Basketball Hoop Reviews

Basketball Hoops for the Pool

By

I’m going to try something a little bit different in the format of these reviews. It makes sense for a page on the best pool basketball hoops to rank them all on one page. It makes for easier reading and sorting in your mind. At least it does for me. The other hoops are more specific with their details and it is important to have a page dedicated to each hoop. However, for pool basketball hoops, there are a few criteria that are consistent with all of these hoops that need to be explored. In looking for a basketball hoop for you pool, you should consider the following:

  1. Safety and Strength: If you have ever played basketball in the pool, especially with or as a teenager, you know that the games can get rough. There are no referees in pool basketball. It is fight and claw to get to the basketball hoop and jump over someone’s head to slam it. You are lucky if the hoop doesn’t fall into the pool, crushing down on an innocent player (or bench sitter). So with these reviews, we will consider the safety, durability and construction of the hoop.
  2. Rust Protection: No secret that you pool basketball hoop is going to be around water.  You don’t want your hoop to rust out over a year and spill the rust stain all over your pool deck and into your pool.  It also becomes a safety issue when you have rust in and around a pool and hoop.  So let’s make sure you find yourself a basketball hoop that isn’t going to rust away.
  3. Assembly: If you are like me, assembling things is not your strong suit.  I love to play ball, but I dread setting up a basketball hoop.  With a pool hoop, you want something you can set up yourself without much time going into it.
  4. Look: What?  You need a cool looking hoop to set up beside your pool.  It is mandatory.  You spent way too much on a house with a pool to put a doinker hoop that is ugly next to it.  I will help you find a good looking hoop.
  5. Strong Rim: This goes along with #1 (Safety and Strength), however, it is a little bit different.  Hoops and rims are two separate things.  Let’s make sure you get a good sturdy rim to go along with your nice hoop.

Top 5 Pool Hoops in Order from the Best to the Worst

PoolSport Portable Pool Basketball Hoop

We are definitely going with the PoolSport as the #1 reviewed hoop.  However, this doesn’t mean to stop scrolling down and reading other reviews.  It may not be the right hoop for you, but it is definitely the right hoop for a lot of people.  Let’s first discover the benefits:

It is cake to assemble – It is strong, durable and will last through rough play – Well balanced with a large enough rim (14inch) to fit a regulation sized ball – comes with its own matching basketball – Looks good and overhangs the pool nicely.

Now the Negatives

Rust issue: There are certain reviews with this hoop that say that the rust is overwhelming and bleeds into the pool.  Other reviewers say that rust is not a problem and that it was addressed with new stainless steel hardware.  Some say the rust comes from the rim.

Click Here for The Price on Amazon

Splash & Shoot Port Regulation-Size Pool Basketball Hoop Set

What can I say.  Splash and Shoot takes over #1 and #2.  They just make the best pool side hoops, no doubt about it.  This hoop is regulation size which may or may not be what you are looking for.  I personally prefer it.  But I don’t prefer to use a regulation ball.  Big hoop small ball makes for a lot more made three pointers which is what I shoot.  I quit dunking after I separated my shoulder.

Assembly is easy, no problem.  There is one reviewer that said there was some missing hardware and they had to go to the store and buy it separately.  There aren’t any complaints of rusting or durability issues.  It is certainly a strong pool hoop that is great for teenagers.  Once again, not in love with the baby blue but it looks get next to the pool.  5 Star Pool Hoop!

Click Here for The Price on Amazon

S.R. Smith Salt Pool Friendly Competition Basketball Uprights

This is an interesting pick at #3.  Definitely not conventional.  The S.R. Smith Basketball hoop is new to Amazon and doesn’t have any user reviews.  If you go their website you can read the product details.  It is heavy at 46 lbs.  Based on the product specifications, it looks to be a sturdy and strong hoop with heavy uprights and anchors and a safety pad under the backboard.

