Okay, so I’ve been meaning to get this done for ages, and finally, I tackled it. I wanted a better setup for practicing basketball in my backyard, and I figured some good old timber battens were the way to go. The plan? To create a backboard support structure that’s solid and can withstand some serious dunking (wishful thinking, maybe!).
Getting Started
First things first, I measured out the space where I wanted the backboard to go. I’ve got this brick wall that seemed like the perfect spot. Then, I grabbed my trusty measuring tape and figured out the dimensions for the backboard itself. I’m no carpenter, so I kept it pretty simple.
The Timber Hunt
Next up, a trip to the local hardware store. I spent a good hour just wandering around, looking at different types of timber. Ended up going with some treated pine battens – seemed sturdy enough and wouldn’t rot too quickly in the weather.
Cutting and Prepping
Back home, I laid out the battens and, using the measurements I’d taken, marked out where I needed to cut. Let me tell you, my circular saw skills are… developing. It wasn’t pretty, but I managed to get the pieces cut to the right sizes. Then, I gave everything a good sanding down to avoid any nasty splinters.
- Batten 1, 1800mm
- Batten 2, 1800mm
- Batten 3, 900mm
- Batten 4,900mm
Putting it Together
This was the tricky part. I decided to go with a simple frame structure, with a few cross-supports for extra stability. I used a bunch of screws and some heavy-duty wood glue to join the battens together. It wasn’t exactly rocket science, but it took some figuring out to make sure everything was square and level. I have got my spirit level that almost broke.
Mounting the Beast
With the frame built, it was time to attach it to the brick wall. I used some hefty masonry bolts for this, and let me tell you, drilling into brick is no joke! It took a while, and I definitely broke a sweat, but I finally got it all secured. I may have also broken my drill bit.
The Finishing Touches
Finally, I screwed the actual backboard onto the timber frame.I stepped back to admire my handiwork. It’s not perfect, but it’s solid, and it’s mine. My very own, slightly wonky, basketball practice setup!
Now my shots are getting better and better everyday!
