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Manual figures as of Sep 21, 2026. Every hole size, bag count and cure time on this page was read from the manufacturer's own install manual or installation page on that date, and each is linked. Makers revise manuals without notice: confirm on the linked page (and the paper manual in your box) before you dig, and tell us if a figure has changed.
Quick picks
The rankings at a glance
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Goalrilla FT72 Regulation width on a 6x6 one-piece pole with 4 feet of overhang. The right call only when the slab is wide enough to use the corners; otherwise you are paying for glass you cannot shoot at. | Best overall (Amazon-sold)Limited lifetime warranty | 8.8 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 2 | Goalrilla GS72C Regulation width, 6x6 one-piece pole, heavy-weight rim, lifetime warranty including the glass, at a lower list than the FT72. Three feet of overhang is the compromise against the FT72's four. | Best value 72 with lifetime termLimited lifetime warranty | 8.6 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 3 | Goalsetter MVP 72 A 72x42 glass or acrylic board on a one-piece 6x6 offset pole with 3/16-inch walls, a 4-foot hinged ground anchor, internal height adjustment from 6 to 10 feet and a limited lifetime warranty. Made in the USA and sold direct. | Best hinged install (direct only)Limited lifetime warranty | 9.0 /10 | See at maker |
| 4 | Mega Slam 72 A regulation half-inch glass board on an 8x6 hot-dip galvanized 5-gauge pole with 12 gussets, 4 feet of overhang, a 5-to-10-foot crank with lift-assist cylinders and a lifetime warranty covering dunking and hanging. Direct only, 745 lb. | Heaviest steel (direct only)Limited lifetime warranty | 8.8 /10 | See at maker |
| 5 | Spalding "888" Series 60-Inch Spalding's "888" series is offered in 54, 60 and 72 inches (item 888172 is the 72); the same 5- or 6-inch pole, 3- or 4-foot offset and 7-to-10-foot U-Turn Pro lift apply. | Best 7-ft minimum (72-inch 888172 variant)1-yr warranty | 7.2 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
| 6 |  Spalding The Beast 60-Inch Glass Portable The Beast is offered in 54, 60 and 72 inches on the same 4- or 5-inch Apex Angle pole and 40- or 55-gallon base; the 72 is the portable answer to a regulation board. | Best portable 72 (The Beast 72 variant)1-yr warranty | 7.0 /10 | Check price · Amazon |
#ad · Prices are set by Amazon and change often, so we don't print them. Scores are ours, built from published specs, the install manuals and quoted warranty terms, not our own measurements. Photos are illustrative stock. Tap a row for the full write-up.
Can your driveway use 72 inches?
A 72-inch backboard is six feet wide. Centered on a two-car driveway, it leaves 7 to 9 feet on each side, which is exactly what a 60-inch board leaves on the same slab minus six inches per side, and the extra six inches of glass only comes into play on shots from the corners, which start roughly 22 feet from the baseline at the sideline. If the playable area is under about 30 feet wide, the corners are on the lawn and the 72 is a 60 with a bigger box. Where a 72 earns its keep: a wide pad, a half-court poured for the purpose, or a family that plays and practices as if it were a gym. The other thing a 72 changes is the pole. Goalrilla moves to 6x6 one-piece steel for the FT72 and GS72C; Goalsetter's MVP is 6x6 at 3/16-inch wall; Mega Slam's is 8x6 at 5-gauge, hot-dip galvanized, with twelve gussets. A six-foot sheet of glass is a sail, and the pole is what keeps it still.
The numbers
The install at 72 inches
Goalrilla's guide is the same for every FT and GS: 16 inches in diameter, 48 inches deep, eleven 80-lb bags, 72-hour minimum cure, and “at least three capable persons.” The GS72C and FT72 are the boards where the third and fourth person stop being optional; a 72x42 glass board with its arms is the heaviest lift in the line. The Goalsetter's Ground Anchor Hinge System bolts the pole to the anchor lying flat and pivots it up, which is the single biggest install difference in this category. Mega Slam's 72 weighs 745 lb crated. For most families a 72-inch hoop is a contractor install; installation cost puts a number on that.
In detail
The picks, in full
Rank 1
Stock photoBest overall (Amazon-sold)
Goalrilla FT72
Regulation width on a 6x6 one-piece pole with 4 feet of overhang. The right call only when the slab is wide enough to use the corners; otherwise you are paying for glass you cannot shoot at.