Instillation: This thing is not as easy as the others to install.  It is definitely a more comprehensive install.  NOTE: Two in-deck plastic anchors (AS-100P) for concrete decks are required to install the game.  You have to install the anchors with the concrete.  So if you haven’t done this already, than this is not for you.  This is a hoop that you should get if you are installing a pool now.  THESE HOOPS ARE SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR SALT POOLS.

Lifetime 1301 Pool Side Basketball System

I think Lifetime makes Great Basketball hoops.  I especially like their kids hoops.  I may not be doing this hoop justice at #4.  It would really be a tough decision between the top four.  It would be nice to anchor a hoop into the cement if you have the opportunity.  However, if you are going with portable pool hoop, this lifetimes 1306 is a great option.  Installation is not terribly difficult, with an estimated start to finish time of 1 hour. It comes with a nice rim and net and the product is heavy duty.  Some users say that if you call the company they will send you a new net every 2-3 years or when necessary.

The only major issue that I can see in this hoop is rusting. IF you have a salt pool, you may want to think twice about buying this hoop.  There will be rust issues.  With a non-salt pool it still may have rust issues where the angle meets the pole and with the rim.  Still, definitely a good alternative and worth considering.

This lifetime pool hoop is also well built, sturdy and looks good.  No question about it.  It is a fun hoop.  It is a little more difficult to assemble as some of the parts look similar and there doesn’t appear to be labels on the parts.

There are definite rust issues with this hoop.  The problem appears to be coming from the hardware bolts.  Other than the rust issue, this is a very well designed pool hoop.

Click Here for The Price on Amazon

A couple others to consider

At 24 pounds it is not the heaviest of the pool hoops, but I do think it is a good one.  Smaller 14′ hoop for play with a smaller ball.  Hard plastic backboard.  There is one reviewer that had problems with the design.  The other reviewers seem to really enjoy it.

Click Here for The Price on Amazon

Okay fine, I will admit along with the reviewers that this is not the most sturdy pool hoop on the market.  You are not going to go crazy with a dunk ball pool game.  However, this hoop does have a market for pool hoops.  We used to use one of these things.  Put it in the shallow end and jump off of the diving board and throw the basketball in the hoop.  Very difficult to make it.  First to 5 makes wins.  I enjoyed it at least.

Click Here for The Price on Amazon

Spalding 79351 Backboard/Rim Combo

By

Pros

Easy assembly, Good Price, Good Rim

Cons

Background not as sturdy and firm as other mounted basketball hoops

Overall Rating


This Spalding mounted basketball hoop is the least expensive of the mounted hoops on our website. This is the type of mounted hoop that you will want to mount on your garage, shop door, light pole, etc. It reminds me of the hoops that are in the movie Hoosiers. It is a great farmers hoop. You can mount it onto basically anything and start playing. The rim is spalding quality. The backboard is not as strong.

What To Like

  • The Rim No complaints about the rim. Sturdy, lasts long on rough play.
  • The Price A mounted hoop for $150? Definitely worth that price.
  • Installation You and five of your friends can spend a day and a half installing some of the hoops on this website. This one will take a lunch break.

What Not To Like

Backboard. There are complaints about how the backboard plays. It is not a professional, semi professional, college or high school standard hoop. It’s a put it on your garage and hope to get a few years out of it for $100 dollars hoop.

Other Online Reviews

Amazon.com has Eleven 5 Star Reviews. They all praise the hoop for its cost and rim quality. Installation is not a huge problem although sometimes the instructions haven’t showed up with the hoop.

Amazon.com has Five 4 Star Reviews, Three 3 Star Reviews, Three 2 Star Reviews, and Two 1 Star reviews. The overall theme of the poor reviews is the quality of the backboard and longevity issues. Frankly, it is a $100 dollar hoop and you will get more than value for it.

Summary

This Spalding Mounted hoop is worth the price tag of $100. If you are not interested in getting a pole assembly and pouring concrete, this may be your option. You can mount it basically anywhere, with the garage, pole, or shop doors being popular locations. It is not the highest quality backboard. The rim is good. It is worth the price.

