One of the real joys of outdoor ball was the “cla-clack” sound of a ball hitting a metal perforated backboard. Full metal and half-moon white backboards gave you that “boom” sound when you slapped backboard hard on your man when u drove for a lay-up. Those sounds are quickly coming to an end as glass has taken over at all the NYC major tournaments. West 4th Street, one of the oldest in the city, got glass for 2007 and now the question is: Is glass better than metal? Let us know the next time you run pick-up or tournament ball at West 4th or any of the other courts which one is better.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Killa Cal says:
I actually can tell you that the fiber glass is better after 7 years of playing pick up at west 4, its a little more accurate and falls off the glass softer than the old thick sheet of metal, when i say thick, i mean thick, only problem now is it’s a little more elevated at the 4 now, I actually had a chance to ask smush if it was higher on the day he was just hanging out bout a month ago even he said its higher.
June 23rd, 2007 at 12:30 am
Bobbito says:
I say metal backboards for outdoors all the way. if you’re a shooter, it allows for better depth perception, which not many parks offer since they are not enclosed with walls like a gym. metal backboards scream ‘New York’ to me. you can’t find them anywhere else in the world. it is part of our external identity. there was nothing ever broke with them–why fix it? it’s homogenizing the difference between indoors and the playground. one of my favorite inside courts used to be the carmine st. rec. center downtown where they had the sheet joints–right on top a hardwood floor . . .
June 25th, 2007 at 4:51 am
Bakar says:
I agree with Bobbito. Metal backboards can’t be found in other parts of the world except NYC. Back home, we have WOODEN backboards. They make odd noises whenever the ball hits, plus they rot and fall off if they’re exposed to too much rain and termites. Glass backboards are definitely a luxury, most outdoor courts don’t put them up ‘cos they’ll get stolen quick. I guess if metal ones are available here they’ll get boosted too (scrap metal is lucrative business, yo!).