Basketball Hoop Reviews

Spalding 88365 In-Ground Basketball System

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Pros

Stable, easy adjust, infinite adjustment, 4-inch square pole, backboard size, overhang, price

Cons

Acrylic backboard, 3 piece pole, cement installation, plastic anchor. I would call this a low priced, blah system. Nothing to be excited about.

Overall Rating


The Spalding 88365 features a 54-inch acrylic backboard and a U-Turn lift system that adjusts in infinite increments from 7-10 feet. Lowering and raising the hoop is done with a crank, and the handle can be removed for safety purposes. The 4-inch square pole consists of 3 sections. The overhang, which is the distance from the pole to the bottom of the backboard, is 18-inches. Included in an Arena Slam breakaway rim, which includes a wrap around for additional support. The 88365 is backed by a 5-year limited warranty. Dimensions: 60 x 35 x 10 inches.

What To Like

  • Stable. In-ground models are the most stable, which gives you the best performance. For basketball purists, this is the way to go. You won’t have to worry about the hoop moving after a shot or dunk. Because the foundation is stable, the backboard will be as well. This is the most durable type of hoop you can buy.
  • Crank adjust. This type of adjustment is arguably the best in terms of durability and precision. It’s a bit more difficult to raise and lower compared to a pneumatic system, but it has a longer life.
  • Infinite adjustment. Some hoops in a similar price range, such as the Lifetime 71799, adjust in increments of 6-inches. The 88365 however is micro-adjustable, which allows you to set the height anywhere between 7 and 10 feet. This is ideal for children who struggle to shoot on 10-foot hoops. It also makes it easier to dunk on.
  • Backboard size. At 54″, it’s just wide enough for players to shoot bank shots from various angles. The bigger the backboard, the better. The low-end is about 44″, and regulation size is 72″ wide.
  • 4-inch square pole. It’s actually thicker than the Spalding 66349 pole, yet it’s not as expensive. Just about every hoop in this price range has a 3.5 inch pole, so an extra 1/2 inch does help. Another benefit is that it’s square, which is also very uncommon for hoops near this price point. Square poles are better because they reduce vibration.
  • Overhang. An 18-inch overhang is not much, but it’s better than what you would get with entry-level portable models. What’s great about in-ground models is that they don’t have a base compared to portable hoops. This takes up less space and allows for more play below the backboard.
  • Breakaway rim. The wrap around support gives it a professional look. This rim is a little stronger than the spring models that you see on cheaper hoops. It should hold up long-term, and perform well when shooting or dunking.
  • Price. At just over $420 on Amazon, I think this hoop is a bargain.

What Not To Like

  • Acrylic backboard. Polycarbonate is a stronger material than acrylic, so I am not sure why this hoop doesn’t have that instead. Acrylic isn’t bad by any means, as it’s still a very strong material that will hold up against dunking. The downside is that they’re prone to scuff marks and attracting mildew.
  • 3 piece pole. The one downside with the pole design is that it breaks up into sections of 3. This is common for hoops in this price range, but they are not as sturdy as one piece poles.
  • Cement installation. One of the main benefits of a portable hoop is that no installation is required. With an in-ground model, you will have to pour cement, which adds to your overall cost and time. It does use an anchor mount, which means that you might be able to remove it if necessary. Though….
  • Plastic anchor. Customers noted that the anchor was plastic, and therefore not very sturdy. The result is that the hoop wobbles a little more than it should. Your best bet might be to directly bury the pole into the ground if you have no plans on removing it at any point.

Reviews from Around the Web

Amazon.com: 5 Stars – ‘Easy to put together, but a couple of issues….’

Amazon.com: 4 Stars – ‘Worth the price….’

Amazon.com: 3 Stars – ‘What I expected for this price….’

Amazon.com: 2 Stars – ‘Trouble with Installation….’

Summary

Don’t like it. Kind of a blah hoop with blah reviews. Buy it if you want, but there are definitely better goals available for the price.

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

Spalding 66349 Portable Basketball System

By

Pros

Portable, adjustable, polycarbonate backboard, overhang, breakaway rim, affordable

Cons

Adjusts in increments, backboard size, 3 piece round pole, front cover, stability

Overall Rating

The Spalding 66349 is a entry-level portable basketball system. It features a 50″ polycarbonate backboard with a steel frame and a pro slam breakaway rim. The height adjusts in 6-inch increments from 7.5 to 10 ft. The round pole comes in 3 sections, and has a diameter of 3.5 inches. The base holds up to 34 gallons of water or sand. A front cover is included to serve as a rebounder. The 66349 is backed by a 5-year limited warranty.

What To Like

  • Portable. No cement installation is required, it can be moved around whenever necessary, and is convenient. You can play on it anywhere as long as it’s on a flat surface. The two wheels make it fairly easy to move.
  • Adjustable. Ideal for children under 10 who are not yet capable of shooting on a 10 ft. hoop. It’s also good for families who want to play together. A lift system is used, which involves manually lowering or raising it. Raising it to 10 ft could require a ladder or step.
  • Polycarbonate backboard. This material is a very strong plastic. It’s actually stronger than acrylic, which you sometimes see on more expensive hoops such as the Spalding 68562. It’s not likely to break even when dunking or exposed to rough play.
  • Overhang. Overhang refers to the space between the front of the pole and the bottom of the backboard. I can’t tell for sure how much overhang there is, but the angle of the pole helps provide some space underneath so players don’t run into the base.
  • Breakaway rim. Having a breakaway rim allows for dunking, since it gives when you pull down on it. Without this give, dunking would put a lot of stress on the backboard. It also prevents the rim from breaking as well. Children (or even adults) can have some fun with this.
  • Affordable. With a price tag around $370, it can still be classified as affordable for many people.

