Basketball Hoop Reviews

Lifetime 90014 Competition In Ground Basketball System

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Pros

Stability, pneumatic lift mechanism, tempered glass backboard, 4-inch square pole, 27″ overhang

Cons

Thin backboard, direct burial installation

Overall Rating

 

The 90014 Competition is one of the top in-ground basketball systems sold by Lifetime. It’s suited for a 1-2 car driveway playing area. It features a 54″ tempered glass backboard, a 4-inch square pole, and a 27-inch offset. The height adjusts from 7.5 to 10 feet in infinite increments with the use of the Power Lift® pneumatic mechanism. The Slam-it Ultra rim is made of solid steel and has a wrap-around brace. The The 90014 is backed by a 5 year limited warranty. Dimensions: 58 x 36.5 x 7 inches; 125 pounds.

What To Like

  • Stability. In-ground hoops are best for stability. The tempered glass backboard adds to this because it’s a heavier material compared to polycarbonate and acrylic. The square 4-inch pole helps reduce vibration.
  • Infinite adjustment. You can raise or lower it to any height between 7.5 and 10 feet. Some mid-level hoops only adjust in increments of 6-inches.
  • Power Lift® pneumatic mechanism. This is a gas assisted adjustment mechanism that makes it easier to lift and lower the hoop. You grab the handle and simply raise or lower it depending on what height you want. The downside is that it may start leaking gas a few years down the road, which can affect precision.
  • Tempered glass backboard. Simply put, tempered glass is the best of the best. It’s used at the college and pro level. It’s heavier, more rigid, and durable compared to other materials. A huge plus.
  • 4-inch thick square pole. Less expensive hoops typically have round poles that are between 3-3.5 inches thick. Certainly, this is an upgrade. The square shape is superior as far as sturdiness is concerned.
  • Overhang. The thicker pole leads to a greater backboard offset, which is the distance it extends out from the pole. A 27″ offset is very impressive for a hoop in this price range. To put into perspective, the Mammoth 98856 is $200 more and has the same overhang. The benefit is more playing space under the basket so players are less likely to bump into the pole.

What Not To Like

  • Thin backboard. 1/5-inches thick is below average for tempered glass, as most premium hoops have a 3/8 backboard. But, they also happen to be more expensive.
  • Direct burial installation. While in-grounds do provide more stability than portable hoops, this type of installation does require time and effort. Plus, it can’t be removed. You can purchase a Lifetime ground sleeve for 4-inch square poles. The pole slides into the sleeve so it can still be removed if necessary. However, it’s still inferior to the anchor mount installation.

Summary

What’s most appealing about the the Lifetime 90014 Competition system is the tempered glass backboard. It’s truly the best for overall performance. You won’t find too many other hoops in this price range with tempered glass. The thick pole and 27″ offset are also positives. The backboard is a bit thin, so I would be careful about hanging on the rim and being rough with it. The installation will also require time and effort. Overall, it’s well worth the price.

Mammoth 98862 In-Ground Basketball System

By

Pros

Stable, tempered glass 60″ backboard, one-piece 5-inch square pole, 3-foot overhang, lifetime warranty

Cons

No pole padding

Overall Rating


The 98862 is one of three basketball systems produced by Mammoth Basketball. It features a 60″ tempered glass backboard, a 5-inch square pole, and a 3 foot overhang from the pole to the backboard. The adjustment ranges from 7.5-10 feet in infinite increments with the use of a handle assist mechanism. The Spring Flex Rim features a support brace that wraps around the rim. An anchor mount is used for installation. The 98862 is backed by a limited lifetime warranty.

What To Like

  • Stable. In-ground hoops provide the best stability. Plus, the heavy tempered glass backboard and 5-inch square pole make it that much more sturdy.
  • Tempered glass backboard. Tempered glass is the best of the best, as it’s used in the college and pro ranks. This backboard is 3/8 inches thick, which is pretty close to regulation size (1/2″).
  • 60″ backboard. The next biggest size is 72″, which is as big as it gets. What I like about 60″ is that it’s not too big for an average sized, 2 car driveway. Certainly 72″ is ideal, but you would need to have a dedicated playing area because it’s so big.
  • Heavy-duty breakaway rim. It looks like a rim you would see in an arena, though it doesn’t break at the sides like the professional ones. Nonetheless, it’s 5/8 inches thick and gives players the freedom to dunk as hard as they want.
  • 3-foot overhang. This provides plenty of space so players don’t bump into the pole, while also having more room for play behind the basket.
  • Gas assisted mechanism. The hoop raises and lowers with the help of gas springs. A customer noted that his leaked after 5 years. The advantage with gas assisted mechanisms is that they’re easier to adjust than their manual counterparts. The downside of course is that they aren’t as durable.
  • One piece 5-inch square pole. The one-piece pole is the most stable, and square ones are more stable than their round counterparts. 5-inches is thick enough for a 60″ backboard.
  • Anchor mount installation. This is the best in-ground installation because the pole can be removed from the anchor.
  • Limited lifetime warranty. I don’t know what’s covered and what isn’t, but you have to love this as a customer.

