Most rack attachments are designed to make you stronger.
The Oak Club basketball hoop, aka The Iron 3, is not that at all. But I absolutely love having it in my gym and think any home gym owner should at least consider one for theirs.
| Model | Pros & Cons | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Pros:
| Rated 4.9 out of 5 |
The Iron 3 from Oak Club Mfg is a rack-mounted mini basketball hoop designed for 3×3 power racks. It will not add weight to your lifts. It will not improve your squat depth. But it may legitimately change how often enthusiastically you train in your gym, or at least how much you enjoy your time when you’re in there.
I installed it on my Rep PR-5000, and I have not done a single workout since then without taking at least a few shots.
Sometimes I even go into the gym on my off days just to play on it! Clearly, I’m a fan, but keep reading because I’ll go over everything about it, including some critiques.
Table of Contents
Oak Club Basketball Hoop Review Video
Watch my Oak Club Iron 3 basketball hoop attachment video on YouTube below:
Rack Compatibility & Mounting Options
The Oak Club basketball hoop, The Iron 3, is designed to fit most 3″x3″ rack uprights, whether metric or imperial. The mounting bracket has different-sized holes on it that allow it to work on racks with:
- 1 inch holes
- 5/8 inch holes
I installed mine on my Rep PR-5000 and mounted it horizontally on a crossmember.
However, you can also mount it vertically on an upright if that works better for your layout.
To switch between horizontal and vertical mounting, you simply change the orientation of the bracket on the back.
To secure it, you will need two hitch pins, which are not included. Oak Club sells premium magnetic pins, but they are expensive and completely unnecessary for this attachment. Standard generic hitch pins work perfectly fine.
Why I Actually Use It So Much
When I first received The Iron 3 as a Christmas gift, I assumed it would be a novelty piece. Mostly, I wanted it because I thought it would look cool in the background of my YouTube videos, and it does. I thought I’d occasionally use as well.
Well, turns out I dramatically underestimated how much I’d actually use the thing. There has not been a single workout since installing it where I have not taken at least a few shots. And often, it’s quite a bit more than a few!
Warm-Ups
A lot of times, I use the Oak Club basketball hoop to warm up instead of hopping on one of my cardio machines.
Because I have a large open space, I can jog for rebounds and move around. That makes it easy to raise my heart rate and loosen up my shoulders without feeling like I am doing structured cardio.
It feels athletic instead of mechanical.
If you do not have much open space, you will not get the same mild cardio benefit. But at least you still get the fun factor and give yourself something mentally engaging to do.
Between Sets
Between sets, instead of scrolling on my phone, I grab the ball.
I work on my jump shot. I try different dunk techniques. I stay entertained while I wait for my next working set.
I’m able to stay mobile between sets and even boost my heart rate, depending on how hard I go.
It Makes the Gym More Enjoyable
Staying warm, mobile, and keeping my heart rate up during my workouts is nice.
But the #1 benefit, at least for me, is very simple: It makes the gym more fun!
The downtime between sets passes faster. And it’s mentally fulfilling, at least compared to mindlessly scrolling my phone.
Basically, I see this hoop as one more reason to get in the gym.
It makes the environment more fun.
Plus, if you have kids and they hang out with you while you train, this is also a great way to keep them occupied.
Build Quality of The Iron 3
For something that is clearly meant to be fun, the build quality is better than you might expect. Though, Oak Club Mfg is generally known for their high-quality equipment, so maybe it’s not that surprising.
The Rim & Net
The rim is not overbuilt, but it is quite solid.
It includes pretty decent quality springs (for a mini-hoop) that allow you to dunk on it without having to be constantly worried about snapping or bending it. I have dunked on it plenty of times, with a respectable amount of oomph, and the rim remains perfectly parallel to the floor.
You obviously should not hang from it or try to go past the springs’ range. But you do not have to be afraid of making contact and giving a little follow-through, either.
If the rim felt flimsy, the entire experience would suffer. So I’m glad they didn’t cheap out here.
As for the net, there’s really not much to say about it. The material has stood up fine so far; pretty much how you’d expect it to look and feel. And the length is perfect. As with a regular net, it has enough hold to it so that the ball tends to come back your way after you make it.
The Backboard: The Standout Feature
The backboard is easily the best part of The Iron 3.
It is made from a single sturdy sheet of 3.5 millimeter thick steel,. This thickness, combined with the similarly beefy rear bracket, really gives the whole hoop a strong, stable feel.
When you take bank shots, it does not shift or wobble excessively. It stays planted and stable against the rack. There is a small amount of movement (possibly because I have a metric rack), but it’s not enough to really notice and certainly not enough to interfere with how easy or difficult it is to make a basket.
There are cutouts on it, too, including the “shooter’s square” above the rim, as well as the lines around the perimeter of the backboard. These give you visual reference points like a real backboard, which actually helps with shot consistency.
