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If I had the option to pick any type of hoop for my personal outdoor court, I would pick an in-ground hoop without hesitation. All things considered, in-ground hoops are the closest you can get to gym hoop performance without actually stepping foot inside the gym.
They require space for a dedicated basketball court which is something that not everyone has and they are on average the most expensive type of outdoor hoops, but they will provide superb performance in return for the investment you have to make.
If I was picking an in-ground hoop for my own court, I would try to save up and get the best quality model I can simply because I believe you shouldn’t cut any corners if you’re putting in the time and money to build your own outdoor court.
Besides the rim and the backboard, the main factors influencing our rankings are the anchoring system and the support pole along with the previously mentioned external factors.
#1: Ironclad Sports game changer CG55-LG
If I ever decide to build a basketball court in my yard, this is the hoop that I would put on it. It has everything I’m personally looking for in a hoop, stability, quality construction, a good backboard, and a great rim. Best of all, it delivers all of this at a more than reasonable price.
Starting from the bottom, the hoop comes with an anchor system that goes a long way towards helping you make sure that the support pole is installed perfectly vertically as it should be. The support pole itself is a thick 5’’ x 5’’ square piece of steel that is padded from all sides for protection.
Having a one-piece support pole helps the overall stability of the hoop because there are no structural weak points that can cause problems. At the top of the hoop you will find a 60’’ tempered glass backboard and a really good breakaway rim.
This combination of construction, materials, and features means that this hoop is very versatile in terms of what you can do with it. A large backboard and a sturdy rim will offer good performance for jump shots and layups, while the rim and the hoop are strong enough to withstand dunking.
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#2: Pro Dunk Platinum 72 Inch Glass Backboard
The Pro Dunk Platinum is easily one of the best in-ground hoops on the market right now. Its defining feature is the regulation 72’’ tempered glass backboard with an excellent breakaway rim that will provide top tier performance in any occasion.
When you first see this hoop with your own eyes you might be surprised by how large and massive it is. The previous hoop on our list featured a 5’’ x 5’’ support pole, but the Pro Dunk Platinum sports a massive one-piece 8’’ x 6’’ padded support pole that can probably withstand being hit by a car.
The installation of this hoop will take a while and you’ll definitely need a few people to help out because the components are just too massive for one person to put together by themselves. Once you get through this process, however, you won’t have to worry about the state of your hoop ever again.
The elements are always a concern with a hoop that will be outside 24/7, but the Pro Dunk Platinum features several different kinds of coatings that will prevent the elements from causing any damage to the hoop.
If you’re looking for an in-ground hoop that will get as close as possible to replicating the performance of a gym hoop, then this is probably the one for you but it comes with a hefty price tag.
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#3: Goalrilla GSI
Goalrilla GSI is the second hoop on this list that features a regulation 72’’ tempered glass backboard, albeit this backboard is a little bit thinner than the one found on the Pro Dunk Platinum. Regardless of the slight difference, this backboard is still at the top of the category.
I am a fan of the overall design and the aesthetics of the hoop which has a very clean look. The only thing that jumped out at me in a bad way in terms of design is the lack of any kind of padding on the support pole. Keep in mind that we’re talking about a very beefy 6’’ x 6’’ piece of steel.
Granted, in all of my years of playing on outdoor hoops, I can count on my fingers the number of times I’ve seen people (myself included) actually hit the support pole. However, trust me when I say that those rare instances where it happened weren’t pleasant.
I suggest buying some padding separately if you’re thinking of installing this hoop on your court. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of things to like here, from the excellent backboard, a strong rim, and an even stronger structure, to the limited lifetime warranty offered by Goalrilla.
The installation procedure is fairly standard for the category with an anchor system that allows for adjustments and it will take you about as long as it would for the Ironclad CG55-LG. Overall, this is a very good hoop that is up to any task you set before it.
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#4: Silverback 60" In-Ground
This hoop from Silverback is a budget-friendly option for those who want top tier performance at a relatively low price without too many sacrifices. At first glance, the design is similar to the Goalrilla hoop featured just above it on this list which is good because it is a very solid design.
The hoop features a tempered glass backboard but goes for a 60’’ version instead of the 72’’ one. This is perfectly acceptable as there are in general very few situations where a 72’’ backboard will do something that a 60’’ one can’t.
The support pole is a little thinner at 4’’ x 4’’ which isn’t a big deal since it is made out of a single piece of steel and stability won’t be an issue. Even better, the hoop comes with padding for the pole and the backboard as an added safety measure.
