Best Basketball Return System (2023 Buyers Guide)

Shooting a basketball by yourself or with a friend is great practice, but one drawback is that you spend half the time running around collecting rebounds after the shot. Return systems remove that problem entirely, feeding the ball back to you so you can put up more shots in less time. This review will give you information regarding the best basketball return system this 2023 season, and what to look for during your never-ending quest to improve your game (or that of your child’s).

Reviews of the 5 Best Basketball Return System, Plus 2 to Avoid

1.) iC3 Basketball Shot Trainer

• iC3 Basketball Shot Trainer Review: This is the best basketball return system this 2023 season, and though it comes at a cost, it is well and truly worth it. The iC3 will catch and return everything to you, whether it’s a perfect swish or a complete brick. It allows you to shoot up to three times more shots than you would without this return system, enabling you to get up many more shots and improve your muscle memory. The Basketball Shot Trainer takes just seconds to set up, and is extremely durable, justifying the extra price. NBA pro’s often have the benefit of a coach or teammate standing at the hoop getting their rebounds, allowing them to get off more practice shots in a given period of time. Most ordinary people don’t get that same benefit, but with the iC3 Basketball Shot Trainer, you will too.

• To watch the iC3 Basketball Shot Trainer Review on YouTube, click here.

2.) SKLZ Kick-Out 360 Degree Ball Return System

• SKLZ Kick-Out 360 Degree Ball Return System Review: SKLZ have taken a little bit of a different approach with this design, but it is one which makes a lot of sense. Rather than involving an entire net covering the area beneath your basketball hoop, this ball return system is simply a funnel, which feeds the ball back to you after a made shot. Of course, this means if you miss your shot you won’t get the return, so it’s best used for free throw practice, or for accomplished shooters. If that’s what you’re after though, this is an excellent product, and comes in really cheap. After a made shot, the ball will simply feed into the funnel and be kicked back out to you, allowing you to put up another dagger in no time at all. This is the best basketball return chute available, and at such a low price it is certainly worth purchasing.

• To watch the SKLZ Kick-Out 360 Degree Ball Return System Review on YouTube, click here.

3.) Goaliath Basketball Return System

• Goaliath Basketball Return System Review: This is a simple basketball return system, and one which provides all the features promised by Goaliath. The mesh netting is set up below the entirety of your backboard and more, meaning even the biggest bricks will come straight back to you. It is supported by two heavy-duty anchors, which can be filled with sand to ensure the net stays perfectly in place. This product is much cheaper than many similar sized net return systems, though the durability is likely a reason for it. Some users reported problem with the quality of the design and materials, though with a 90 day warranty you will get a reasonable chance to determine if this system is right for you. Considering its price and the fact that it does what it claims to do, this is certainly a worthy purchase.

• To watch the Goaliath Basketball Return System Review on YouTube, click here.

4.) SKLZ Rapid Fire II Make or Miss Ball Return

• SKLZ Rapid Fire II Make or Miss Ball Return Review: SKLZ have clearly gone to some effort to emphasize the difference between this product and their Kick-Out 360 Degree Ball Return System – namely, that it returns both makes and misses. This net is 13.75 feet long and 12.75 feet wide, ensuring that even your worst misses are returned straight back to you. It allows you to get the most out of your practice session, and is easy to set up. Price-wise this comes in around the mid-range – much cheaper than some of the most expensive ball return systems, but more expensive than many as well. The only problems users have with this product is with the durability, with some reports of the plastic breaking. These reports are relatively rare though, and in general customers are satisfied with the product. SKLZ make plenty of good basketball products, and this is the best SKLZ basketball return system you’ll find.

• To watch the SKLZ Rapid Fire II Make or Miss Ball Return Review on YouTube, click here.

5.) Rolbak Foldable Basketball Return Net 

• Rolbak Foldable Basketball Return Net Review: Functional and inexpensive, the Rolbak Foldable Basketball Return Net is a great addition to your hoop. The 10 foot long and 5 foot wide net will catch all your stray shots, as well as all of your good ones, and feed them straight back to you, allowing you to get more out of your training. The net attaches to the back of your basketball rim and involves just a quick and easy set up, and the polyethylene netting is made to last. There are, however, some question marks over whether this netting lasts as long as advertized, with some users complaining of tears appearing after just a couple of months. In general though, customer satisfaction is high, with this net doing what it’s made to do, and doing it well.

• To watch the Rolbak Foldable Basketball Return Net  Review on YouTube, click here.

Avoid – Spalding Back Atcha Ball Return

• Spalding Back Atcha Ball Return Review: As unusual as it is to have a Spalding product in this section, this one belongs here. One redeeming factor is that it is cheap, but this is for a reason, as the Back Atcha Ball Return simply doesn’t do a whole lot. Comprised of thick plastic, this mechanism hooks to the back of your hoop and connects to the bottom of the netting. The idea is that it will feed the ball back out after a make. All it does, however, is push the ball softly towards the free throw line after you make a shot. If you miss, it won’t do anything. If you’re shooting 3-pointers, the ball won’t come all the way back to you, and will hardly get any closer to you than it would in the absence of this product. If you’re shooting on an angle, the ball won’t come back to you. It may be cheap, but this is the one to avoid basketball return system this 2023 season, so it’s probably best to avoid it.