Beyond functionality, the cutouts really add to the aesthetic of the hoop, especially when you also add in the Oak Club branding cutouts in the top left (i.e. the letter ‘O’ and the club card deck symbol).
But you can’t talk aesthetics without also talking about the finish color, which I’ll do next.
Powder Coat Finish
In terms of the powder coat color, I chose red because I wanted it to really pop in the gym — and obviously because it matches my brand colors! But you can also get it in white or black if you prefer something more neutral.
The powder coat is high quality overall, but not perfect. I noticed a small bit of buildup, primarily in one area, so I simply mounted that side facing the back. It was relatively minor, but still worth noting. Luckily, it wasn’t on the front side, so I don’t really care about it.
The Ball
The Iron 3 comes with a ball and a pump.
The ball is basic. It is not impressive in terms of feel or finish.
However, the size is correct.
It inflates to about 4.5 inches, though I personally deflated mine slightly to about 4 inches.
That size works well with the rim. A larger ball paired with a small rim becomes frustrating quickly.
For comparison, the ball that comes with the Bells of Steel hoop attachment looks much nicer. But it is also significantly larger. When you pair a larger ball with a small rim, making shots becomes much more difficult unless you are doing layups or dunks.
If Oak Club combined this smaller size with a more premium ball style/material like Bells of Steel, that would be ideal.
Still, functionally, the included ball works. But if they’re going to keep the cheap ball, I’d say they should include one or two additional balls since they’re very cheap. For example, not too long ago, I got a very cheap Amazon doorway hoop for inside my house; it came with four balls very similar to the one included with the Oak Club basketball hoop.
The Downsides
There are a couple of realistic tradeoffs, or at least considerations, that you should be aware of with this hoop attachment.
Chasing the Ball
You are installing this in a gym full of equipment.
Sometimes the ball will roll under something.
That is part of the deal. It can be annoying, but that’s part of the game!
Safety Considerations
If you are running and jumping like I do when I play on this hoop, be sure to clear your space beforehand.
Do not leave barbells sticking out. Do not leave attachments at head height. Use common sense and do not be reckless.
A Setup Tip for Maximum Fun
If your layout allows it, mount the Oak Club basketball hoop adjacent to a wall.
This lets you bounce the ball for alley-oops to yourself and try different trick shots. It significantly increases the fun factor.
Obviously, not every gym layout or rack configuration will allow this. But if you can do it, it is worth it.
Price and Shipping
The Iron 3 currently retails for $77.
That is not cheap, but considering the 3.5 mm steel backboard, spring rim construction, and versatile mounting bracket, I think it is fair.
However, if you are in the United States, you also need to factor in shipping from Canada.
At the time of writing this review, Oak Club recommends selecting FedEx so tariffs are paid upfront through the shipping cost. If you select UPS, they may collect additional fees upon delivery. That happened to me, and they would only accept a check, which was a hassle. This may be a temporary issue, though, pending the tariff situation.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Genuinely adds fun and engagement to your gym
- Compatible with 3×3 racks (1 inch and 5/8 inch holes)
- 3.5mm thick steel backboard feels solid and stable
- Minimal wobble on bank shots
- Very aesthetic; nice cutouts; striking color options
- Ball size is ideal for the rim (not oversized)
- Spring-loaded rim allows for safe dunking
Cons
- Minor powder coat imperfection
- Ball could be higher quality
Who Should Buy The Iron 3?
You should consider buying The Iron 3 if:
- You want to make your gym more enjoyable
- You want a simple warm-up tool
- You want something engaging between sets
- You have kids who hang out in your gym
- You have a 3×3 rack (5/8″ or 1″ holes) with enough surrounding space
You should probably skip it if:
- You only buy attachments that directly improve strength performance
- Your ceilings are too low
- Your gym space is extremely tight
- You do not want to deal with higher cross-border shipping costs
My Rating
Oak Club Mfg Iron 3
The Oak Club Mfg Iron 3 is a rack-mounted basketball hoop attachment designed for 3x3 power rack uprights with 1-inch or 5/8-inch holes. It features a 3.5mm thick single-sheet steel backboard, a spring-loaded rim suitable for controlled dunking, and a compact ball sized to match the rim. The Iron 3 can be mounted horizontally on a crossmember or vertically on an upright and is built to add active warm-up and between-set engagement to a home gym setup.
4.9
Pros
- Adds real fun and engagement
- Fits 3×3 racks (1″ and 5/8″ holes)
- 3.5mm steel backboard feels solid
- Minimal wobble on bank shots
- Clean design with great color options
- Ball size is well-matched to the rim
- Spring-loaded rim supports controlled dunking
Cons
- Minor powder coat imperfection
- Included ball feels basic
Final Thoughts on the Oak Club Basketball Hoop
The Oak Club basketball hoop is not essential.
But it is one of the rare rack attachments that meaningfully changes the quality of your time in your gym during your workouts.
If fun in the gym (outside of working out) matters to you, The Iron 3 delivers.
