

When you finish with all loops, smoothly pull the net with your both hands to make sure it’s tight and ready to play. After that, your job is done.

How to install a basketball net without hooks

This is a common problem for people that just want to make basketball more fun playing in a neighborhood park. I’ve tried pretty much everything when I was young; electrical tape, cable ties, duck tape, zip ties, etc. It was always a temporary solution because, after a couple of weeks of use, someone would yank it off.

So here’s the best solution. Instead of taping a captive’s mouth tight why not try this:

Daisy chain features enough zip-ties to easily fit the edge of the captive’s head.

Role up a neat cloth around the middle of the open zip-tie daisy chain, and use tiny zips to tighten the rolled cloth in place (at least four zips to fasten the cloth).

Inject the cloth part into the captives open mouth (press captive’s nose if it won’t open up), and fasten the string tightly at the back of the end.

Ensure the zip-tie loop is secured at the part of the end where the edge is smallest, or it could loosen up after a while.

The smallest circuit that moves through the mouth and around the back of the end will usually transfer over the nape of the neck.