• To watch the Spalding Back Atcha Ball Return Review on YouTube, click here.

Avoid – Silverback Basketball Yard Guard

• Silverback Basketball Yard Guard Review: This return system essentially functions the same as its competitors. It bounces balls back to you after makes or misses, and as it is pretty wide, will catch virtually any shot. Unfortunately, the quality of the material is simply not up to what it should be considering the cost. Many reviews state that the net tends to come away from the backboard or start to tear after relatively minimal use, and considering this is far from the cheapest product on the market, that is certainly not what you want to be happening. The Silverback Basketball Yard Guard will perform the function for which you buy it, but it may not do so for as long as you anticipate. There are other similar products, which will last longer and cost you less, so stay away from this one.

• To watch the Silverback Basketball Yard Guard Review on YouTube, click here.

2023 Buyers Guide to the Best Basketball Return System

The idea of buying a basketball return system is to improve the quality of your practice and minimize the time spent chasing after the ball, and to get the most out of it there are a few important factors you need to consider before buying. Simple things like whether the system performs as it is intended, whether it will last, and whether it is value for money, are all things that can greatly influence whether you end up satisfied with your purchase.

4 Main Points to Consider:

• Type of return system: This simply comes down to personal preference. Essentially, there are two different types of return systems available. The most common is the net system, which sets up underneath your hoop. The ball either goes through the basket, or misses, before landing on the net and bouncing back out to, hopefully, where you’re standing. The other option is a chute system. The SKLZ Kick-Out 360 Degree Ball Return System is an example of this. Rather than entailing an entire net, this is simply a small chute attached to the bottom of your basketball hoop, meaning when the ball goes through the hoop it will be funneled down the chute and kick back out. The benefit of this type of system is that it is generally cheaper and easier to attach, while the drawback is that it only funnels made shots back to the shooter.

• Performance: Will your product perform as intended? This is a key question, which needs to be asked prior to making a purchase. Some of the lower quality systems simply don’t do what they claim to do. For example, some chute systems virtually drop the ball directly at the foot of the hoop, which is much the same as what would happen in the absence of the return system. Others spin around and return the ball at all sorts of crazy angles, meaning you’ll spend half your time running around chasing the ball – exactly what you’d intended to stop doing when making this purchase! Make sure you read the reviews and do your research prior to buying, or you may end up with a product that doesn’t perform anything like you had anticipated.

• Durability: This tends to be more of a problem with the net systems. These systems are getting a big workout; if you spend 20 minutes shooting around, the net is going to be returning the basketball to you hundreds of times. This means the material needs to be of a very high quality, or the system simply won’t last, and unfortunately this is the case with many of these products. The repeated contact from the ball can gradually wear away at the net, or the support poles which hold it up, and eventually lead to bent poles or torn nets. You’ll potentially spend upwards of $100 on a system like this, so you certainly don’t want it coming apart after just a couple of months.

• Price: As usual, you get what you pay for with most of these products. For example, the iC3 Basketball Shot Trainer is far more expensive than it’s competitors, but it’s also easily the best of these products. It will perform as intended, and importantly, last for a long time. Other return systems may be appealing due to a significantly lower cost, but ensure you read reviews prior to buying these, as often the low price can be a sign of poor quality materials and a lack of durability. There is a reasonable sized middle-ground, in which you can buy mid-priced return systems that work reasonably well and last a pretty long time, and this is probably what most people will settle on. Make sure you know your budget, and determine which return system will be your best bet within these financial constraints.

What is the key advantage of a hoop return system for youth and adult players?

The most beneficial aspect of having a best hoop return system for players of any ages is that it allows you get more shots off during your practice. If you’ve ever wondered how NBA players become so adept at shooting, the answer, aside from having a reasonable level of natural talent, is repetition. They might shoot thousands of 3-point attempts per day to hone their shot. With hoop return systems, you can get off 3-4 times as many shots within the same amount of time, meaning if you practice for 20 minutes, you’ll get as many shots off as you would in an hour or more of practice without these systems. This can only be a good thing for your shot. Essentially you can reduce the amount of time you need to practice your shooting for significantly to get the same results, leaving you more time to work on your handles and other aspects of your game.

Best Basketball Return System (2023 Buyers Guide):

Final Thoughts on Buying the Best Basketball Return System:

Hoop return systems can have a majorly beneficial impact on your game. They allow you to practice your shooting more efficiently, and ultimately develop a better shot. There are plenty of options on the market, which can make the search daunting at times, and this article has helped to simplify the process by listing some of the best hoop return systems this 2023 season, some to avoid, and some of the factors you need to consider prior to making your purchase.