How To Fix A Bent Basketball Pole

Portable basketball hoops have become increasingly popular because it's lightweight and range of adjustability features. However, since it can be moved anywhere, it is exposed to the environment and elements, and more vulnerable to damages. So the question is, how to fix a basketball hoop base?

Different methods exist to repair a portable basketball hoop base. These techniques include the following:

Caulk
Adhesive or resin
Heat
Concrete

At first, repairing a basketball hoop base might seem like a fairly straightforward task. But miss out on some details and you'll encounter and commit to costly mistakes. Keep reading to know the details of the steps for the solutions mentioned above for proper results.

4 Ways to Fix a Basketball Hoop Base

Solution #1: Use caulk

If you do have a 44'' backboard size basketball hoop or smaller than that you can use fiberglass reinforced caulk to fix a broken or cracked base

Things you'll need:

Rapidly setting fiberglass reinforced caulk
Damp cloth
Rubbing alcohol

Steps:

At first find out where the leaking or rupture is. Use your hands to press gently over the entire base. The main goal of applying the pressure here is to locate if there is still any crack or not. Hopefully, you track down all the leaks.
Now you should drain the base of your portable basketball system. For that to happen, turn the base on its sideways and let the water or sand run out. You should only stop when it is at a level below the ruptured surface.
The surface should be free of any kinds of debris and sand particles. That's why you need to clean the rupture using a damp cloth and small proportionate rubbing alcohol. Make sure there is no moisture on its surface. Let the surface dry completely.
Now fill the rupture or crack with caulk. Compress the base firmly into the crevice. Need to keep this on your mind that you should cover all the edges. Therefore you have to collect enough caulk. After that press the caulk even and straighten the edges.
After an hour you can smoothly sand the caulk. Make sure you do it with soft hands.
Want to hide the repaired spot from others? Use paint.

Pro Tip: Use a clean cloth.

Before pouring caulk make sure there are not any moistures or sands in the leakage. If it is, the seal may not hold that well.

For precautionary measures cover the edges of rupture plus 1 to 2.5 inches.

Recommended Reading: How much does a basketball weigh?

Solution #2: Use adhesive or resin

You can use adhesive or resin to fix a broken hoop base. Adhesives or resins provide superior bonding capabilities but unfortunately, no strong adhesive can be used with fiberglass cloth to build a solid patch over a crack.

Just imagine your hoop has got a crack. It is laid down on the ground. Now probably you are not so sure if you are gonna buy a new one or not. So there is nothing to lose in trying some of the new adhesives on the market with superior bonding abilities.

Here is the way through which you can get the best results. First, sand the base surface to create a texture and then flame the base in the crack spot to fix it. Next is the heating process. Pass the torch or open flame back and forth over the base surface. Keep the heat moving all the time before the polyethylene shows any kind of sign of melting. Once you're done with the heating process, you can continue to repair for a short period of time. This will help you to get the ideal result.

Steps:

Plate a layer of adhesive or resin on the interior of the base over the crack. Then extend it about 1'' beyond the edges of the break.
Cut a piece of fiberglass material and join into the glue or resin. Resin which you have just placed on the base- clear casting resin with catalyst 32 ounce.
Roll a layer of glue over the patch cloth to lay the second patch on top of the first. Thus it will help the edges to overlap the first layer by around an inch.
Until you see your base is really stiff between repaired and unrepaired areas, keep adding the layers.
Patch layers should be placed over the interior of the base.
On the exterior, directly drip the patch over the top of the cracked surface and for about ¼ beyond each end of that area. You should repeat that too on the opposite side and sand those spots until you notice they are fair to the base. These patch layers are meant to build for encountering sandbars or other interferences on the water.

Solution #3: Use heat to patch up

Patching up is a more complex option but definitely works most of the time. That's why this process is regarded as the best solution to fix a broken portable basketball hoop base. Polyethylene can be easily manufactured (like distend, bend, distort, deflect). After you have filled the holes with it from the melted patch, then pour water on the patch to cure it

Things you'll need:

Non-polyethylene material
Gloves
Blow torch or heat gun
Putty knife or large metal spoons
Pliers

Steps:

Put on hand gloves.
Ignite the torch/power the heat gun.
Have your patch at a side with pliers.
Melt the patch and make it hanging downwards. Make sure you do not cause a hole in it.
The plastic needs to turn into a different color. So, you should sweep the torch all over the outer edges of the hole.
Both the patch and base must remain hot while processing. So, you need to do it very fast.
Hold the patch and press it to the hoop.

Solution #4: Use concrete

Perhaps, the simplest way to fix a broken basketball hoop base is to simply use a concrete. Fill or patch it from the inside with concrete. This is really an easy, permanent and cheaper solution to the problem.

Concrete is a high quality patching material which hardly has any tendency to leak. Nothing to worry about freezing. If you want, you can even put the concrete mix in without adding any water. Then pour the water, splatter it back and forth.

Recommended Reading: Indoor Basketball Court Cost

Can You Replace a Basketball Hoop Base?

It's possible to replace a basketball hoop base, especially if it acquired damages that seem to be beyond repair. However, some manufacturers may not sell replacement bases to customers, which makes purchasing a new basketball hoop to be the next best option. You should contact your basketball hoop's maker or retailer if they can replace your basketball hoop's base. Don't forget to mention your hoop's specific model to make the replacement process easy.

Final Thoughts

A portable basketball hoop is an investment that should be enjoyed for years, but because the portable basketball hoop is always outside, exposed to the elements, sometimes problems can occur. By far the most common is a rupture in the plastic base, which usually is filled with water or sand. However, there are ways to fix or repair this type of damage. Hopefully, this guide helps provide a solution to one of the most common portable basketball hoop problems.

Aaron Jones

My name is Aaron and I am the owner of Make Shots. On this site, I discuss the most frequently asked basketball questions and give my opinions. My love for basketball started in 2010 and ever since I have fallen in love with the sport.

All Posts