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Take your putting to the next level

Improving your putting is one of the quickest ways to shave strokes off your game. Having a portable basket allows you to practice anytime, anywhere. You can set up mini holes around town, organize putting leagues, or simply work on your skills at home. Portable disc golf baskets are also perfect for schools and sports programs that want to introduce disc golf to students.

In order to help you choose the best portable disc golf basket, we consulted the websites of leading online disc golf retailers, such as Infinite Discs, DiscSport.eu, and Gotta Go Gotta Throw. We were looking for baskets that had a respectable number of four- and five-star reviews across most or all of the sites.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the ones we chose.

The main factors to consider are cost (obviously), weight, and how closely the basket mimics the feel of professional course baskets. 

Generally, the more similar it feels to a pro basket, the heavier and pricier it gets.  Choosing the right one involves finding the balance between how much you want to pay, how well you want your basket to catch, and how easy it is to tote around.

For the purposes of this article, we will separate the baskets into two main categories:

1. Heavy duty portable disc golf baskets

2. Light duty “travel” disc golf baskets

Heavy Duty Portable Disc Golf Baskets

These baskets come as close as you can get to professional course baskets while still being portable and relatively affordable. If you’re looking for something that mimics the feel of a real basket and can withstand regular use, then look no further.

When it comes to getting the feel of a professional course basket, it’s all about the number of chains, the weight of the chains, and the overall size of the catching area.

For reference, Innova’s professional grade basket, the DISCatcher Pro 24 boasts the following specs:

• 24 heavy duty chains (16 outer, 8 inner)

• Height: 31.8 inches / 80.8 cm

• Basket Diameter: 26 inches / 66.3 cm

Let’s look at the models that were highly reviewed and consistently appeared across the retailers we consulted.

MVP Black Hole Pro HD

• Price: $169.95 USD / €160.00 (with case: $189.95 USD / €179.00)

• Chains: 24 heavy-duty chains (12 inner, 12 outer)

• Height: 32.28 inches / 82.0cm

• Basket Diameter: 25.20 inches / 64 cm

• Chain Rack Diameter: 20.47 inches / 52 cm

• Weight: 42 lbs / 19 kg

• Cage Wire Thickness: 8mm

• Carrying Case: Available

• Other Features: Powder-coated for durability, 1-minute assembly/disassembly, Covered by 2-year Limited Warranty, PDGA approved

MVP Black Hole Pro HD Reviews

POSITIVE:
“…The thicker wire basket is sturdy and deep, the base is solid; and the chains catch disks as reliably as permanent course targets.  I like that no tools are required for setup. (the V2 model has 24 chains in two rows) 

It's quite heavy and barely moves when hit; but at just below 50 lbs, it's not too heavy to reposition easily and carry on your shoulders from place to place.  The basket comes with stakes to keep it from moving but if the basket is on level ground, I can't imagine ever needing them…”

NEGATIVE:

“This basket is no more durable than the regular pro version. The ONLY difference is this basket is slightly taller, slightly bigger basket, and has a slightly more sturdy base(thicker wired base). So it doesnt sway and it feels more like a legit course basket. The powder coating protecting the basket is EXACTLY the same as the regular version…”

MVP Black Hole Pro

• Price: $149.95 USD / €141.00 (with case: $169.95 USD / €160.00)

• Chains: 24 heavy-duty chains (12 inner, 12 outer)

• Height: 31.49 inches / 80 cm

• Basket Diameter: 25.20 inches / 64 cm

• Chain Rack Diameter: 21.73 inches / 55.2 cm

• Weight: 33 lbs / 15 kg

• Cage Wire Thickness: 6mm

• Carrying Case: Available

• Other Features: Powder-coated for durability, 1-minute assembly/disassembly, Covered by 2-year Limited Warranty,  PDGA approved

MVP Black Hole Pro Reviews

POSITIVE:
“…I've had my Black Hole Pro basket for 3 years, most of which have been spent outside and I have to say - MVP is underselling their materials & paint quality.  The threads on the rods have not rusted and came right apart recently without any issues.  The basket, base, and top chain assembly are all flawless… This thing catches as well or better than most course baskets you see on local courses (Mach II /Mach III are most common by me).  Chain/Spit outs really don't happen when I practice in my back yard - I have a few pole/center chains throw backs, but mostly because I was just putting too hard.  Overall, it catches as well as you'd expect a full fledged course basket to do at half or less the price…”

NEGATIVE: 
”…It's perhaps a bit heavy to lug around (but it's quality, so you gotta expect that).  If you want something to throw in the car quickly and set up many places and you're not too keen on the weight, something of a different design might be more useful to you, but disassembly is really easy and it can be broken down to something that fits easily in the trunk of a small sedan, so it's definitely still portable… some compromises because of it's build quality and price point that are very understandable.”

