OT - Advice for installing a b-ball hoop

Submitted by michfan84 on
Could use some advice from those with experience installing an in-ground basketball hoop. I bought a Spalding 60" hoop, and yesterday I dug the hole, mixed and poured the concrete, and set the footings for the hoop. I read from some other customers that they also poured cement in the pole once they attached it. Two questions: a) Does it make a big improvement (more sturdy, less shaking) to do that? b) How much of a pain in the ass is it to do? Basically, is it worth it? Any advice would be much appreciated.

trueblueintexas

August 26th, 2016 at 12:29 PM ^

Highly worth it and easy to do. This is what I had growing up and everyone choose to play on my slanted driveway instead of the flat ones because the pole didn't shake at all. Much more like playing on a gym hoop.

2001UofMGrad

August 26th, 2016 at 12:30 PM ^

Just put one up three weeks ago. I put up the pole and poured about one 18lbs bag down the full length. My pole was two pieces so it was highly recommended. One solid pole might not need it. Good luck.

GoBlue2002

August 26th, 2016 at 12:32 PM ^

I have a similiar hoop and the pole came in three pieces. I poured concrete nearly to the top of the bottom part of the pole that went into the ground and it's close to perfect.

Chalky White

August 26th, 2016 at 12:37 PM ^

Follow the instructions. The hoop I had before we moved a year ago specifically stated that concrete was to be poured into the post. It came with rebar to put in the concrete. The hoop I have now did not require concrete in the post. It does not have any stability issues. Once you set the post, you aren't getting concrete inside. That's supposed to be done before you put it in the ground.

TIMMMAAY

August 26th, 2016 at 12:45 PM ^

Absolutely do not skip that step, it is crucial to fill the pole with concrete at least 2/3 of the height of the pole. It's a PITA, and you'll have to do it a liter at a time but it is necessary. Otherwise your whole backboard and pole will shake terribly every time you shoot.

Also, don't skip the rebar. That's important.

TIMMMAAY

August 26th, 2016 at 1:06 PM ^

Oh, and don't skimp on the pole overlap if it's a two piece, and that goes double if it's a three piece. Use a little vaseline and pound that shit in there.

Lucky Charms

August 26th, 2016 at 1:15 PM ^

especially when they aren't really applicable to me (since my pole is already erect), but this time it certainly paid dividends.

 

Well done.

 

And if I could +1, I would.

mvp

August 26th, 2016 at 1:52 PM ^

I'm not sure what kind of pole you have.

When I put ours in, about 8 years ago, I didn't fill the pole.  It is one with a square pole and screws that are set in the concrete.  Sort of like this: https://www.amazon.com/Goalrilla-Ground-Basketball-Tempered-Backboard/d…

For mine, the instructions said, I think a 40" deep base that is maybe 24" in diameter.  Not certain...  But because there is SO MUCH concrete there, it is rock solid.

When I was a kid we put a couple in where you actually set the pole in the concrete.  For those, I'm pretty sure we always filled the pole with concrete.  Like others have said, pretty cheap and not too difficult.

michfan84

August 26th, 2016 at 3:03 PM ^

It's a square pole, and we put the screws in the concrete. The directions said to dig a hole 36" deep, but we had a sprinkler line in the way, and we ran into some large rock, so we stopped at about 26". The directions say nothing of putting concrete in the pole.

True Blue Grit

August 26th, 2016 at 1:56 PM ^

Unless the pole wall thickness is really high (which it usually isn't), the pole will have too much bend in it over the whole length sans the concrete.  It's kind of a pain to mix up more concrete and lift it up that height to put it in the pole, but worth the time.  

jeff_91121

August 26th, 2016 at 2:44 PM ^

Definitely fill it with concrete. Mix the concrete a LITTLE more wet, the wetter the concrete the weaker it is. Pour in a concrete and then use a piece of rebar to plunge down into the wet concrete over and over to help the concrete settle. Do this repeatedly after pouring in say half a 5 gallon bucket of concrete. It is important that you don't have any voids in the concrete. I would also place one piece of #4 rebar in the center of the pipe before you start to fill the pipe. If you have a one piece pole this won't be real easy, it will be easier with a multi piece pipe. Try to keep the rebar centered in the pipe as you fill with concrete.

LSAClassOf2000

August 26th, 2016 at 3:05 PM ^

It's definitely worth it. Most of my neighbors have gone with the portable hoops that fold down, some of them are even semi-permanently affixed to the ground by cinder blocks in a fashion that only those of us downriver could manage. As for mine, I put about $10 worth of conrete from Ace Hardware in mine for strength and it makes quite a bit of difference, it seems. 

kscurrie2

August 26th, 2016 at 3:12 PM ^

I have a 72" with a 6" square pole. No concrete was needed inside the pole. My hole was 24" in diameter and 4 ft deep. The pole came in 2 pieces. The 3 ft section was put in and level in the wet concrete. Once it cures, the remaining part of the hoop was attached and raised into place.