Basketball Hoop Reviews

Goalrilla CV72 In-Ground Basketball Goal System

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cv72-hero

Pros

  • 72″ tempered glass clear-view backboard
  • 4 foot overhang
  • 1-piece 6″ x 8” square pole
  • anchor mount installation
  • fully adjustable from 7 ½’ to 10’
  • pole pad and backboard pad included

Cons

Heavy assembly but worth it.

Overall Rating

The Goalrilla CV72 (model B3101) is an AWESOME basketball goal. It features a regulation size 72″x42″ tempered glass backboard, a 6″ x 8” thick one piece square pole, and a 4 foot overhang. The installation involves using anchor bolts so it can go with you if you move. Included is a pro-style flex rim, and height adjustment from 7.5 – 10 feet. The system is powder coated to protect against UV and corrosion. Goalrilla backs the CV72 with a limited lifetime warranty.

What To Like

  • Stable. With a 6″ x 8” thick square pole and a 72″ tempered glass backboard, the CV72 takes basketball goals to the extreme. Miniscule vibration occurs when shooting. Your biggest friends can dunk on this goal!
  • Crank adjust. Precise and reliable, the crank adjust is the best out there. You simply turn the handle to raise or lower it. This is one heavy backboard but the adjustment handle adjusts it easily.
  • 72″ tempered glass clear-view backboard. It’s regulation size, and the tempered glass is exactly what is used in the pros. It’s very heavy, which makes it rigid and performs better than any other type of material. This size is ideal for a backyard basketball court, though a 3 car or more driveway would be suitable as well. At 1/2″, it’s as thick as a NBA backboard. 
  • Pole pad and backboard pad included. The CV72 includes a universal pole pad that covers the front of the post AND the anchor bolts at the bottom of the goal.  The backboard pad that is included is a must-have. It will never come into play when the goal is up at 10’ but when I am out
  • Pro-style rim. It can handle big time dunking but the backboard has that touch you’re used to playing on at the gym, 4 foot overhang. A 4 foot overhang is about as big as it gets for residential hoops. Some might go to 5 feet, but this provides ample room for play underneath and behind the basket but doesn’t encroach into the driveway. Also, players can easily avoid running into the pole or tripping over it.
  • 1-piece 6″ x 8” square pole. This is a huge piece of steel!  This post eliminates any wobble you might find on a smaller post or a two-piece design. The thicker the pole, the better it plays.
  • Anchor mount installation. If you ever move you can take this goal with you to your new home.  There is no reason to ever have to buy another goal.  This really will be the last goal you ever buy.

What Not To Like

  • Heavy assembly. This goal is HEAVY!  The post is massive.  The backboard is thick!   You will definitely want to have some friends or neighbors help you stand this goal up if you do it yourself. Trust me, it’s worth it!

More Reviews from Around the Web

This is one of the sturdiest basketball goals I have seen. In my subdivision there are several goals that shake when you shoot a “brick”. I was able to fire the basketball at the top corner of the backboard and the entire goal barely moves. Given how sturdy the backboard is, I was pleasantly surprised that the rim is a “soft” rim that helps your game – the ball doesn’t ricochet off of it. One item to note – you definitely need a 3rd person to install this goal. We love our Goalrilla and look forward to many years of basketball. – goalrilla.com – unknown

Overall, I am so impressed with the quality and workmanship in the CV 72. The sturdy design and impressive looks of this system will be a focal point of my yard for many years to come. I created a half-court on my property and did alot of research before purchasing a system. This system EXCEEDS my expectations in all areas. THANK YOU! – basketballgoalstore.com – Splitzy

Video

Moving or Relocating the System

If you need to move or relocate this Goalrilla Basketball Hoop System, you will need a new anchor system. This basketball hoop is very easy to unbolt and reassemble wherever you want to move it. The system comes with an anchor set, however, if you ever need to move it, you can buy an additional anchor set the Basketball Goal Store.

Summary

The Goalrilla CV72 is an awesome system. It has all the features that you look for in a premium basketball system: a regulation size backboard, a thick pole, a 4 foot overhang, a pro-style rim, and anchor mount installation. The assembly is going to be heavy and takes some muscle to stand up. This system includes a universal pole pad and a backboard pad.  The only thing anyone needs to add is a basketball!

For another CV72 review, please visit the Basketball Goal Store.

Cheapest place I found to buy it was at http://basketballgoalstore.com for $2099.95.

Basketball Hoops for the Pool

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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

Goalrilla GS54 In-Ground Basketball Goal System

By

gs54-hero

Pros

The Goalrilla GS54 (model B4003) features a 54”x34” tempered glass, original Goalrilla style backboard,  5” x 5” 11 gauge one piece steel pole.The goal comes with a standard square pole pad. The goal adjusts from 7.5’ to 10’ and comes with a lifetime warranty. It’s also the most affordable of the Goalrilla goals.

Cons

It isn’t a regulation 72” goal.

It doesn’t have the clearview backboard featured in other Goalrilla models.

