January 18, 2025
Gustavo Rodriguez
Chasing Perfection
A well-built, functional, and attractive hoop is ideal for all basketball courts where functionality and form matter. Many customers want the very best for their high end basketball court, but it is important to note that many professional and collegiate basketball hoops are either high end portables tethered to the ground or mounted
from steel structures overhead. Many residential and
municipal customers are interested in a high end
hoop, but one that is more permanent and does not
require costly overhead structures.
In-Ground Hoops
Most popular for outdoor settings, in-ground hoops
can be directly buried into concrete in the form of
goose-neck park hoops or by means of a bolt down
design. One main advantage to a bolt down design
over goosenecks is ease of installation.
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A gooseneck must be installed perfectly plumb and level as there are no adjustments possible to the pole structure once the concrete has set.
Bolt down hoops are strong enough for park or heavy residential usage, but can be removed and installed elsewhere should needs change or homeowners move. By design, they can be adjusted during assembly or anytime after in order to ensure squareness to the playing surface and to fine tune the pole level.
What to look for
A quality hoop uses robust materials that ensure rigidity in order to minimize pole and backboard movement during play. Corrosion protection and active drainage design is important to ensure the hoop can withstand the test of time when mounted outdoors especially in coastal areas.
Pole
Steel is ideal for the construction of the hoop pole. It should be powder coated or stainless in order to prevent corrosion and ensure a long lasting attractive finish.
The gauge of steel used is important as the larger heavier gauge poles will experience less shaking. Basketball players tend to judge the quality of a hoop on its ability to withstand aggressive play including dunking with minimal vibration and movement. 7 gauge steel (approx 3/16”) is recommended over 11 gauge and thinner found in many big box store hoops. The 11 gauge hoops are difficult to assemble without gaps in between parts as the steel is fragile and begins to deform under higher tool torque load during assembly resulting in undesirable shaking.
Pole dimensions are important to reduce movement. Ideally, a 6”x 6” pole and a 60”x 42” blackboard is a solid choice. For a 72” backboard 6”x 8” or larger is recommended. Some hoops have poles as narrow as 3.5”x 3.5” and should be avoided.
Poles that are a two-piece design are not ideal. Much of the stableness of an in-ground hoop is due to the rigidity of the pole. Two-piece poles are prone to considerable movement that is often not worth the labor in setting the concrete for the base or the extra time required to assemble the hoop. The only real advantage to a two part pole is savings on shipping. Many of the
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in-ground hoops sold in big box stores or on platforms like Amazon are two-part poles as they can be shipped on a single standard sized pallet or loosely placed in a delivery van by one person.
Backboard
A hoop that is well-constructed and mimics professional play should have a backboard that is 72” x 42” and features ½” tempered glass. For park settings, glass should be avoided and replaced with an acrylic or steel backboard for safety and to safeguard against vandalism. Another popular size for residential courts is 60” x 42” which may be more ideal for smaller half courts. Tempered glass ½” thick is preferred here as well instead of ⅜” or thinner seen on some lower end hoops.
Rim & Net
Breakaway rims are ideal in order to elevate the playing experience on par with a professional hoop. Most high end residential, scholastic, and municipal hoops come with a rear flex breakaway rim. This is superior to a fixed rim as it enhances player experience while dunking, while reducing likelihood of injury, and takes pressure off of the backboard and hoop as the built in spring mechanism absorbs player energy.
In order to truly mimic the collegiate and professional experience, a 3 way breakaway rim is needed. Unlike the rear flex rim which only flexes in one direction, the 3 way rim allows flex from the sides as well. This is usually an added cost when purchasing a high end hoop and ideal for the most discerning players who demand the very best and necessary at the NCAA and NBA levels.
Height Adjustment
For public and commercial settings it may be ideal to install fixed height hoops. Height adjustment mechanisms add complexity and cost to installation often not needed nor desired in a high volume public outdoor setting.
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The residential user can benefit from a hoop that is built for heavy aggressive play, but can also lower to allow younger or disabled players an opportunity to get in on the fun. The lower end hoops often do not drop below 7 feet and do not offer spring assist. This means the hoop may still be too high for some players and is difficult for them to raise.
A hoop that lowers to 5-½ feet or lower may be more costly, but offers the long term benefit of being usable as a child grows in stature and skill. These hoops typically have more overhang that prevent players from making contact with the pole and offer flexibility in where the pole is set.
Assembly
Quality hoops are designed and packaged for easier assembly by professionals. While the packaging is heavier, more cumbersome, and generally unwieldy for the average DIYer, professional installers prefer the ease of installation seen in a quality hoop. The time required to install the lower end hoops is often double and the rewards close to half of the better hoop. End users are often duped into purchasing hoops due to marketing tactics that claim comparable performance at a lower cost or faster availability and padded reviews.
Quality Pays
There are many quality hoops on the market today. The competition has led to continuous innovation in design, playability, cost, and durability. Initial costs for a quality hoop are usually higher, but can pay off in the long run. While quality is subjective, the key factors discussed here should shed some light on how to choose a hoop that plays well and makes sense financially.
Not all hoops are equal and attention to details can make the difference in an end product users love versus one they just tolerate.