MVP Black Hole Lite

• Price: $114.95 USD / €108.00

• Chains: 24 (12 inner, 12 outer)

• Height: 32.68 inches / 83 cm

• Basket Diameter: 25.39 inches / 64.5 cm

• Chain Rack Diameter: 20.67 inches / 52.5 cm

• Weight: 26 lbs / 12 kg

• Cage Wire Thickness: 6mm

• Carrying Case: Available

• Other Features: Powder-coated for durability, 1-minute assembly/disassembly, same models available in different colors under the Axiom or Streamline brand,  PDGA approved

MVP Black Hole Lite Reviews

POSITIVE:

“Best value in a practice basket…It catches as good as ANY basket I've ever thrown plastic at. The chains are very shiny and pretty. I keep it outside (albeit under cover) and there is no signs of rust or paint peeling…If you can catch this thing on sale like I did, you'll be more than happy with the product and what it does for your game. Drive for show, putt for dough.”

NEGATIVE:

“This manufacturer needs to talk with their coating contractor. A poor quality coating job results in the chains rusting out. Assembly and usage are fine otherwise, but I can’t recommend this product due to that significant quality issue.”

Discmania Lite Pro

• Price: $101.95 USD / €95.97

• Chains: 12, horizontally connected

• Height:  31.69 inches / 80.5 cm (without flag)

• Basket diameter: 25.39 inches / 64.5 cm

• Chain Rack Diameter: 21.65 inches / 55.0 cm

• Weight: 16.5 lbs / 7.5 kg 

• Cage Wire Thickness: Not specified

• Carrying Case: Not available

• Other Features: Quick setup (just four clicks), detachable flag for wind reads,  PDGA approved

Discmania Lite Pro Reviews

POSITIVE:

“For the price you can't beat them. They serve the purpose for home practice or setting up a home course if you have the space, I use them for both. They are light weight, easy to move around and easy to break down and store for winter if need be. The chains are light and tighter at the bottom as usual but even tighter due to the light chains which forces you to throw centered on the upper horizontal chain line to get good grab so to speak. I do believe this makes for grate practice for when you get out on a course. My putting has improved 10 fold having these at home and I can get 2 for the price of one more pro line basket.”

NEGATIVE:

“The rod for the flag comes off if you hit it too many times…It is not durable in the long run if you use it outdoors and should absolutely not be left out after use as it will wear on all knots and welds. I've had mine for about 1.5 years and mine is already completely dead (used daily). Unfortunately, the chains are nothing to cheer about as they cannot cope with harder putts and you have to adapt to them. Can't say that I recommend it if you're going to compete, ”

Discraft Chainstar Lite 

• Price: $164.99 USD / €153

• Chains: 24, heavy duty zinc chains

• Height:  33.07 inches / 84.0 cm 

• Basket Diameter: 25.12 inches / 63.8 cm 

• Chain Rack Diameter: 20.47 inches / 52 cm

• Weight: 52.03 lbs / 23.6 kg

• Cage Wire Thickness: 7mm

• Carrying Case: Not available

• Other Features: Powder coated, five color choices,  PDGA approved

Discraft Chainstar Lite Reviews

POSITIVE:

“I own 3 Black Hole pro's, an Axiom Pro, a whamm-o, a DD recruit, and a knock-off no-name brand basket. The Chainstar Lite is the BEST. I bought a 2nd one recently to bring my course up to 9 holes. If I could, I would replace all of the other baskets (aside from the heavy duty DD recruit) with the Chainstar lite.  It is very good quality, and professional looking. I really like how the basket looks more like $300+ permanent baskets.”

NEGATIVE:

“it is just not that good at catching discs. It has about the smallest sweet spot of any basket I have ever played on. I may not be the most well-traveled disc golfer, but I have played all across the country and at some pretty sweet courses…the basket will not catch anything on the weak side unless the disc hits so low that it barely sneaks above the rim.”

