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How to anchor basketball hoop
How To Install Your Own Inground Basketball Hoop
Home > Guide to Hoops / Goals > How To Install Your Own Inground Basketball Hoop
If you love basketball and want to practice your shots any time of the day, purchasing your own basketball hoop is the best option.
There are a number of different basketball hoops available, but in-ground hoops are a better option because they provide you with stability and professional-level experience.
There is a lot to consider when purchasing a basketball hoop e.g. choosing the right seller, the perfect location, the ideal backboard size and the type of pole etc.
If you are having trouble knowing what suits you best, check out our Home Hoops Guide.
Know what you want, but don't know where to find it? Check out some high-quality stuff here.
This article is a step-by-step guide on in-ground basketball hoop installation.
Before You Begin with The First step, Keep A Few Things In Mind
- Find a suitable ground where you can fit your basketball hoop.
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The area must ideally be flat and paved e.g. driveways. The ideal scenario should be to have enough space to accommodate your hoop and the number of players.
- Overhang is the distance between the pole and the backboard, and affects how much room you have to land after you shoot layups. For good balance and safety, 2 feet to 4 feet of overhang is ideal. Anything greater than that could cause shaking because the weight of the backboard would
be suspended too far.
- Take into consideration the position of the sun when installing your basketball hoop. Face the hoop towards the north, so the sun does not get in your eyes.
- Make sure the goal is at least 20 ft. (7m) from any overhead power lines, and no overhead power lines are within a 20 ft. (7m) radius of the goal.
- Make sure you have enough room to shoot 3pt shots at tops, wings and corners. If you want to have a regulation three point line as well as some room behind it, 28 - 30 ft from the pole is what you need.
For a full three-point arch, you need around 40 ft of width.
- Before you dig a hole, you must contact Call Before You Dig (dial 811) to check for any underground power, gas, telephone, water and other utility lines.
Tools and Materials: Spade, Wheelbarrow, Shovel, Cement Trowel, Tape Measure, Stir Rod, Level, Auger, Hoe, 10-14 60 lb Bags of Dry Concrete Mix, Water, Rubber Mallet, 1/2" Drive Torque Wrench, Steel Punch, Screwdriver, Stepladder.
1. Dig A Hole
Digging the perfect hole for your basketball hoop is vital.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that the hole is deep enough, and of the right size, so the metal bars that form the anchor fit perfectly. This will provide stability to your basketball hoop.
You can dig by hand with a shovel, or use an auger or other digging equipment.
The hole should be 48" to 50" (1.2 m - 1.3 m) deep and 16-18" (0.4 m - 0.5 m). Follow the instructions manual to check the exact measurements required for the hole.
Remember, a strong foundation is your key to success!
2. Pour The Concrete
Now that you have dug the hole, the next step is to pour the concrete.
Installing an in-ground hoop would require 10-14 60lb bags of concrete, but it is recommended that you buy an extra bag or two just in case you need them.
Mixing the concrete can be a tricky procedure. You need to make sure that the right amount of dry concrete and water is used. If the mixture is too thin, it will lack the strength required to hold the pole, and if it is too thick, you will struggle to fill voids.
For a 60lb concrete bag, 1.9 liters of water is PERFECT!
To prepare the concrete mix, pour dry concrete in a container and create a depression at the center of the dry mix. Add water, and mix thoroughly until it's firm enough. Do not allow the mix to sit for a long period of time or it might dry out.
Fill half of the hole with concrete, and insert steel bars inside. Make sure the bars are properly aligned.
Once the bars are aligned, fill the hole with concrete and level it using a trowel tool. Make sure the surface is smooth and there are no pockets of air.
When the above is done, place the assembled anchor in concrete, and push it down the concrete solution. It must be fixed deep enough so it provides stability to the basketball hoop.
It is important to make sure the assembled anchor is completely level!
Give the concrete at least 72 hours to cure, in case the weather is warm. For cooler surroundings, wait an extra day or two.
3. Fix The Main Pole
In-ground basketball hoops come with one-piece, two-piece and three-piece poles. A one-piece pole is highly recommended because it minimizes vibration and shake. It is also rust and corrosion resistant.
A 4"-6" diameter pole provides excellent performance and stability. Shape-wise, square poles are preferred over round ones because they are more rigid.
A 7-gauge thickness on the pole is preferred over 11-gauge because the former is the STRONGER choice.
