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On a shiny Sunday morning, I was watching live NBA action when suddenly a question pooped up in my mind. That is, “Why do basketball hoops have nets?”
I got so much intrigued that I stopped the game and jumped onto my workspace to find out the answers to this particular question.
So, if you also have the same question in mind, then you are at the right place to know its exact answers.
This is Nelson!
The guy who’s about to give you insights on the purpose of basketball nets at Outdoor Basketball Hub.
Let’s get back to the main discussion, without any further ado:
Contents
Why Do Basketball Hoops Have Nets?
Answering it all in one sentence, “The main purpose of the net is to know whether the basketball ball has truly passed through the rim or not.”
In simple words, the net plays a crucial role in making sure that whether the player has scored a goal or not.
Without the net, it becomes extremely difficult for the Refs and Match Officials to judge the goals or points scored.
That’s the simplest I could explain the role of using nets with the basketball hoops.
Enough? No?
Well, if you say so, then let us explore some other key purposes of nets being used in basketball hoops as follows:
Major Purposes of Basketball Nets
- Whether the Shot Got In or Not?
Same thing I discussed above.
Let me illustrate this purpose with a practical day example.
You might’ve played basketball outdoors and sometimes on a rough and tough surface.
Right?
While playing there, you could’ve noticed that most of the basketball hoops don’t have nets.
So, what’s the point?
The point is that whenever you try to dunk the ball or score a point, the ball will simply go down the hoop without any resistance.
The result?
You cannot figure out whether you genuinely scored or not.
From this demonstration, the role of the basketball net becomes more evident. When the ball goes through the hoop, it goes stuck in the net for a while. Plus, you can clearly see the net shaking whenever the ball passes through it.
Henceforth, that’s one of the most important purposes of why do basketball hoops have nets.
It’s important to say that all hoops have nets, even the ones designed for trampoline use.
- Offering Smooth Gameplay Experience:
Believe it or not, but having a net under the basketball hoop has a huge impact on the rhythm of the gameplay.
No, No, let me explain it.
I was once playing basketball indoors. Of course, the hoop didn’t have any net. So, while we were playing, the ball just went here and there whenever someone scored a point.
I mean, the flow wasn’t rhythmic at all. So, what happened next? I got so frustrated that I told the administration there, “Install a net on this hoop, or we ain’t playing there anymore.”
You see, when the ball passes through the net, it comes down slowly and even remains there for a while.
Hence, it’s easier for the opponent players to pick up the ball and keep the flow of the game alive enough.
That’s another worthy purpose that a basketball dunking hoop‘s net serves in modern-day gameplay.
- Aesthetics:
Not much important, but for me, it matters a lot. A hoop without a net is just like a clean-shaved James Harden.
Got my point?
Aesthetics do matter when you are playing a highly professional sport like basketball. So, the presence of the net makes everything complete.
Without it, the hoop just seems incomplete, and I don’t really like its view.
- Difficulties in Shooting:
One another interesting fact that I came to know about the purpose of a basketball net is that it makes the target area easily recognizable.
I didn’t believe in this fact until I tried it on my own. I experimented playing in my natural position without the net, and none of my shots would go in.
Right after I put on the net under the rim, I was able to dunk in the ball a lot easier.
This made me realize that a net, in fact, has an extremely important purpose as it improves the precision and accuracy of shooting to a certain extent.
- Sound Aesthetics:
Last, but not least, I don’t know anything about you. But I, for one, just love the SWISH sound that the ball makes whenever it gets passed through the net.
That’s not probably a purpose. However, the Swish Sound gives a sense of accomplishment, especially to the new athletes.
This is where you simply can’t ignore the importance of a net placed under the rim.
Enough with answering the question!
The story, however, doesn’t end here.
You already are here to gain knowledge about basketball nets. Right?
Well, then you must also know about the different types of nets that get used commonly or in NBA games.
Have a look at some of the most common basketball nets as follows:
Types of Basketball Nets You Must Know:
- Nylon Nets:
Probably the cheapest basketball net out there. Available at almost every local store, you’d see nylon basketball nets outdoors, mostly.
The primary material used is Nylon here, which is not as sturdy as compared to other types.
Although the nylon nets are cheaper enough, you cannot rely on them completely. They’ll mostly rip out in no more than 3 months.
- Polyester Nets:
Made up of premium polyester, you’d see polyester nets in NBA games mostly.
Besides, most of the indoor basketball courts use such nets as they are durable, long-lasting, and sturdy at the same time.
Even with the use of polyester, the nets are available at a fairly reasonable price tag. So, if you’ve got around 30 to 40 bucks, better spend them getting a polyester basketball net.
This is the kind of net NCAA basketball players are cutting after winning a championship.
- Chain Nets:
Made up of steel, chain nets are often used for an improved gameplay experience.
You’d mostly see chain basketball nets outdoors because they are quite sturdy and could resist the harsh weather conditions at the same time.
However, one of the reasons you don’t see them on a professional basketball court is their tendency to hurt a player’s arms or hands.
Plus, it takes a lot of time to untangle a chain basketball net. More than that, they are a bit expensive compared to the two other types I mentioned above.
- Glowy Nets:
Some nylon basketball nets have this special feature where they could glow at night, thus making it easier for you to practice with ease and convenience.
Glowy nets are also for the outdoors and are available locally as well. Available at affordable rates, you could use them in the backyard of your house and enjoy some random shots at night.
That’s all about the different basketball net types.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ’s
- What’s the purpose of the net on a basketball hoop?
The basic purpose lies in making sure that the athlete has genuinely scored a goal. Other than that, it becomes easier for the match officials to analyze the gameplay as the ball takes a while to get passed through the net. In addition, the basketball net makes a Swish Sound, which really looks aesthetic. At last, it also impacts the accuracy of ball shooting. That’s some of the basic purposes of using a basketball net.
- Does a basketball net affect your shot?
Yeah, it does to a certain extent. You see when you get used to playing with a basketball net, you target your shots accordingly. Without the net, it becomes difficult for an athlete to keep his focus on the hoop. So, having a basketball net does make a difference especially when you are used to it.
- When did basketball start using nets?
Basketball first started using metal hoops, nets, and backboards in 1906 as per Wikipedia. Earlier than that, the typical soccer ball was also exchanged with a Spalding ball making the b-ball completely different than the soccer ball.
To Conclude
The question, “Why do basketball hoops have nets?” has many answers. However, the most logical one is that the net makes it easier to know whether the ball has really got inside the hoop or not.
With this discussion, I’d like to sign off until we meet again with another interesting topic.
Got any suggestions to make the website better? Drop them down in the comment box and I’ll respond to them for sure.
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