Overall Rating

The Goalrilla GS54 (model B4003) is the “good” 54” goal in the Goalrilla lineup and a part of the original Goalrilla goal family. It has all the features that has made the Goalrilla goal the best residential goal on the market, in a smaller system. The GS54 has a 54” x34” tempered glass reinforced  backboard with a 5”x 5” one piece steel pole. Just like all the Goalrilla goals the GS54 is adjustable from 7.5’ to 10’ and comes with a lifetime warranty.

What To Like

  • Tempered Glass Backboard – The Goalrilla GS54 features a 54”x34” reinforced tempered glass  backboard. Tempered glass is the prefered choice in backboard materials. A tempered glass backboard is going to give you a realistic gymnasium like rebound. Tempered glass will also remain clear over time. Other materials like acrylic, and polycarbonate will haze or fog over time leaving you with an undesirable look. A Goalrilla goal with tempered glass will never lose it’s curb appeal. 
  • One Piece Pole-  The GS54 uses a 5”x5” one piece 11 gauge steel pole. You will find goals of lesser quality using 2 piece poles. A two piece pole will not promote dunking or any aggressive play. A 2 piece pole system will become loose with normal play. This will leave you with a leaning goal that cannot be fixed and will eventually need replace.All Goalrilla goals utilize a one piece pole.  A Goalrilla goal is a one time purchase that will not need to be replaced. 
  • Easy Adjust Actuator – The Goalrilla GS54 has an easy adjust actuator that adjusts the goal from 7.5’ to 10’ with a simple turn of the handle. There is a height indicator that shows the height of the goal so you always know what height you are playing at. This adjusting mechanism has a Lifetime Warranty. 
  • Flex Rim – The Goalrilla GS54 has a medium weight flex rim. The flex rim is the desireable rim for residential goals. If someone hangs on the rim, and they will, it flexes taking any unwanted pressure off of the anchor system of the goal.
  • Independent Anchor System – The Goalrilla GS54, like all Goalrilla systems, utilizes an independent anchor system. Each J bolt has 10,000 lbs of tensile strength to give you a rock solid anchor for your goal. This also allows you to easily relocate your investment if you happen to move. 
  • Standard Pole Pad – The Goalrilla GS54 comes with a standard pole pad. The GS54 has a smaller overhang of 2.5’. With the smaller overhang the pole pad is an excellent addition. It provides added safety as well as looking great.

What Not To Like

  • It isn’t a regulation size backboard-  The GS54 is a 54”x34” backboard. A regulation size board is 72”x42”. A regulation size backboard is always desirable. That being said sometimes it just isn’t the right fit for everyone.
  • May fall short of some player’s expectations. While the GS54 is a great value for the money, some players who are looking for something similar to what’s in their high school gyms could be disappointed. That being said, this is a very solid offering at this price point.

More Reviews from Around the Web

In the words of my 11 year old: “It’s amazing!” We just got this at Amazon, it arrived quickly (through one of their sellers) and was in perfect condition. The install is similar to what everyone described here – my husband did it over the course of a week or so due to our schedules. Because we had read the reviews here, he bought more concrete than the instruction called for – about 10 bags which worked perfectly. The system’s been up for about 1 week and is great – very little shake, plays like a professional system. We have an 11 year old son and 10 year old daughter who both love to play and this system is great, expect it will grow with them through the years. My husband’s been shooting on it too and has commented on how awesome it is! We had a Lifetime portable system that was 15+ years old – so shaky (and loud when they shot!) and in hindsight should have been replaced long ago. This new net is sturdy and expect it will remain that way for years. Great price on Amazon – consistent or lower than the big box stores. I took a while to decide what to get and where because I couldn’t “see” it and see how sturdy it was so didn’t want to spend that kind of money if not sturdy. If you’re thinking of buying, go see in the store, if necessary and buy here – the store display isn’t that great so you really can’t get a feel for truly how sturdy it will be when setup until you actually see one that is installed properly in the ground. But I can assure you, there is very little shake when they are shooting. Love it! – amazon.com – Mama in MA

Ordered the GS 54 for our daughter and son for their birthday’s. Daughter is 11 and will be playing with a traveling team over the summer and is starting to perfect her shot. Our son is 5 and also showing interest in basketball. We bought this goal so our daughter could work on her touch and rebounding. The goal plays very well, and was very easy to assemble. It will take the good part of a day to dig the hole for the pier and mix up concrete. Assembley of the goal is about 2 hours. You will need at least 3 people to hang the backboard. We have been playing on a portable (water or sand fill base) for about 4 years and after getting the Goalrilla installed there is no comparison. It is a real solid system and plays much more like the indoor goals. My kids love it. Thanks Goalrilla for a great product! amazon.com – Daylillyon

Video

Moving or Relocating the System

If you need to move or relocate this Goalrilla Basketball Hoop System, you will need a new anchor system. This basketball hoop is very easy to unbolt and reassemble wherever you want to move it. The system comes with an anchor set, however, if you ever need to move it, you can buy an additional anchor set here:  http://www.basketballgoalstore.com/

 

Summary

The Goalrilla GS54 is a great goal for the person looking for a smaller system. It has all the features that have made the Goalrilla goal the best residential basketball goal on the market in a more compact size. With the inclusion of the standard Goalrilla pole pad this is the best deal on a Goalrilla goal you will find anywhere.

Cheapest place I found to buy it was at http://basketballgoalstore.com for $949.95.

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