SKLZ Rapid Fire II Make or Miss Ball Return, 180-Degree

Your browser does not support HTML5 video.  INTERNET!!! Dude! I love basketball! This is a SUPER RAD BALL RETURN. This totally helped in preventing my air balls from rolling into the street! 4 Stars because it’s not a universal fit, and I had to drill holes and install support struts. Also, you’ll need sand or rocks in the super sturdy weight bags. The seams are not sealed on the bags, so a bleach/water solution will not work.However, this is the only tall, net-style, airball in the street preventer, ball return on Amazon. And it’s AMMMAAAZZZIIINNNGG!!!

OVERALL REVIEWThis thing is great. It works really well and so far I've had no problems with it after 2 months. Depending on how wide you set it up, the ball may escape the clutches of the net anywhere from almost never to rarely. Assuming you don't miss of course. How high is returns is again dependent on how wide the anchors are and how far back. It's best to stay maybe 3 or 4 steps behind the net and bounces high enough to dribble back up to you. It can launch quickly off the net or slowly depending on how you set it up, coming as high as my thighs (I'm 6 ft) or as low as the ground. For me, I'll have to chase down maybe 2 or 3 out of 30 shots, due to personal error/cockiness, throwing a horrifying air ball, or just from a bad bounce coming off the net and into the anchor for example. Without it, you're chasing 30 for 30 (see what I did there? ESPN fans?) You get less running exercise as a result, but your shooting improves as a result. You also get some cardio still especially if you're attempting to use multiple balls, but even with 1 it returns so quickly that if you keep shooting as soon as you get it it can become quite a workout.SETUPThe setup took about 30 minutes and wasn't too hard I don't like how the weights are external sand bags either, when they fall it can be a pain resituating them on the anchors again. I used to have one that you just poured water into, those were much better because you just had to pick them up if they fell. Everyone likes varying placement of the anchors for the ball to a return a certain way, so just play around with it and see what works best.THINGS TO NOTEIt should be noted this isn't really for long range shots (anything around the 3 point line and beyond probably is dubious) because if you airball the anchors aren't weighted enough to stay in place and will fall down. Nothing really bad, takes maybe 10 seconds to pick it up again and the problem is avoided if you at least hit the rim or make it (have you determined that I suck yet?). You also can no longer dunk of course. This net is also great for volleyball, I use it to practice setting into the hoop or serving to a lesser extent. You can ever practice bumping it into the hoop as it rolls down the net since you can get low enough to do so. The price is also ridiculous, this probably costs like $15 to make maybe. The quality is fairly good too, especially the net which is fairly sturdy and sleek.CONCLUSIONDefinitely a must-have if you have a hoop, for volleyball and basketball lovers alike. The price is a rip off but it's worth the mugging of your wallet if you want to get better at either sport and want more fun and less mindlessly running after the ball cursing your skill. Definitely makes an exercise more fun though, less soul numbing chasing of the ball into the neighbors yard while evading multiple dog bogies on your 6 and more fade aways and actual shooting. The exercise you lose chasing the ball is more than made up with an increased desire to play longer and more often, and because rapid shooting creates a similar effect. I whole heartedly recommend this. For all those who have rabies from ill-fated ball chases, I offer you this solution (and a recommendation for Dr. Shen, he's great with rabies).

This is for all those who want to buy this product but have molded frame backboards.I was really excited to put this on my son's basketball hoop. Followed all the instructions. And just when I was almost done with instructions.. Murphy's law kicked in.No where in online description, I see that it is meant for only metal frame backboards and not for molded ones. After reading it in instructions, I noticed the text on one side of box too. But, again, no where in online description. Uploading images of instructions and box also.Felt disappointed. Expected better from SKLZ. How can they miss such a key point in description? One star for that.Wasted so much time, effort and more than anything the outcome saddened my son. That is unacceptable!

Nice product worth the value. Setting up the products take less then 10 minutes and ton's of fun and training.

My daughter absolutely loves this! No more chasing down the hill behind the house to retrieve balls when they don't bounce just perfectly. Easy to put up and easy to move out of the way when she's doing layup drills or playing one-on-one!

Product works ok. Bags don't weigh enough to hold up to return shots. I filled them with rocks and then tried sand. Just too top-heavy.

I used this right away after setting it up and it seems to work very well. It won't stop every bad shot, but most. I was hoping the bottom edge was going to be wider than the top, like a trapezoid, therefore covering more area when used as a flat backstop.

This net works amazingly well. It's held up outside no problems for the last six months. We have a wood backing to a plastic backboard and we were able to make this fit. Would definitely be easier, though, if you had the appropriate/recommended rectangular backboards as shown in the product info/pictures.