When Goalrilla developed the Deluxe Pole Pad player safety was a priority. That s why it delivers 4 inches of front pole padding. We also wanted to make the Deluxe Pole Pad the toughest basketball pole padding on the planet. So we used the toughest materials to construct the Deluxe Pole Pad so it can weather...the weather. We also added a reinforced base strip to protect the pad from lawn equipment. Since we re known for basketball systems that can handle the most brutal play we think we have a responsibility to develop pole pads to protect players during that brutal play. That s what it takes to be a Goalrilla.