Spec sheetSourced · not tested by us
| Category | In-ground hoop |
|---|---|
| Warranty (quoted) | Limited lifetime warranty to the original retail purchaser; hanging on the rim voids it (Goalrilla warranty sheet) |
| Replacement parts | Goalrilla sells replacement rims (heavy-weight, 180), all-weather nets, a locking actuator handle, pole pads and backboard padding. |
| Backboard | 72" x 42" tempered glass, 3/8" thick |
| Pole | 6" x 6" one-piece main pole, powder-coated steel |
| Overhang | 4' maximum |
| Height range | 7.5' to 10' |
| Rim | Heavy-Weight Breakaway Rim (included) |
| Anchor / install | 9" anchor kit, in-ground, concrete-cured |
| Hole & concrete (manual) | 16" diameter x 48" deep; eleven 80-lb bags (12-13 recommended as buffer) |
| Cure time (manual) | Minimum 72 hours; Goalrilla recommends mounting on day 5 |
| List price (maker) | $2,549.95 sale / $2,849.95 list (goalrilla.com, 2026-09-21); SKU B3017W-1 |
How the 8.8 score breaks down
- Backboard (size, material, thickness) (25%)
- 10
- Pole & rigidity (20%)
- 10
- Overhang & height adjustment (15%)
- 9
- Install effort (per the manual) (10%)
- 5
- Warranty term (quoted) (15%)
- 10
- Value at list price (15%)
- 6
What the spec sheet supports
- Regulation 72x42 tempered glass: the board a high-school gym uses
- 6x6 one-piece pole is the stiffest in the FT line; 4 feet of overhang clears the baseline
- Limited lifetime warranty on structural components
Where it falls short
- A 72-inch board on a one-car driveway hangs over the grass on one side and the neighbor on the other
- Heaviest lift in the line; Goalrilla says at least three capable people for any FT, and this is the one where it matters
- Only worth the premium over the FT60 if you actually shoot from the corners
Skip this if…
…your playable width is under about 30 feet; the 60-inch board gives up nothing you can use and costs less.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Goalrilla FT72
Rank 2
Stock photoBest value 72 with lifetime term
Goalrilla GS72C
Regulation width, 6x6 one-piece pole, heavy-weight rim, lifetime warranty including the glass, at a lower list than the FT72. Three feet of overhang is the compromise against the FT72's four.
Spec sheetSourced · not tested by us
| Category | In-ground hoop |
|---|---|
| Warranty (quoted) | Limited lifetime warranty, including glass (product page) |
| Replacement parts | Goalrilla sells replacement rims (heavy-weight, 180), all-weather nets, a locking actuator handle, pole pads and backboard padding. |
| Backboard | 72" x 40" tempered glass, 3/8" thick |
| Pole | 6" x 6" one-piece steel, powder-coated; welded ultra-wide span arms and welded steel board frame |
| Overhang | 3' maximum |
| Height range | 7.5' to 10' |
| Rim | Heavy-weight breakaway rim (included) |
| Anchor / install | 9" anchor kit, concrete-secured, bolt-down |
| Hole & concrete (manual) | 16" diameter x 48" deep; eleven 80-lb bags (12-13 recommended as buffer) |
| Cure time (manual) | Minimum 72 hours; Goalrilla recommends mounting on day 5 |
| List price (maker) | $2,399.95 (goalrilla.com, 2026-09-21); SKU B5000W-1 |
How the 8.6 score breaks down
- Backboard (size, material, thickness) (25%)
- 10
- Pole & rigidity (20%)
- 9
- Overhang & height adjustment (15%)
- 8
- Install effort (per the manual) (10%)
- 5
- Warranty term (quoted) (15%)
- 10
- Value at list price (15%)
- 7
What the spec sheet supports
- Regulation 72-inch width with the heavy-weight rim and a 6x6 one-piece pole
- Lifetime warranty including the glass, per the product page
- Cheaper than the FT72 at list
Where it falls short
- Three feet of overhang on a 72-inch board; the FT72 gives four
- 40-inch board height rather than 42
- Regulation width is wasted on a one-car slab
Skip this if…
…you cannot use the corners of a 72-inch board; the GS60C is the same construction at a friendlier width and price.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Goalrilla GS72C
Rank 3
Stock photoBest hinged install (direct only)
Goalsetter MVP 72
A 72x42 glass or acrylic board on a one-piece 6x6 offset pole with 3/16-inch walls, a 4-foot hinged ground anchor, internal height adjustment from 6 to 10 feet and a limited lifetime warranty. Made in the USA and sold direct.
