Hardware Disc Golf Basket

After about a year of playing disc golf, a fellow thrower (we'll call him Boomer, because that's his name) called and said "I found some basket plans online for $10. Wanna split it and build a couple baskets?"
Hecks yeah! My short game sucks. A basket in my backyard could really help.
I checked out the web site for the basket. A short video shows a few discs being tossed into the home-built basket and the sound of the chains was almost enough to get me to buy on the spot. But this is 2007, surely somebody has a decent set of basket plans online somewhere for free, right? Nope, not really. I searched and came up with a few tutorials, but each seriously lacked in one department or another. Back to square one, I Paypal $10 for the eBook. This guy did his homework and the plans look pretty well thought out ... detailed parts list with item numbers for the major retailers, tools required and photos with the step-by-step instructions. But the more Boomer and I (and Jesse, but that's about the extent of his involvement in this saga, so I'll skip lengthy introductions) went over the plans, the more we started to question the durability of a basket made with chicken wire and zip ties ... lots and lots of zip ties.
I said "Give me a week. I'll see what I can come up with."
My first stop was the disc golf course to take some measurements of the real deal. Then, off to the local hardware store and one of the big box chains, to wander the aisles to see if this piece would fit into that piece. I expected to just make some minor tweaks to the basket plans we bought, but in the end, I tossed out everything but the pole. Slowly, the Hardware Basket was coming together. Total cost was about $90. Pricewise, our basket is just about right in line with the one in the plans we downloaded. For about $30 more than it would cost to build the Hardware Basket, you can pick up one of the big name portable baskets ... but the Hardware Basket has 24 chains!
How's it work, you ask? In the few short weeks I've had the basket, my putting "circle of confidence" has extended by a few feet and I've knocked a few strokes off my average. Your results may very.

Step 1 Know The Basket

Before you get started building your basket, go to the course and look at a basket. Have you ever really looked at one? Sure, we throw at them all day long, but check out the parts. Chains, S-hooks and more chains. That's the part to really check out: How the chains all come together at the bottom. Keeping that in your head as a point of reference will help when you get to that stage of your own basket. If you're feeling particularly uptight, take some measurements from the ground to the bottom of the catch basin, from the inside of the catch basin to the bottom of the chains and other such lengths. Having these on hand will let you tweak your Hardware Basket to come as close to the one you'll be aiming at out on the course. To the right are the measurements I came up with and what I used as a reference for the basket built in these plans.

Comments

[icj88]

Too funny. I met Boomer in the summer of 07. He was the first person that got me into disc golfing. Listened to his early morning reggae show as well. Cheers,

Ian

[rfakhre]

i was thinking about using an old bicycle tire/rim for the top. maybe mountain bike size. And to make it lighter and more portable, i wanted to use smaller chain link. what do you think? light weight basket ideas, and base ideas welcome.

[theflightzone]

all that matters is that it catches discs without tearing them up . even size is not that important . there are so many unique ways to build a basket . and that' s the whole point . to express your own style . you can get a instep basket shipped for 100$ on ebay which is a major bargain . unless you plan on welding the parts prices do add up .

the less you spend on materials ... the more time and modifications required.
the more you spend on materials .. the less time and modifications required.

it's that simple

if you want a perfect basket buy one
if you want a unique basket and something to do for the weekend
build it yourself ;-)

[sethf8403]

no offense intended but i think the top is ridiculous, a mach 3 has 23 inch top holder...the mach 5 is the same, that grill looks flimsy and stupid, i made mine custom with fiberglass but any 23 inch ring will be better than a grill top, be it piece of plywood or any piece of plastic thick enough to support all that chain... they should be staggered, 6 in and 6 out, and that dumb flimsy grill top doesn't support a decent chain configuration...your inner ten chains are useless mainly because they are so close to the center pole, they need to be a minimum of 6 to 8 inches away from the pole.

[jbroberts123]

You are ignorant and rude. There is many many ways to give that constructive critisism without being so outright offensive. I would have loved to see you stutter in your brain for hours while trying to figure out how to build this. Clearly your creativity and engineering abilities are sub-par other wise you would follow up such severe and harsh statements with a set of plans that you made. sethf8403, you suck at life. Orange Guy, you are a great person and have many great things to come for sharing such genuine inginuity with the masses...

[Orange Guy]

1. Not everyone has access to fiberglass fabrication. 2. Plywood would not hold up to outdoor exposure. 3. "Piece of plastic thick enough" ... example? Also, you only have 12 chains? Most I throw at have 18 or 24. I think you kind of missed the point. This is called a "hardware" basket, meaning all the parts are right at the hardware store and require very little to no modification to be ready for assembly. You are correct on the center chains and many people have adjusted the plans to move them out a bit.

[rhaubejoi]

Wow, I think you did a fine job and this was a great instructable.  Makes me want to check into a local disc golf area.  Looks like with enough area you could have your own course.

[Thorax]

i never heard of disc golf...what are the rules? trowing the disk so it sticks in the chains?