What Not To Like

  • Adjusts in increments. Some hoops have infinite adjustment as opposed to increments. This means you could adjust it to any height between 7.5 and 10 feet. However, this hoop adjusts in 6-inch increments, limiting the number of heights you can change it to.
  • Backboard size. 50″ is a bit small, and for another $50 you could buy 4 more inches with the Lifetime 71524. To put into perspective, 72″ width is regulation size. The closer you can get to this number, the better the performance. 50″ is fine for a 1-car driveway, but relatively speaking it’s small for a basketball hoop.
  • 3-piece 3.5″ round pole. A single section, square pole is ideal because it limits vibration. This one has neither. It’s round, and comes in 3 pieces. Naturally, it’s not going to perform as well as a single pole. The 3.5 inches is relatively small, which doesn’t give the backboard as much sturdiness compared to larger poles.
  • Front cover. This refers to the plastic cover that you see attached from the base to the pole. I don’t care for this simply because the ball bounces away if it strikes the cover at an angle.

One reviewer said that his cracked w/in 3 weeks. Mine shattered in only 2 weeks. Bottom line here: the plastic isn’t strong enough to handle normal use so if you get this model, PLAN on it breaking soon and then either not having it or making your own.
– B. Walker

  • Stability. A portable hoop with a base naturally isn’t going to be as stable as an in-ground model, or a more expensive portable one. Filling it with sand does help, but the backboard won’t be as rigid. A few customers noted that the hoop moves a little while shooting off the backboard.

Summary

The Spalding 66349 is pretty typical of a basketball hoop in this price range. It has a smaller, but strong backboard, a breakaway rim for dunking, and adjustability for children.

The Spalding 66349 is a entry-level portable basketball system. There are alot of mixed reviews on this puppy. First of all, installation is more difficult than you think. It generally comes with a DVD of instructions on assembly, but it will still take many hours to get this set up. Next, it is not as sturdy as other Spalding brands. It has a tendency to vibrate and does not feel like a really well built hoop. Personally, I think this is actually a very good alternative to an expensive system. It is a good portable basketball hoop system for children. Don’t love it, but I would definitely buy it if it fit my family.

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Lifetime 71524 XL Adjustable Portable Basketball System

By

Pros

Portable, adjustable, 54-inch backboard, breakaway rim, price

Cons

3-piece round pole, little overhang, assembly

Overall Rating

The 71524 XL Basketball System features a 54-inch Makrolon polycarbonate backboard with a ShatterGuard steel frame. The hoop adjusts between 7.5 to 10 feet with no increments. Included is a breakaway style rim, a 3.5 inch round pole, and built-in wheels for transportation. The pole is powder-coated and resistant to rust. The base has a capacity of 35 gallons. The 71524 XL is backed by a 5 year warranty. Dimensions: 56 x 34 x 12 inches ; 50 pounds

What To Like

  • Portable. The built-in wheels allow for it to be moved without much trouble. This feature is ideal if you have limited space or don’t want to do a cement installation.
  • Adjustable. While other portable hoops offered by Lifetime also adjust from 7.5 to 10 feet, this model can adjust infinitely instead of in increments. To adjust, simply squeeze the handle and lift or lower. Children under 10 in particular can benefit from this feature.
  • 54-inch polycarbonate backboard. The size is large enough for a one or two car driveway. It also allows for bank shots from the side. Typically, the higher the price, the larger the backboard. Regulation size is 72 inches wide. The polycarbonate material is a pretty strong plastic that will be hard to break.
  • Spring-back pro rim. This style of rim contains springs so it has give, which makes it suitable for dunking and hanging on it. Another effect is that the ball will bounce softer when shooting from long-range.
  • Price. While not the cheapest hoop you will find, the price is still affordable for middle-income families.

What Not To Like

  • 3-piece round pole. One of the downsides of a portable hoop is that the pole isn’t going to be as strong as an inground model. Of course, unless you are willing spend thousands. A square, one-piece pole is the best for performance.
  • Little overhang. Only the high priced portable models have a lot of space from the pole to the backboard, so it’s not expected. But, it does decrease the chance of bumping into the pole while playing. Also, it allows for more play under the basket.
  • Assembly. A few customers noted that it took in the 6-9 hour range to assemble. The complaint is that the instructions were hard to follow. The more people who help with the installation, the better.

Summary

The Lifetime 71524 XL brings a lot to the table. It has a 54-inch backboard, which is large enough for a 2 car driveway. The breakaway rim is ideal for dunking, and it can be raised or lowered to accommodate certain players. This hoop is suitable for children and adult players. For the price, this is a very solid hoop and has good quality overall.

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