Spec sheetSourced · not tested by us
| Category | In-ground hoop |
|---|---|
| Warranty (quoted) | Limited Lifetime (product page) |
| Replacement parts | Goalsetter sells its own HD, single-ring, double-ring and collegiate breakaway rims, backboards and pole pads direct. |
| Backboard | 72" x 42" tempered glass or acrylic |
| Pole | 6x6 offset one-piece steel pole, seven-gauge (3/16") wall |
| Overhang | 4' from pole to backboard |
| Height range | 6' to 10', internal compression height adjustment with no pinch or grab points |
| Anchor / install | 4 ft x 6" square ground anchor with Goalsetter's Ground Anchor Hinge System |
| Made in | USA |
| List price (maker) | $2,899.99-$3,149.99 by backboard and rim (goalsetter.com, 2026-09-21) |
How the 9.0 score breaks down
- Backboard (size, material, thickness) (25%)
- 10
- Pole & rigidity (20%)
- 10
- Overhang & height adjustment (15%)
- 10
- Install effort (per the manual) (10%)
- 7
- Warranty term (quoted) (15%)
- 10
- Value at list price (15%)
- 5
What the spec sheet supports
- Hinged ground anchor: the pole is bolted to the anchor lying down and tipped up, so two or three people can raise it
- Adjusts down to 6 feet, lower than any Goalrilla
- 3/16-inch pole wall and a 4-foot anchor; limited lifetime warranty; made in the USA
Where it falls short
- Sold direct and through dealers, not on Amazon; we earn nothing if you buy it
- Priced above the Goalrilla FT72
- Choosing between four rims and two boards is a phone call, not a click
Skip this if…
…you want a hoop delivered from Amazon with a return window; Goalsetter is a dealer-and-direct purchase.
Sold through dealers, not Amazon. Plain link: we don't earn a commission there.
Rank 4
Stock photoHeaviest steel (direct only)
Mega Slam 72
A regulation half-inch glass board on an 8x6 hot-dip galvanized 5-gauge pole with 12 gussets, 4 feet of overhang, a 5-to-10-foot crank with lift-assist cylinders and a lifetime warranty covering dunking and hanging. Direct only, 745 lb.
Spec sheetSourced · not tested by us
| Category | In-ground hoop |
|---|---|
| Warranty (quoted) | Limited lifetime warranty covering dunking and hanging, plus a one-time No-Break Backboard Protection replacement (product page) |
| Replacement parts | Mega Slam sells its Collegiate Flex and 180 Pro Rim upgrades, UV-coated nets and pads direct. |
| Backboard | 72-inch regulation tempered glass, 1/2-inch thick, clear-view |
| Pole | 8" x 6" 5-gauge hot-dipped galvanized steel with stainless hardware, 12 gussets |
| Overhang | 4 feet |
| Height range | 5 feet to 10 feet, adjustable crank with 2 lift-assist cylinders |
| Rim | Collegiate Flex rim with Single Pivot break-away; 180 Pro Rim upgrade |
| Anchor / install | Anchor kit with 4 J-bolts and rebar |
| Weight | 745 lb |
| List price (maker) | $2,799 September sale / $3,499 regular, free continental-US shipping (megaslamhoops.com, 2026-09-21) |
How the 8.8 score breaks down
- Backboard (size, material, thickness) (25%)
- 10
- Pole & rigidity (20%)
- 10
- Overhang & height adjustment (15%)
- 10
- Install effort (per the manual) (10%)
- 4
- Warranty term (quoted) (15%)
- 10
- Value at list price (15%)
- 6
What the spec sheet supports
- Hot-dip galvanized pole under the powder coat: the rust answer nobody else in this hub publishes
- One-time backboard replacement guarantee on top of the lifetime term
- Adjusts to 5 feet with lift-assist
Where it falls short
- Direct only; not on Amazon
- 745 lb crate and an 8x6 pole: this is a contractor install for most families
- Regulation width is wasted on a one-car slab
Skip this if…
…you cannot use a 72-inch board; the Mega Slam 60 is the same steel at 6x6.
Sold through dealers, not Amazon. Plain link: we don't earn a commission there.
Rank 5
Stock photoBest 7-ft minimum (72-inch 888172 variant)
Spalding "888" Series 60-Inch
Spalding's "888" series is offered in 54, 60 and 72 inches (item 888172 is the 72); the same 5- or 6-inch pole, 3- or 4-foot offset and 7-to-10-foot U-Turn Pro lift apply.