A thicker pole provides you with a better playing experience. It is stronger, causes less shake, and provides greater durability and professional experience.
Fixing a pole depends on the type of anchor being used.
There are two types of anchors used in in-ground basketball hoops: the threaded j-bolt and the hinge anchor system.
The latter is easier to install.
With a j-bolt anchor system, you will have to lift the pole above the anchor, position it rightly, and then bolt it down to the j-bolt anchor. This process will require greater physical effort as you will have to go up and down a ladder to attach the backboard,
extension arms and the hoop.
The hinge ground anchor system, on the other hand, is simpler to install, and does not require much physical effort. You can assemble the pole, extension arms and the backboard on ground, and then align the pole using the hinge mechanism. The pole is then placed
in an upright position, and secured with a bolt.
A huge advantage of the hinge ground anchor system is that it can be easily moved from one place to another. When you move, you can take the fully-assembled pole with you and relocate it without much hassle.
Do not forget to follow the instructions manual.
4. Install The Backboard
There are three main types of backboards: acrylic, tempered glass, and polycarbonate. For a professional experience, tempered glass is the BEST CHOICE!
Out of the three, the tempered glass provides the best bounce and spin. It is also shatter proof, and therefore safe.
Acrylic backboard is suitable to use in public places. However, it does not provide the same bounce and spin as the tempered glass backboard.
In some basketball hoop setups, the backboard is already attached to the pole, but for hoops with a separate backboard, there are a few things that one must keep in mind before installation.
Since the backboards are heavy, it is advised to use additional manpower to lift and install the backboards, while taking safety precautions.
Lift the backboard up in place to the support arms, and secure it to the top mount.
5. Install The Rim And Net
Choosing the best rim for your hoop is another important step. This piece of the system absorbs the greatest physical impact, and therefore, must be durable.
A breakaway rim is recommended. It consists of a hinge and spring at the point where it attaches to the backboard, and can bend downward when a player dunks. It is DURABLE.
Once you have chosen the perfect rim, installing it would not be much of a problem.
All you have to do is fix it with screws to the backboard. Then loop the net around each of the hooks on the rim to have your net fully installed, and you are all ready to SHOOT!
Hire A Professional To Do The Job
If you have prior experience in installing a basketball hoop, or doing similar work, you might consider installing the hoop yourself.
However, hiring a professional to do the job can save you from damages, injuries and unpleasant situations since installing a basketball hoop requires a number of tools, and expertise.
Consider this: if you are going to install it yourself, you will have to buy or rent the tools, request for additional manpower, and the overall process will likely be slower than when done by a professional.
Knowing that you have spent quite a lot of money on purchasing the setup, you would not want to risk damages to save a few dollars.
Need Help?
Contact us if you have any questions, need help with installation or need any help choosing a basketball hoop. Our experts are here to help.
What do you think? Let us know by leaving your comments, suggestions, and questions... How to Keep Portable Basketball Hoop From Falling Over
When having a portable basketball hoop, securing it from falling over needs to be the number one priority.
I lived in a neighborhood where after a light wind storm you felt like having a driving course avoiding all those hoops on the street. Nobody cared about keeping them from blowing over.
I had an in-ground hoop for a long time, so that was not my problem. Even when I was looking to buy a portable basketball hoop, I haven’t thought about it.
But then I bought one, the winter came, it started to get windy, etc., and then I found out what it means to have this kind of hoop. Not to mention that sometimes I would dunk a bit harder and it would start to shake even though I had sand in the base.
Fortunately, soon I took care of it.
What did I do? I just took two of these 16-inch anchors and lagged them into the ground on the opposite sides of the base. Along with anchors I bought this ratchet strap and tied it to anchors to secure it.
I even added one more combo of these so I have the front and back taken care of and now the stability is fantastic.
You shouldn’t play around with these things. Along with wind, even a fun activity like dunking can turn out to be pretty dangerous.
Now there are some other options here. You can use one of these ways, but you can also do 2 of these to secure it maximally.
1. Replace the water in the base with sand
All the manufacturers are saying it in manuals, but people are continually ignoring it like it’s nothing.
But when the wind blows, and hoop falls it becomes a problem. Sand is about 45% denser than water which makes it more substantial. It weighs around 13 pounds per gallon while water is approximately 8.
