Portable Basketball Hoops: The Good and The Bad

When shopping for a basketball hoop, you will encounter three different types. One is the in-ground, where the pole is installed into the ground or an anchor. Another is the mounted version, where the hoop is placed on a garage or side of the house. The final type is portable, where the hoop can be moved around on a whim.

Portable hoops can stand on their own and come with a base, pole, backboard, and rim. Many are adjustable, where the height can be raised or lowered often in increments. Wheels are contained in the base so it can be moved, even when it's filled with water or sand.

The Good

Portable basketball hoops are popular for several reasons. First, being able to move them around when necessary can be very beneficial. This is particularly the case for those who don't have a lot of room for a hoop, and need to store it in a garage or elsewhere when it's not used. Having it on the driveway all year long may not be practical, so getting it out of the way at times is very helpful.

Some can actually fold as well, which means it will take up very little space.

The second main reason why they are popular is because they require no installation. You don't have to dig a hole and pour cement. They are not permanent, so if you move elsewhere you can take it with you. This is not a option for in-ground versions.

The Bad

The biggest downside with portable models is their lack of stability. Some are certainly more stable than others, and filling them with sand helps, but they pale in comparison to in-ground models in this category.

The more rigid a hoop is, the better its performance will be. This is why in-ground hoops are best for performance. They don't move, plus the backboard is usually very still. This allows for a good bounce for bank shots and for rebounding.

Basketball enthusiasts may be disappointed playing on a portable hoop because of this.

One of the other big disadvantages is the lack of an overhang. The overhang is the distance from the pole to the backboard. If you look at the hoops found in the NBA or NCAA, they have 4-5 feet of overhang. This allows for play underneath the basket, and makes it safer for the players. Portable hoops don't have this because the pole isn't strong enough to support an overhang.

This means that players are more susceptible to running into the pole, and does provide the realism of playing underneath the hoop.