Spalding 88354PR In-Ground Basketball System

By

Pros

Affordable, polycarbonate backboard, height adjustment, breakaway rim, stability, brand reputation

Cons

Increment adjustment, 3-piece round pole, 16-inch offset, direct burial installation

Overall Rating


The Spalding 88354PR is an entry-level in-ground basketball system. It has a 48″ polycarbonate backboard with a heavy-duty steel frame. Included is the Slam Jam breakaway rim and a Pro Glide lift system that raises or lowers the height from 7.5-10 feet in 6-inch increments. The 3.5″ round pole comes in 3-sections. The backboard has an offset of 16-inches. It’s installed by cementing the pole directly into the ground. The 88354PR is backed by a 5-year limited warranty.

What To Like

  • Affordable. Basketball systems can get awfully expensive. This system is perfect for those who are on a budget, or would rather not make a big investment. It’s ideal for children, though adults can also play on it as well.
  • Polycarbonate backboard. It’s not as rigid or heavy as tempered glass, but it’s strong in its own right. It has a professional look, and is said to be stronger than acrylic. This backboard will likely hold up for as long as you need them to, assuming it’s not abused.
  • Height adjustment. Children can really benefit from this. It can be frustrating for little ones to shoot on a 10 foot hoop. This system will grow with your child.
  • Breakaway rim. Most systems do have one nowadays, so it’s not a huge positive. It’s not heavy-duty, and not the quality of some higher priced hoops. But it does allow children to dunk if they want to. I would not recommend adults dunking and hanging on this rim however.
  • Stability. It’s not the most stable in-ground hoop you’ll find, but cementing it into the ground does help. In other words, it will perform better than a similar portable system.
  • Brand reputation. Spalding is one of the top brands out there. They have an extensive line of basketball systems, and have been in business for a long-time. They are trusted.

What Not To Like

  • Increment adjustment. Being able to change the height is a positive, but it only adjusts in increments of 6-inches. The mid-to-upper level hoops adjust infinitely, meaning you can change it to an height between 7.5-10 feet. Not a huge deal, but it does limit your options.
  • 3-piece round pole. Doesn’t provide the stability that a one-piece pole would. Plus, the three sections will have to put put together during the assembly, which can sometimes be a pain.
  • 16-inch offset. This doesn’t provide a lot of room for play under the basket. If children are playing, then it’s probably not a big deal. But adults may be more prone to bumping into the pole. The more room you have, the better and safer it will be.
  • Direct burial installation. This means that the pole is cemented into the ground. Therefore, you won’t be able to remove it very easily if desired. However, you can purchase a ground sleeve from Spalding. This will be cemented into the ground and the pole will be inserted into it. That way, it would be easier to remove.
  • Note. These criticisms are the same as you’ll find on other similar priced hoops.

Reviews from Around the Web

Amazon.com: 4 Stars – ‘Didn’t come with hardware in time for Christmas’

Summary

The Spalding 88354PR is your average entry-level basketball system. The parts aren’t going to be as high of quality as you would see on some higher priced hoops. However, it still does the job. I would not recommend this for serious play among adults. But for children, it’s a good hoop. They can dunk on it, shoot around, or play with their friends. Overall, it’s very comparable to the other hoops you’ll find in this price range. This system comes with a “Slam Jam breakaway rim” although you wouldn’t catch me hanging on it. (6’0 210 pounds – solid muscle mixed with fat).

For the Cheapest Price, Most Customer Support and best Return Policy we Recommend Amazon.com for your basketball hoop purchase. Orders processed Through Amazon.com:

Recent Reviews & Articles

About This Site

Our goal is to provide honest opinions and reviews of basketball goals and hoops. We hope you find them helpful.

We do our best to keep all information as accurate and current as possible.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking Basketballhoopreview.net content to Amazon properties.