Our Mammoth Hoop 7 Years Later (Still in Great Condition)

Mammoth Hoop Review

Reviews from Around the Web

Amazon.com: 5 Stars – ‘I’m thoroughly impressed’

Amazon.com: 5 Stars – ‘The Company Stood behind their 7 year warranty’

Video

What Not To Like

  • No pole padding. You would think that a basketball hoop priced over $100 would have padding? Not a huge deal, but the padding makes it more safe and gives it more of a professional look. If you want padding, here is one that fits 5-inch poles: Pole and Gusset Pad.

Summary

The Mammoth 98862 performs as a premium basketball hoop should. The tempered glass, 60″ backboard, the 3-foot overhang, and the 5-inch square pole are big pluses. In comparison to the Mammoth 98856, which is a few hundred dollars less, the backboard is 6-inches wider and it has an overhang a 1/2 ft. longer. I think this model is worth the extra money.

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

Review: Mammoth 98856 In-Ground Basketball System

By

Pros

Tempered glass backboard, 1-piece 5″ square pole, 2.5 foot overhang, anchor bolt installation

Cons

54″ inch backboard, no pole padding, installation requires time and effort

Overall Rating


The 98856 is one of three basketball systems sold by Mammoth. It features a 3/8-inch thick tempered glass backboard, a 5-inch square pole, and a spring flex rim. A handle assist mechanism is used to to raise or lower the hoop between 7.5-10 feet. The overhang is 30-inches, which is the distance from the pole to the backboard. It’s installed using an anchor mount. The 98856 is backed by a limited lifetime warranty. Dimensions: 4.4 x 37.6 x 6.3 inches ; 86 pounds.

What To Like

  • Stable. In-ground systems are best for performance because they don’t wobble or move like most portable models. I think they also have the most professional look compared to the other types. To a basketball purist, this is the only way to go.
  • Tempered glass backboard. This is the same material that is used for hoops in gymnasiums throughout the world, including college and the NBA. It won’t suffer any wear and tear unlike other materials such as acrylic, plus it’s way more sturdy. Because it’s a lot heavier, it’s much more resistant to movement. If you want performance, tempered glass is the only way to go. At 3/8 inches thick, it matches what most hoops have. Only the most expensive kinds have are 1/2″ thick.
  • Pro-style rim. This is pretty much a given for a hoop like this, but a breakaway rim allows players to dunk with authority. Plus, it rewards players who have very good touch on their shots.
  • 1-piece 5″ square pole. The one piece, square pole is the most sturdy combination. 5″ is about right considering the price, and is superior to what you’ll find with lesser quality models. The thicker the pole, the better it will play. The thickest pole I have seen is 8-inches that I saw on the Spalding 88724AAP.
  • 2.5 foot overhang. Regulation overhang from the baseline to the backboard is 4 feet. For recreational purposes, 2.5 feet is sufficient. It gives players enough room to play behind the backboard and avoid bumping into the pole. If you want more of an overhang, it will cost you. The Goalrilla GLR GS I has a 4 foot overhang, but costs about $800 more.
  • Anchor mount installation. This is the best type of installation for in-grounds because it can be removed, unlike direct burials.

What Not To Like

  • 54″ backboard. It’s not that 54″ is too small, but for $1000 I would like to have a 60″. I say that because there are 60″ models in this price range. I certainly wouldn’t go lower than this size though.
  • No pole padding. Not the end of the world, but this is an underrated feature for basketball hoops. It provides optimal safety and also gives it a more professional look. They are not exactly cheap either. Here is one that fits 5-inch poles: Pole and Gusset Pad.
  • Installation. This is not an indictment on the hoop at all, but heavy-duty inground hoops require the most effort to install. It involves digging a huge hole in the ground, followed by pouring cement. You will also need probably at least 3 men to help with the assembly. Of course, you could always pay someone to do for you.

Reviews from Around the Web

Amazon.com: 5 Stars – ‘I recommend this goal to families with children….’

Summary

The Mammoth 98856 is ideal for those who want an above average basketball system for their home. The tempered glass provides optimal performance, as does the thick 5-inch pole and the pro-style rim. The complaints are very minor, and don’t relate at all to how it performs. If it had a larger backboard, I would have probably given it 4.5 stars. If you are looking for an in-ground system around $1000, this is definitely one to consider.

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

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