So that should be the clear case for this. So do this first if you’re not planning on moving this hoop often. Plus you won’t risk the chance of water freezing in a base.
The only problem with sand is that you can’t take it out so quickly and it won’t be so easy to move it because it’s heavier. But if you protect it on some other ways, for example, by securing the pole and rim with pads, you won’t need to move it, and it will be super protected.
2. Replace the water in the base with BaseGel
The second option here is to replace water with BaseGel that gives the same effect as around 400 pounds of sand.
It’s a super-absorbent polymer that absorbs up to 400 times its weight in water. If you already filled a base with water, you can add a half of BaseGel to make it more firm.
As I heard from a few associates, BaseGel can last for years, and you may be surprised how good it holds the balance.
Also, if you eventually want to empty your portable basketball hoop base, you can quickly reverse the process just by adding table salt and water mixture. It will turn into water in less than 5 minutes.
If the temperature falls below 32 degrees F (0 degrees C), BaseGel will freeze and then return to its normal state when it rises above 32 degrees F.
This product is legit, that’s for sure. Here’s the direct link to Amazon where you can find Basegel for cheap.
When the strong wind comes up, this might not be enough, but it’s the first step. So do it.
3. Use anchors and ratchet strap (the best option)
This is probably the best thing you can do to anchor down portable basketball hoop.
You basically take two anchors and hammer them down on two opposite sides of a portable hoop. Then you thread through the strap, attach it to one end and tighten it up as you mean it.
Just check out this guy’s video.
If your hoop is on a soft surface, you can hammer down the anchors.
For concrete work, all you need is a cordless drill and a concrete bit, and for asphalt, you’ll need to add hammer drill to crack the hole.
Drill it to at least 6′ into the ground.
As we said, this combo of strap and anchors is the best on Amazon, and it doesn’t even cost much.
By the way, if you have a dog, don’t even think about putting the anchors in the grass or similar surface.
There’s also a greater possibility for a hoop to fall than when it’s on concrete so you might want to secure it well.
4. Use Hoop Anchor
You can get a hoop anchor package on Amazon and install it.
They say it will turn out clean and firm if you do the job right.
Plus the opinions are divided on this one. Some say it’s a waste of money, some like it.
You can give it a try, but my advice to you is to buy it part by part, and not give your money away for a complete package just because it’s a complete package.
There you have it, the best ways to secure a portable basketball hoop from falling over. Whatever you do, don’t put bricks or sandbags on top of the base or use duck tape. You might find it weird, but some people do those things. Be smarter, listen to ImproveHoops.
Basketball hoop - how to make a stand with a backboard with your own hands
Love basketball and want to make a hoop? I wanted to make it myself, not buy it, and I ended up making it. It's pretty cheap, especially if you have some of the stuff you need to assemble.
Let's start assembling the basketball hoop with our own hands.
Step 1: Shape the Ring
The first thing you will need is a ring, I made it with 12mm rod, but it doesn't have to be that size.
The standard diameter of a basketball hoop is 450 mm.
To make it flat you need something to wrap it around, this thing should be about 400mm in diameter.
I found an old car rim of the right size, you will need to clamp it to the table with a clamp using a piece of wood.
As shown in photo 2, place another clamp a little further from the first with a rod between them.
As shown in photo 3, slowly wrap the rod around the disk, once you wrap the rod and its edges overlap, cut off the straight ends.
Use a clamp to press the ends together, then weld them together.
To complete this part, place the ring on the ground and straighten out all the curves.
Step 2: Frame
- Bend a piece of flat metal, mine was 4mm thick.
- Weld it to a flat point in the ring.
- Cut two rods 320 mm long.
- Weld them as shown in the photo.
- Drill four holes to match your existing bolts.
- If you need a netball ring, you can simply attach it to the pole and skip the rest of the steps.
Step 3: Mesh Staples (Optional)
Show 7 More Images
Do this step if you need mesh. If you need a network, you will have to buy it.
This step is not as difficult as it seems.
- cut 12 pieces of wire 90 mm long (I would recommend making a few spare parts, as they are easy to ruin.)
