Mounted, portable, and in-ground basketball hoops all have pros and cons. For instance, while the in-ground hoops are considered to be optimal as far as performance is concerned, the one downside is the time and effort required to install it. Some prefer portable hoops simply because no installation is required. Mounted hoops involve some installation, but it's not nearly as extensive as in-ground models.

One positive with in-ground installations is that it only has to be done once. You will have to buy quite a bit of cement and put some work in digging a hole, but the result will be a hoop that will provide very good stability.

Another benefit of installations is that family and friends can work on it together. Most hoops need 2-3 people at minimum in order to assemble and install the hoop. For families, this is a chance to spend some time together and complete a fun project. I read an article just recently about a father's experience installing and assembling the hoop with his sons. He mentioned that the experience with the hoop was already a positive one just because of that experience alone.

The installation required varies based on the hoop you buy. The lower to mid level hoops mainly are direct burials. The pole is buried into the ground directly and secured with cement.

This is the most common type for basketball hoops. It's really a simple process, as it involves digging a hole several feet deep and solidifying the pole in place with concrete. The key is to make sure that the rim is at 10 feet and that the pole is straight. Setting the pole on top of a few bricks will add some stability. Using levels will help prevent the pole from leaning to the left or right.

Another form of installation involves cementing a sleeve into the ground, then inserting the pole into it. It's advantageous because it's more removeable than the direct burial, plus it's a bit easier to get it aligned properly. The sleeve has markings to ensure that the pole height is 10 feet.

The last type is the most advanced and preferred. It's only reserved however for premium models. It's referred to as an anchor mount installation. 4 j-bolts and a mount and inserted into the cement, then the pole is set in place on the mount. The benefit is that you can remove the hoop from the mount without digging up cement.

The anchor mount is the best type, which makes sense considering the fact that all the premium hoops use it. If you can afford a basketball hoop that comes with an anchor mount, I highly recommend it.