So how did it start? Well, the modern basketball hoop as we know it wasn’t how the game began. When Dr. James Naismith invented the rules in 1897, he used a peach basket as a hoop and a soccer ball instead of the basketball we know today. As time progressed, a metal hoop and mesh net became popular, and a backboard was added (initially to keep second-floor spectators from interfering with the game, but now it allows rebounds and layups).

Today, there are professional teams in over a dozen countries. Outside of the professional world, people play the sport in school yards and gyms, in fitness clubs and after-school leagues, and at home by buying a basketball hoop to set up in their driveway. For at-home hoops, there are three main styles that are usually purchased:

• The garage mounted hoop, which is mounted on the edge of a roof, usually above the garage and centered on a driveway. This is very stable, and quite affordable because it doesn’t require you to buy a pole. Just make sure the door is closed if you have a car parked inside to avoid damage.
• The in-ground pole-mounted hoop, which is exactly what it sounds like: a hoop on a strong pole that is rooted in the ground (sometimes just with a deep hole, sometimes with cement for extra sturdiness.
• The portable at-home hoop. This also has a tall pole, but instead of being anchored underground, it rests on a large base filled with water or sand. It’s a little less sturdy, but is convenient because it has two wheels so that it can be moved (but is still heavy; don’t let kids do this alone).

No matter which type of basketball hoop you choose, you’re bound to have fun with the game. It can be even funner when you can slam dunk so you may want to be able to jump higher for basketball to be able to do this.

Today, there are a variety of options you’ll have when it comes to picking a basketball hoop that is right for you. With choices between the type of net and backboard material, there are a lot of variations when it comes to certain details. However, the first big decision you’ll need to make is what type of hoop you want—structurally—and will work best for you.

There are three basic hoop styles for at-home use: portable, in-ground, and mounted. Let’s look at an overview of each, and a few pros and cons that each style presents.

1. Portable hoops are convenient because they are not the same type of structural commitment that the other two styles. A portable hoop is mounted on a tall pole that connects to a heavy base (usually filled with sand or water) that has wheels (usually two). These are ideal if you only want your hoop outside during certain parts of the year, if you only anticipate using it for a year or two, or if you want to be able to move it around (like to the street if you live on a cul-de-sac, or to the other side of your driveway if the sun is in your eyes). The downside is that portable basketball hoops aren’t as stable and may wobble.
2. In-ground hoops are exactly what the name implies. They are more solid than portable hoops and mounted on a pole that goes into the ground (with or without cement, it depends on what you buy and what you want). These are more stable and more attractive, but are a commitment because they are implanted fairly deep.
3. Mounted basketball hoops are mounted to the roof of a garage or other structure. These are often more affordable than either of the other two styles because they don’t have to come with a pole. They are solid like an in-ground hoop, but easier to remove. They also don’t take up yard space, but make sure you watch where your cars are parked, and keep the garage door closed if you’re a bad shot.

• Kids love having a basketball hoop at home because it gives them something to do that almost never gets old. It gets them outside, it’s easy for friends to come over and play for even a few minutes, and it’s something they can play with a friend or sibling, or also by themselves.
• Parents love that their kids love shooting hoops. It’s good to get them away from the television, outside, and moving around. When they play in your own driveway, you don’t have to worry about where they are and if they’re safe. And it’s good exercise that helps improve eye hand coordination. That and once you buy the basketball hoop and ball, it costs nothing.
• Athletes who play basketball competitively—whether young kids in an after school club, serious high school athletes on the varsity team, or adults in a pick up league at the gym—can always benefit from practicing at home.
• Exercisers looking for a change of pace love the chance to get outside (instead of inside at the gym) and get a workout that’s a little different. Basketball has physical benefits to muscle tone and strength, cardiovascular health, and aerobic health.
• Working adults need nothing more at the end of a long work day than to unwind. You know that if you plop down in front of the T.V. when you get home, you won’t want to get up. Shoot a few balls with the basketball hoop in your driveway, or play one on one with one of your kids, and you’ll not only unwind, but be energized instead of more tired.

Whether you choose a garage mounted basketball hoop, an in-ground pole mounted hoop, or a portable pole mounted hoop, any style will bring some fun advantages and opportunities to your driveway or yard. Here are some of the most popular reasons for buying (and ways of using) an at-home hoop.

• For the love of the game. Probably the most popular reason for having a basketball hoop at home is to just have fun and play around when you want to. Basketball is one of the most played, most watched sports in the world. That’s not an exaggeration! Plenty of people buy hoops because it’s a game they enjoy, even if they’re not good at it. It’s also a very social game, so having a reason to invite a friend or neighbor over to shoot some hoops makes it even more fun.
• Get fit while having fun. It’s not just an enjoyable sport: it’s also one that gives you a pretty good work out if you’re playing in any active sort of way. One on one or two on two games are easy to strike up in a neighborhood. It’s a great way for adults to get outside for a workout after a long day at the office (instead of exercising in some dark gym somewhere). And it encourages kids to get up off the couch and play something that’s just as fun—but much healthier for them.
• Competition and skill. If you play in an adult league or have a son or daughter who’s on the team at school, buying a basketball hoop for home is a great way to get more practice. Even 10 minutes here and there can make a difference over time. They say practice makes perfect, so if you really want to get better, buying a hoop for home is a great way to do that.

Basketball is, of course, a game involving a basket and a ball. But before today’s modern “hoop,” an actual basket, the legendary peach basket, was used. The sport was started by a man named Dr. James Naismith. Dr. Naismith taught physical education (both as a class instructor, and as a college professor who trained future instructors) at a school, Springfield College, in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Massachusetts gets quite cold and long winters, and Dr. Naismith was searching for ways of keeping the students in his physical education classes occupied and active while they were stuck inside all winter. He tried several types of games that never quite caught on, but when he drafted some initial rules and crafted the first basketball hoop, he invented a game that would make history.

In the school’s indoor gymnasium, there was an elevated track running around the room. Onto it, Dr. Naismith nailed that legendary peach basket, and students used a soccer ball to score points by tossing into the basket.

Of course, several modifications happened to the game as the rules solidified, including the evolution from peach basket to the basketball hoop that we know today. To get the ball out, a hole was drilled in the bottom of the peach basket. Then it was replaced by a metal hoop with hanging net.

The last major change was that a backboard was added. Remember how the original basket was nailed to the elevated track? Spectators for early games would sit on the track level to watch, and could reach down and interrupt a shot into the basket. This is why the modern basketball hoop has a backboard. Of course, today, that backboard serves a purpose in the game, allowing rebounds and assisting players with scoring points off the board. But when it was added, it was just to keep meddling fans out of the way.