- bend them in the middle (it doesn't matter if the tips are the same length)
- clamp the wire in a vise with a steel rod at one end
- bend wire over rod
- repeat this with all parts of
- retighten the wire wrapped around the rod (see photo)
- bend it
- repeat with all parts
- retighten the wire wrapped around the rod
- bend it (at this point you can't just remove the wire from the rod - you will need to slide it to one of its edges and remove it from the edge)
- repeat with all parts of
- divide into 12 pieces and weld on the brackets
Step 4: Backboard
Cut the board to size.
My board does not fit the full size of basketball boards. (the second picture shows the dimensions of a standard shield).
My measurements are 1100mm wide, 700mm high and 25mm thick. (You don't have to be that size.)
Step 5: Paint the Shield
Once you've drawn all the lines on the shield, lay masking tape over them. If you try, everything will look neat.
If you are using MDF, you will need to take care to protect the edges from moisture (as shown in photo 2).
Carefully paint over the areas around the masking tape.
Remove masking tape after enough coats of paint have been applied and the board looks complete.
Step 6: Paint the ring
First you need to sand the metal. I used a grinding disc on a grinder.
The ring must not be black or white, it must stand out from the shield. Usually the ring is painted orange or red.
The easiest way to paint inventory is from a can.
Step 7: Assemble
Put it all together.
Screw the ring to the shield, hang a net on the ring.
Step 8: Installation
DIY Basketball Post is great to mount on a garage or house wall, but if you want to mount it on a pole, you can create one too.
I installed my ring in the yard using heavy duty wood screws.
A standard basketball hoop must be placed 3 meters from the ground.
I am not responsible for any damage you cause to yourself or your property - you make your own ring.
Successful throws!
Basketball hoop - how to make a stand with a backboard with your own hands
Love basketball and want to make a hoop? I wanted to make it myself, not buy it, and I ended up making it. It's pretty cheap, especially if you have some of the stuff you need to assemble.
Let's start assembling the basketball hoop with our own hands.
Step 1: Shape the ring
The first thing you need is a ring, I made it with 12mm rod, but it doesn't have to be that size.
The standard diameter of a basketball hoop is 450 mm.
To make it flat, you need something to wrap it around, this thing should be about 400mm in diameter.
I found an old car rim of the right size, you will need to clamp it to the table with a clamp using a piece of wood.
As shown in photo 2, place another clamp a little further from the first with a rod in between.
As shown in photo 3, slowly wrap the rod around the disk, once you wrap the rod and its edges overlap, cut off the straight ends.
Use a clamp to press the ends together, then weld them together.
To complete this part, place the ring on the ground and straighten out all the curves.
Step 2: Frame
- Bend a piece of flat metal, mine was 4mm thick.
- Weld it to a flat point in the ring.
- Cut two rods 320 mm long.
- Weld them as shown in the photo.
- Drill four holes to match your existing bolts.
- If you need a netball ring, you can simply attach it to the pole and skip the rest of the steps.
Step 3: Mesh Staples (Optional)
Show 7 More Images
Do this step if you need mesh. If you need a network, you will have to buy it.
This step is not as difficult as it seems.
- cut 12 pieces of wire 90 mm long (I would recommend making a few spare parts, as they are easy to ruin.)
- bend them in the middle (it doesn't matter if the tips are the same length)
- clamp the wire in a vise with a steel rod at one end
- bend wire over rod
- repeat this with all parts of
- retighten the wire wrapped around the rod (see photo)
- bend it
- repeat with all parts
- retighten the wire wrapped around the rod
- bend it (at this point you can't just remove the wire from the rod - you will need to slide it to one of its edges and remove it from the edge)
- repeat with all parts of
- divide into 12 pieces and weld on the brackets
Step 4: Backboard
Cut the board to size.
My board does not fit the full size of basketball boards. (the second picture shows the dimensions of a standard shield).
My measurements are 1100 mm wide, 700 mm high and 25 mm thick. (You don't have to be that size.)
Step 5: Paint the Shield
Once you've drawn all the lines on the shield, lay masking tape over them. If you try, everything will look neat.
If you are using MDF, you will need to take care to protect the edges from moisture (as shown in photo 2).
Carefully paint over the areas around the masking tape.
Remove masking tape after enough coats of paint have been applied and the board looks complete.
Step 6: Paint the ring
First you need to sand the metal. I used a grinding disc on a grinder.
The ring must not be black or white, it must stand out from the shield. Usually the ring is painted orange or red.
The easiest way to paint inventory is from a can.
Step 7: Assemble
Put it all together.