Spec sheetSourced · not tested by us
| Category | In-ground hoop |
|---|---|
| Warranty (quoted) | 1-year limited warranty for defects in materials and workmanship; original purchaser, personal use only (Spalding warranty page) |
| Replacement parts | Spalding sells Pro Slam, Slam Jam and Pro Image replacement rims and heavy-duty / all-weather nets. |
| Backboard | Tempered glass board; "888" series offered in 54", 60" and 72" (item numbers 888154, 888160, 888172) |
| Pole | 5" or 6" square steel pole with heavy-duty padding and J-bolt anchor |
| Overhang | 3' or 4' offset |
| Height range | 7' to 10', U-Turn Pro lift with detachable handle |
| Rim | Flex breakaway rim |
| Anchor / install | Four durable steel J-bolts |
| List price (maker) | $2,399.99-$2,799.99 across sizes (spalding.com, 2026-09-21) |
How the 7.2 score breaks down
- Backboard (size, material, thickness) (25%)
- 9
- Pole & rigidity (20%)
- 9
- Overhang & height adjustment (15%)
- 9
- Install effort (per the manual) (10%)
- 6
- Warranty term (quoted) (15%)
- 3
- Value at list price (15%)
- 5
What the spec sheet supports
- Adjusts down to 7 feet, the lowest of the glass in-grounds here: better for young kids
- 5-inch or 6-inch square pole and 3-4 feet of offset, in Goalrilla territory
- J-bolt anchor for relocation
Where it falls short
- Spalding's published warranty for basketball systems is 1 year, against 5 years or lifetime from the competition
- Spalding's product page does not separate specs or prices by size
- Priced like a Goalrilla FT60 without the lifetime term
Skip this if…
…warranty length matters to you; at this price the Goalrilla GS60C carries a lifetime term including the glass.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Spalding "888" Series 60-Inch
Rank 6
Stock photoBest portable 72 (The Beast 72 variant)
Spalding The Beast 60-Inch Glass Portable
The Beast is offered in 54, 60 and 72 inches on the same 4- or 5-inch Apex Angle pole and 40- or 55-gallon base; the 72 is the portable answer to a regulation board.
Spec sheetSourced · not tested by us
| Category | Portable hoop |
|---|---|
| Warranty (quoted) | 1-year limited warranty for defects in materials and workmanship (Spalding warranty page) |
| Replacement parts | Spalding sells Arena Slam and Pro Image replacement rims and heavy-duty / all-weather nets. |
| Backboard | Tempered glass or performance acrylic; offered in 54", 60" and 72"; steel board frame with aluminum trim |
| Pole | 4" or 5" Apex Angle square steel pole |
| Height range | 7.5' to 10', screw-jack lift |
| Rim | Arena Slam or Steel Pro Image breakaway rim |
| Base | 40 or 55 gallons of water or sand; 62.9" x 36" x 14"; 4 wheels |
| List price (maker) | $1,799.99-$2,899.99 across sizes (spalding.com, 2026-09-21); items 7B1560, 7B1014, 7B1454 |
How the 7.0 score breaks down
- Backboard (size, material) (20%)
- 10
- Base stability & fill (25%)
- 9
- Height adjustment (15%)
- 8
- Assembly (maker claim) (10%)
- 5
- Warranty term (quoted) (15%)
- 3
- Value at list price (15%)
- 4
What the spec sheet supports
- Tempered glass on a portable, with a 5-inch pole option
- 55-gallon base on four wheels: the most ballast of any portable here
- Screw-jack lift
Where it falls short
- Costs as much as a Goalrilla FT60 and carries a 1-year term
- Spalding's page does not break out specs or prices by size
- Filled, a 55-gallon base is roughly 450 lb of water; it is portable in name
Skip this if…
…you can dig; at this price an in-ground Goalrilla or Silverback is more rigid and warranted for years, not one.
#ad · Price set by Amazon · Disclosure for the link to Spalding The Beast 60-Inch Glass Portable
Buyer's guide: regulation glass at home
Board height matters as much as width
The FT72 is 72x42, the GS72C is 72x40, the Goalsetter and Mega Slam are 72x42. A regulation board is 72x42, so the GS72C gives up two inches of height for about $150 and a foot of overhang. If the players are learning to use the glass, the taller board is worth it.