The breakaway rim will withstand any dunking and offer good performance when you’re shooting. I really like a lot of things about this hoop and I would probably rank it quite a bit higher if the backboard offset was bigger than 2.5’. Still, it’s a solid option that you can’t go wrong with.
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#5: Spalding H-Frame
The Spalding H-Frame is a very, very beefy hoop and the massive components are probably the first thing that will jump out at you when you see this hoop. There are two versions of this hoop, one with a 60’’ tempered glass backboard and the other with a 72’’ tempered glass backboard.
Backboard size is the only difference between the two versions. The hoop comes with a quality breakaway rim and there is absolutely no doubt that the hoop will withstand any dunk you can throw down.
The support pole is a 6’’ x 6’’ square-shaped piece of steel that is one of the biggest on this list. The pole itself is generously padded which is almost a necessity when you’re dealing with a piece of steel this large.
I also like the fact that the hoop as up to 4’ of backboard offset which is another great safety feature. The hoop could have been a bit lighter but I’m not going to nitpick, especially when you take into consideration that the hoop will offer great performance whether you’re shooting, dunking, or playing.
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#6: Goalrilla GS54
This hoop is very similar in terms of design to the Goalrilla GSI already features on this list, but it separates itself in some interesting ways that deserve a deeper look.
Starting from what could have been done better, I’m not a fan of smaller tempered glass backboards like the 54’’ one found on this hoop. I think that tempered glass is kind of wasted on smaller backboards because it can’t fully showcase its quality and performance, plus you want to get the best value.
I like the rest of the design choices, just like with the Goalrilla GSI, but I am also a fan of some of the cool extras that come with this hoop. The first one is the padding that was absent from the GSI but it a very welcome addition to the GS54’s support pole.
The second thing is something I wished for more times than I can remember. The hoop comes with an LED and a separate anchoring system for installation. This will let you play even when it gets dark outside without depending on street lights or other sources of light.
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#7: Lifetime 71525
Lifetime 71525 is a very budget-friendly hoop and is a great option for those who want a simple hoop to practice on and don’t expect it to perform like a gym hoop.
The design of the hoop is quite simple as could be expected from a hoop this cheap. The support pole is relatively thin compared to the rest of the hoops on this list which on average means that the hoop won’t be as stable, but given that it’s an in-ground design it shouldn’t be a big issue.
The 54’’ polycarbonate backboard comes with a basic breakaway rim that will suffice for basic shooting and playing, but I wouldn’t recommend dunking. Despite the fact that the materials aren’t exactly top of the line, the hoop features UV and weather-resistant coatings.
This hoop will be a great addition to your court if you properly set your expectations. It is perfect for children to play or practice on because you can easily lower the rim to an appropriate height, but experienced players may find it lacking.
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#8: Lifetime 71281
This one is pretty similar to the other Lifetime hoop found on this list. Both feature a polycarbonate backboard (although this one has a 52’’ backboard instead of a 54’’ one), both have a similar 3.5’’ support pole and a similar basic breakaway rim.
One area where the 71281 improves upon the 71525 is the padding found on the support pole which is always a welcome addition in my eyes. The UV and corrosion protection coatings are also present.
In terms of pros and cons it is very similar to the 71525 as are their suggested uses, but the 71281’s slightly smaller backboard pushes it a bit more toward jump shooting. Same as before, it can be a good hoop if you play to its strengths, so make sure you set your expectations properly.
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Conclusion
In-ground hoops are a significant investment so you should definitely conduct a thorough research to determine which model you’re going to purchase. It’s also a good idea to check out the local regulations to see if there are any kinds of restrictions on outdoor hoops.
The last thing you want happening is investing the time and money to set up a basketball court only to find out you have to take the hoop down because of regulations.
On our top 8 list you’ll find hoops for every requirement and budget, and I’d be willing to say that in-ground hoops are a category with the highest number of good quality options on the market. If you have the resources, I wholeheartedly recommend one of these hoops.
One major thing we haven’t quite explored so far is the assembly. Of course, you can do it yourself with help from a few friends, but most amazon listings offer the option of expert installation.
Since your experience with the hoop will greatly depend on whether or not it is properly installed, you might want to explore the idea of hiring a contractor either through Amazon or through other channels to take care of the installation.
I won’t make any recommendations one way or the other since the quality of contractors can greatly differ from one to another. The best thing to do would be to check out the customer reviews since they will usually mention the installation process and basing your decision on that.