[Orange Guy]

That's pretty much the gist of it. The rules are a lot like ball golf, but you throw a disc instead of hitting a ball. Check out www.pdga.com for more info and find a course near you. It's great low-cost activity.

[StuNutt]

I was about to ask the same question as Thorax!  At first I thought it was some gadget to improve my golf putting (on the back lawn).

I guess that Disc Golf hasn't made it to UK (yet!)

[FOR3SKIN]

Great job! This sport thrives because of people like you. If you have a Facebook account look us up on the De Laveaga profile, I would like to add you as a friend.  If you ever come to Santa Cruz CA, let us know, we would love to show you around. Great instructables again!

[den_sue]

Thanks Orange Guy!!! Been playing disc golf for years but we just use a backpack and a nature trail. One guy walks ahead and picks a spot. On a stump, hanging from a limp, middle of the trail or in the woods. I played a "real" course for the first last week. Our state park built one and it's a blast. Of course I immediately began brain storming on how to build a basket. Seth 8403 seems a bit arrogant and has missed the point totally. I myself plan to use your plans and try to find substitutes to make it even more in expensive. I'll call it the poor mans basket. (Seth stay away. you wont like it) Any way, awesome job and thanks for all your hard work and generosity!!! When I get mine built I'll post it for all to critique. ps - hikerjoe, you nailed it! Nice! Dennis

[wolfc]

I made a disc golf target. I used 3 plywood circles and some chain.

[Jodabro]

mountain clips might be a good idea instead of s clips

[ajbegg]

sweet. Disc golf is the best. I built 3 homemade baskets about 5 years ago. I wish I would have taken pics, it was quite a production. They have held up well.

[whathefox]

Thank you so much for publishing your ideas for making your own basket, they are the best that I have seen on the web for make from your hardware store baskets. I have used so many of your ideas with a few exceptions. I used some products that I already owned for some of the parts. I am still in the process of making it. I will let you know how it turns out. Again, thank you for paying it forward, and you are greatly appreciated by this disc golfer adjusting to a recession economy.

[hikerjoe88]

Lesson in civility: When someone gives away an idea for free and only asks that you pick up trash, they have "paid it forward" in essence and are being kind to their fellow golfers. Rather like the "Gentleman's game" of "real golf." Sure all great ideas start out in a form other than the final version and can be continually improved on. Rather than telling someone their idea is "flimsy and stupid" try this expression and think how much kinder this is to the one who took their valuable time to share their idea: I loved your plan but I used marine grade plywood instead of the grill top and it seems to be a bit more sturdy. Thanks again for the idea though! Compare the two statements and see which one would make you feel better if you were on the receiving end of the statement. By the way Orange Guy, I did think you came up with a great idea and look forward to creating my own version for the back yard. Thanks

[StDoodle]

Looks pretty decent, considering the stipulation that it be something that doesn't require access to difficult-to-find parts or tools. My one concern is that you measured from the base to the bottom of the basket; shouldn't the measurement be to the rim of the basket, especially when you use a basket that isn't nearly as deep as a standard disc-catcher? Also, the inner-chains-to-close-to-pole issue could be easily remedied by adding extra nuts onto the eyehooks to allow them to stick out further.

[0utdoorze]

Thanks for the instructable! I've been thinking about trying to build one of these using a local hardware store, and your post has been really helpful. I really like that it has 24 chains. Showing all the parts is perfect for the rest of us. Right now that's the hardest thing for me - trying to figure out what to use where, and make it all go together. I'm curious to know... how'd you come about that basket?

[sethf8403]

i don't see the point in cutting them in half, it looks much more professional to cut it an eighth of an inch past the steal band, so that you end up cutting an inch or so in the center and tossing it, you only need an eighth inch on each side and it will look more professional...

[Orange Guy]

To each his own ... I guess that when I have a basket made out of PVC and grill parts, "professional" isn't a concern.

[jrhodge]

Very well done instructable. Just finished today with very minor alterations. Added a circle of plywood under whiskey barrel liner for added strength. Attached floor flange to the plywood and screwed liner to the wood. Other than that, went pretty much according to plan. Myself and my friends thank you!!!

[SoloTSi97]

Great instructable! Looks like I'll be making a new addition to the back yard ... ;-)

[GorillazMiko]

Sweet job. It looks cool, great Instructable, lots of pictures and detail.

[Patrik]

Looks good. Rather than have all the inner chains hang against the post, wouldn't it be easier and more effective to put a metal ring on top of the grill, 1/2 the diameter of the grill itself, and attach the inner chains to that? Seems like that would fill in the space better, plus you wouldn't need the PVC coupler with all the eyeholes. Heck, you could even attach the inner chains without S-hooks, provided you can open the ring. Just slip all the inner chains over the ring, close the ring, then thread the chains through the grill where you want them, and attach to the locking ring at the bottom.

[Orange Guy]

A ring 1/2 the diameter of the grill would have the inner chains out way too far. I know this isn't PDGA approved, but the spacing is real close to the baskets you'll find on the course. Still, taking that approach with a smaller ring might be a better way to to do it. That said, I did this with the materials that went together as I wandered the hardware store. Perhaps in version 2.0.