The 7 Best Polycarbonate backboards (2023 reviews)

We consider a polycarbonate backboard to be a worthy investment in the long run. We are here to help you choose the right one for your purposes from all the best available products in market today.

Our review process: Show/Hide

Our Top Picks:

Best Overall: Buy: Silverback tempered glass Backboard READ REVIEW

Best For garage: Buy: Lifetime universal Mounting bracket READ REVIEW

Best For Your buck: Buy: Silverback Polycarbonate Backboard READ REVIEW

Best With Pole: Buy: Lifetime Polycarbonate Backboard READ REVIEW

Best For Outdoor residential play: Buy: Spalding Polycarbonate Backboard READ REVIEW

Best For Both advanced player: Buy: PEXMOR Polycarbonate Backboard READ REVIEW

Best For driveway: Buy: Spalding Portable Basketball Hoop READ REVIEW

Best Overall: Silverback tempered glass Backboard

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The look and feel of this backboards are consistent with the high quality we're used to from the rest of Silverback's lineup. This goal shakes more than a Michael J Fox & Bob Dole love child. It includes a backboard pad and pole pad to offer protection during lay-ups and a break-away rim that flexes under pressure. It is great hoop for pick up games and practice. The 60 Hoop system is extremely sturdy and easily adequate for neighborhood games.

Despite this, the back board makes the unit top-heavy enough that the thing sways and oscillates every time the ball hits the rim or board. The Vibrations dispate quickly this way and shaking is done by time the next shot goes up. It includes the 7 inch pattern anchor kit. The rim is removable, as it comes as a separate piece. It is perfect for growing children.

• Very minimal shaking, and only when extended at the 10' position
• Glass backboard with aluminum trim is very professional looking
• Adjusting the hoop via the turn handle is super simple

Best For garage: Lifetime universal Mounting bracket

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If you are needing a backboard only and it is a liftime this is the way to go. This one, being hollow plastic, is much "louder" when a ball hits it. It can be mounted on a wall, roof, eave, or pole using a universal mounting bracket. This new one has the addition of springs to the rim, so it requires a longer ‘U’ bracket that has to be placed in the framework of the mount to install the springs. It is a little stronger where the rim connects to the backboard.

The backboard mounting area is plastic. This is the exact fit and style and is very easy to mount. The material of the backboard is Acrylic. This is the perfect solution to replace a broken backboard.

• All plastic no metal on the board other than the rim
• Fit perfectly and looks as good as new
• Deep socket wrench made installation easier
• More easily satisfied and easier to achieve a 5-star rating

Best For Your buck: Silverback Polycarbonate Backboard

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The Silverback NXT 54" has the Infinity Edge backboard that folds backward for increased rigidity. The parts that move the backboard up and down are designed around a pole that is a specific diameter. The backboard is "folded" on the edges to make the overall backboard more rigid to make it play more like a glass backboard than an acrylic one. The solid backboard and filled rim are such an upgrade.

The pole/base is round. The Silverback NXT has many quality features such as a powder-coated steel pole and a revolutionary installation design. This unit is an in-ground system.

• Backboard easy to raise and lower
• Great basketball hoop for home play
• Easy to install and a perfect starter goal formy boys
• Excellent packaging, part labeling and instructions

Best With Pole: Lifetime Polycarbonate Backboard

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Best part: lifetime polycarbonate backboard costs comparatively low and it is available to ship in 24 hours. The 50" model has polycarbonate and is probably stronger for a free standing backboard. It works with pole or wall placement. The new backboard has a plastic frame with 2 sheet metal screws to hold the top in place and most anybody knows that a screw that goes into plastic will eventually make the hole larger and wiggle free especially with the constant banging of the basketball against it. The bottom two rim bolts have lock nuts which make it nearly impossible to tighten without over compressing the rubber grommet. It is mounted on a permanent mount 3.5 inch pole. It is compatible with third party systems. The lifetime back board just makes the ball go dead with no bounce back. It is not heavy at all, just bulky and difficult to lug up a ladder alone.

• Worked perfectly for replacing old very thick plexiglass backboard
• Fit perfectly with old lifetime pole
• Good investment for long term

Best For Outdoor residential play: Spalding Polycarbonate Backboard

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The spalding polycarbonate backboard has killer features for the price point. The goal and backboard appear to be great quality and looks. The product option for the 44" backboard will have red trim, while the 48" option will have blue trim. It fits round or square poles. The good thing is that it’s smaller, therefore less wind resistant and less likely to blow over the weighted base.

• Polycarbonate board with arena style padding
• Lot of satisfied buyers

Best For Both advanced player: PEXMOR Polycarbonate Backboard

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We know from years of feedback from readers, customers and amazon sellers, what most people want in a convenient and appropriate backboard. The pexmor polycarbonate backboard is exactly that - it's a simple backboard that hits all the right notes. It is ideal for indoor gym or outdoor playground, garden, backyard etc. It features a 18’’ solid steel ring for sturdy and stable play, which is 11 lbs heavier than others' rim. Double horizontal springs add greater flexibility for slam dunks when minimizing ricochet on shots. It allows playing in both rainy days and sunny days.

It is perfect for adults or teenagers of different heights. If additional sandbags are placed on base, it would perform super strong sturdiness.

• A great gift for kids and yourself
• Looks like glass and provides excellent rebound
• Could be easily adjusted by knob
• Pretty sturdy and crisp nba style and look

Best For driveway: Spalding Portable Basketball Hoop

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The spalding portable basketball hoop is capable of outshining several other backboard featured in this list in overall features for the price point. It is made for driveway battles and games of one-on-one until the sun goes down, this portable basketball hoop gives you a solid rebound. It has a shatter-proof polycarbonate backboard with a board pad and a steel breakaway rim. It is easy to adjust the height of the rim. The wheels on the base make it easy to move around the driveway and into storage. It is made for outdoor play. It has two wheels, so you can move it down the street or driveway, and the pro glide gives you a solid rebound.

• Shatter-proof polycarbonate board with authentic-style padding
• Gallon base gives the hoop stability
• New and hot release