Adjustment range decides who can play
Goalrilla runs 7.5 to 10 feet. Spalding's 888 goes to 7. Goalsetter goes to 6 and Pro Dunk and Mega Slam to 5. On a regulation board the low settings matter for younger kids and for adults practicing dunks; the youth standard from NBA and USA Basketball puts ages 7-8 on an 8-foot basket. See hoop height by age.
Rim upgrades exist for 72s
The FT72 and GS72C accept Goalrilla's 180 Breakaway Rim, which flexes side-to-side as well as front-to-back; Mega Slam sells a 180 Pro Rim upgrade; Goalsetter offers four rim styles at checkout. If anyone dunks, read breakaway vs standard rims first.
If the answer is “not 72”
The 60-inch ranking is where most two-car driveways should land, and the money saved buys the yard guard and the light.
How we scored this
Units we claim to have tested: 0
Everyone in this category says they tested twenty hoops. We haven't stood up any of them, and we say so on every page. What we do instead: read the maker's published backboard, pole, overhang and adjustment specs; open the install manual and quote the hole size, bag count and cure time; quote the warranty term from the maker's own page or manual with the date we read it; and note the failure patterns owners report (base cracking, backboard fogging, two-piece pole lean) as reported, never as confirmed. Every figure links to where it came from.
Scores are editorial judgments from that documented research, not lab results. Commissions never set a score or decide a pick. The rubrics and their weights are published.
Questions
Frequently asked
What size driveway do you need for a 72-inch backboard?
A playable area about 30 feet wide, so the corners of a regulation half-court are on pavement. On a standard two-car driveway (20-24 feet) a 72 gives up nothing in play against a 60 and costs more; the 60 is the better buy there.
What is the best 72-inch in-ground basketball hoop?
Sold on Amazon: the Goalrilla FT72 (72x42 glass, 6x6 one-piece pole, 4 feet of overhang, lifetime term). Sold direct: the Goalsetter MVP 72 for its hinged install and 6-foot minimum, or the Mega Slam 72 for its half-inch glass and galvanized pole.
Is a 72-inch hoop the same as an NBA backboard?
Same width and height: 72x42 inches is regulation. The glass on a home 72 is 3/8 inch (Goalrilla) or 1/2 inch (Mega Slam, Goalsetter); rim heights and breakaway rims are regulation on all of them at 10 feet.
How much does a 72-inch in-ground hoop weigh, and how many people does it take to install?
Goalrilla says at least three capable people for its guide and four adults for placing the post in its anchor manual; the Mega Slam 72 ships at 745 lb. The Goalsetter hinge lets two or three people raise it. Most families hire the 72-inch install.
Keep reading
Related on Rim & Rebound
- Best 60-inch in-ground hoopsThe size most two-car driveways should buy.
- 54 vs 60 vs 72 backboardThe width table by driveway.
- Goalrilla vs GoalsetterFT72 against the MVP 72, spec by spec.
- Goalrilla vs Mega SlamFT72 against the Mega Slam 72.
- How to install an in-ground hoopThe five-day plan, and when to hire it.
Receipts
Sources
- Goalrilla — FT72 product page (read 2026-09-21)
- Goalrilla — GS72C product page (read 2026-09-21)
- Goalrilla — Basketball Hoop Installation guide (read 2026-09-21)
- Goalrilla Anchor Kit B1002 — Anchor System Installation Instructions (PDF hosted by BasketballGoalStore; read 2026-09-21)
- Goalrilla — Limited Lifetime Warranty (Escalade Sports warranty sheet as republished by BasketballGoalStore, an authorized dealer; read 2026-09-21)
- Goalsetter — MVP Adjustable Basketball Hoop product page (read 2026-09-21)
- Mega Slam Hoops — Mega Slam 72 product page (read 2026-09-21)
- Spalding — "888" Series In-Ground Basketball Hoop product page (read 2026-09-21)
- Spalding — The Beast Portable Basketball Hoop product page (read 2026-09-21)
- Spalding — Warranty Information (basketball systems: 1-year limited; read 2026-09-21)
- NBA / USA Basketball — age-appropriate rules and standards for youth basketball (basket height and ball size by age; read 2026-09-21)
We haven't stood one of these up ourselves and we don't pretend to. Units we claim to have tested: 0. Specs come from the maker's own product pages (linked on every product), install figures from the maker's manual or installation page with the date we read it, and warranty terms from the maker's warranty page or manual. Amazon prices change often, so we don't print them. Where a figure isn't published, we say so. Read how we pick.