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Testing methodology
Every recommendation on BasketballTested follows the same process, so you can compare pages with confidence.
Court and age first
Every recommendation starts with indoor or outdoor play and the player's age and level.
A clear verdict
Each guide says who the gear suits, who should look elsewhere, and what to check before you buy.
No paid placements
Brands cannot buy a review or a spot on a list. Partner codes save you money; they never decide what we recommend.
Kept current
Prices are dated, codes are updated across the site at once, and pages are revised when a product, standard or rule changes.
Where our facts come from
We use manufacturer specs and installation manuals, ball size and weight rules from the NFHS, NCAA, FIBA and youth league guidelines, and hoop and backboard specifications from manufacturers.
What we check, by product type
| Shoes | Cut, cushioning system, outsole rubber and pattern for indoor or outdoor courts, fit and weight. |
|---|---|
| Balls | Size, cover material (leather, composite, rubber), indoor or outdoor rating and league approval. |
| Hoops | Backboard size and material, height adjustment range, base capacity or anchoring, rim type. |
| Training aids | What skill it trains, setup, durability and space needed. |
Hands-on testing versus research
A review carries a "Hands-on tested" badge only when our team has used the product, and it lists the date and what we did. Every other page is built from published specs, governing-body rules, the brand's own documentation and owner feedback, and says so. Comparisons are research-based unless marked otherwise.
Prices and codes
Prices come from each brand's own store and are dated on every review. Reader codes come directly from the brands we partner with. When a brand changes an offer, we update the code everywhere it appears on the site at once.
Corrections
If you spot something out of date, email info@basketballtested.com and we'll check it and fix it.