An education - downtown

2 full courts and 2 half courts located in the heart of the city near the corner of Swanston and A'beckett streets.  These are located at RMIT, we usually avoid school court reviews, but made an exception here because university wasn't really a school for me, more an extended gap year.

4.8 backboard slaps

Pros:

Full court markings including the no charge zone, good quality backboards with nets on each ring. BBQs located just off the court with plenty of seating, plenty of courts to choose from with the full courts first to fill up. There were also some very pro looking guys there with massage rollers, stretching elastics, yoga mats and full leg and arms sleeves (not the tattoo variatey), though I think that is a different kind of pro. Tokyo hometown across the road for all your Pocari sweat requirements and water taps just off court to fill up water bottles.  Courts pretty well protected from wind which is always a plus. Also seems to be lights around the court for night time hoops.

Cons:

Not a great deal really, so I'll be picky: the two half courts are on a lean which could be frustrating, especially if missed shots create unecessary running.  Courts do fill up quickly (around 10:30 on a Sunday morning) but that could be considered a pro if pick up is your game.  When the sun hits the glass building you can barely see the ring shooting from deep in the corner, but as my shot is in such a great routine from the corner 3 I get the same result every time (airball) so it doesn't impact that much for me.  I do question the legitimacy of the ring height given I could do a 1 handed standing dunk ( a stretch, but did it on multiple occasions) - this is the first time I've been able to dunk in about 15 years so it raised some concerns, but fanned the old ego a fair bit - so maybe a pro

Preferred game:

Pick up 4:4 (basically due to the volume of people that hit the courts up)

What's in the area:

Everything really, multiple trams 50m away, Melbourne Central about 150m away, Oxford Scholar pub about50m away which has espn which is great for catching NBA games when they're on over a pint and Parma - Parma is quite good as well with reasonably priced pints of post mix coke that aren't overfilled with ice.  Swimming pool around the corner for recovery sessions, though I prefer the pub option.

Spring Fling

A 3qtr court located in JJ Holland Park in Kensington with a playground, footy ground, soccer ground, and normal grounds

3 backboard slaps (it gets an upgrade from 2.5 out or respect for the grounds being the old pie making Mecca that is four n twenty)

PROS:

Full line marking including 3 point line, ring and back board in good nick (though no net) BBQs within smelling distance

CONS:  

Drops off into dirt pretty quickly off the concrete, leading to the non Kyrie Irving type ankle breakers.  Court filled up pretty quickly with kids, so while I took them down to the post and backed in for the baby hook there wasn't much space on the court for a spin move, so the court, much like my post move was very cramped

PREFERRED GAME:

HORSE

WHATS IN THE AREA:

Located pretty much the corner of Kensington Rd and Altona Street, South Kensington station is super close (you can hear the train announcer), with Kensington village about 500 meters away for a pint at the local pub. Fish and chip shop closed on a Sunday which was very disappointing - once on Mcauley road your a stones throw from Kensington station