FAQs

In addition to being made in America by Americans, Bison has been a leader in designing and building safe and durable equipment for Division 1 Colleges, High Schools and all levels of indoor play.

In most cases basketball systems are installed in front of your home and are very visible. In addition, once installed it is likely to be there for a long time, if not forever. Most homeowners want an impressive system that will look great for years. Having a quality system will also keep your kids at home and out of trouble when shooting hoops with their friends.

Many families with kids of varying ages want height adjustability to make play fun for the entire family. As younger kids grow the system can grow with them.

Generally, as low as 7 ½’ with some systems having infinite variable adjustment and others moving in 6” increments from official 10’ down to 7 ½’

If your kids are of an age where they don’t need lower rim height then there is no reason to be able to lower the rim unless dad (or mom) want to be able to dunk

Most homeowners have the skill to do the install themselves and Bison provides detailed instructions and, in most cases, YouTube videos to help with installation. Depending on your inventory of tools at home you might need to rent or borrow a post hole digger. Typically, it takes at least 2 people to complete the final extension arm and backboard assembly which might cost you a 6 pack of beer to reward your neighbor or brother-in-law.

Given the different models the time varies from 3–4-man hours to 8–10-man hours. In all cases, a concrete footing needs to be poured one day and the final assembly is done at least 48 hours later.

It varies, depending on pole and backboard size and the “Safe Play Area”. Generally, the hole diameter is from 12” to 20” with depth from 30” to 48”.

Some models include removable pedestal bases that allow the main components to be removed from the base and reinstalled with only the purchase of a replacement base. See details on each system.

Bison Safe Play Area is the distance from the face of the backboard to the front of the pole when the rim is at the official 10’ height.

The more aggressive the play the more important the “Safe Play Area” is to avoid player contact with the pole even with pole padding installed.

Bison is dedicated to player safety and is one of the only manufacturers who includes thick pole padding at no extra cost on every home basketball system.

All indoor competition rules require backboard padding for player safety, but it is a matter of personal preference whether to add this to your home system. Generally, if you believe that play will be aggressive and you choose a height adjustable system, optional backboard padding would be a wise choice.

Yes, glass provides the preferred ball rebound and is not prone to scratching like other clear backboard materials.

Yes. Given current backboard frame and mounting designs glass is extremely durable in all climates for normal play except in case of deliberate vandalism.

All indoor competition glass backboards are 72” wide and either 42” or 48” tall but smaller backboards are common for home courts.

While 72” boards are used in competition, 60”, 54” and 48” boards in most cases are wide enough for use at home.

While competition glass backboards are clear, smoked boards show less dirt outdoors and eliminate the possible glare of clear backboards. Additionally, many homeowners prefer the premium look.

The rigidity of the backboard is in part impacted by the size of the pole and the wall thickness. Generally, the larger the pole the more closely it resembles indoor competition play.

While optional, it does impact the vibration of the backboard especially on 4” square pole systems.

All Bison pole systems have an embossed black powder finish which is not only thicker but also less prone to showing scratches and other cosmetic deterioration over time.

Yes, all of Bison’s systems are designed for the stresses caused by dunking and hanging on the rim. Rim contact is transferred directly to the pole system to eliminate stress on the backboard.

Warranties vary depending on the system but are clearly stated in each system description. Some systems carry Limited Lifetime Warranties.