Remix Deluxe Practice Basket 

• Price: $99 USD / €91.69

• Chains: 24 (12 inner, 12 outer)

• Height: 32.68 inches / 83 cm

• Basket Diameter: 25.39 inches / 64.5 cm

• Chain Rack Diameter: 20.67 inches / 52.5 cm

• Weight: 26 lbs / 12 kg

• Cage Wire Thickness: 6mm

• Carrying Case: Available

• Other Features: Powder-coated for durability, 1-minute assembly/disassembly

Remix Deluxe Practice Basket Reviews

POSITIVE:

“Out of the box it was easy to assemble, just hand tighten the pole the base, add basket, handle tighten next pole, add top with chains and then hand tighten the top piece. Less then 2 minutes all together. It’s pretty sturdy once put together. The chains are a decent weight at 44oz… I’m a decent disc golfer (970 rated) and it catches my hard spin puts, some hit the pole and bounce out but can happen on any basket…Also, not sure if this was intentional, but there was a MVP warranty card in the box. I assume it’s the same basket with a different name just based on the quality of the basket and the warranty card. Anyways, it a great value for the money and would recommend to anyone looking for a cheap basket. Going to purchase 8 more for a private course in my back yard so we’ll see how they hold up outside.”

NEGATIVE:

“The first basket was replaced because the threaded receiver within the base was welded crooked and could not stay upright due to the weight of the chains on top tipping it over. The replacement was great for a few weeks until the weak welds on the threaded receiver within the base broke and the basket suddenly tipped over, hitting the side of the car in the garage. It would be great for the price if the base could handle the weight of the double chain basket and top. I'm not sure if it is worth having the base rewelded or not... this purchase has been a bit frustrating.”

Comparing the Best Heavy Duty Portable Disc Golf Baskets 

All of the options from MVP are solid choices.  The Black Hole Lite has lighter chains than the other two, which is noticeable for more experienced players. But if cost and portability are the most important considerations for you, this might be a good choice. 

The Black Hole PRO HD is the option from MVP that is closest to feeling like a professional course basket, as it is bigger and heavier because of the larger wire gauge.  That does come with some downsides as it is their most expensive option and it is the heaviest, making it a little harder to move around.   

The Black Hole PRO is the compromise between the two and a very popular model.  I personally use this one and can attest that it's very close to feeling like professional course baskets, while being easy to set up and transport.

The Discraft Chainstar Lite is one of the heaviest baskets in this category, which gives it a real course feel but makes it less portable. It’s a solid option if you’re looking for something close to a pro basket at a decent price, though it doesn’t come with a carrying case.

Discmania Lite Pro is lightweight and affordable, but the lighter weight means you sacrifice a bit of the feel of a true course basket. However, if you're looking for something on the budget-friendly side, it’s a good choice. The detachable wind flag is a nice touch, allowing you to build more confidence putting in the wind.

After an in depth search of the Amazon storefront, it turns out that the Remix Deluxe Practice Basket is indeed actually made and sold by MVP. The basket specifications line up with the MVP Black Hole Lite. If you were considering the Black Hole Lite, want to save yourself $15, and don’t care about the brand name stuck on your basket, go with the Remix. Returns and repairs are done by MVP.

Light-weight Portable Baskets - a.k.a. “Travel” Baskets

The next type of portable disc golf basket to consider are what I call “travel” baskets.  These are lighter than the aforementioned models and pack up a little better for transport.  They all come with shoulder bags that are easy to carry and fit in the trunk of your car.

Of course, because they are light, they do sacrifice some of the feel of putting on a professional course basket. That being said, they are very popular and even preferred by some. The portable basket that’s going to improve your putting the most, is the one you’re more likely to take out, set up, and throw some putts at! Let’s take a look to see if any fit your needs.

Innova DISCatcher Traveler 

• Price: $149.99 USD / €138.93

• Chains: 12

• Height: 33.46 inches / 85 cm

• Chain Rack Diameter: 18.90 inches / 48 cm

• Weight: 15 lbs/ 6.8 kg

• Carrying Case: Included

• Other Features: one step assembly, quick dry fabric, wind flag,  PDGA approved

Innova DISCatcher Traveler Reviews

POSITIVE
“This basket is absolutely perfect as what it was designed for: ultimate portability and easy practice sessions. The DISCatcher Traveler is super lightweight and extremely easy to set up (less than 20 seconds!). I would recommend this basket for someone looking to save space or easily transport their practice equipment out to a field/park area. The basket collapses into a large camping chair style bag (longer and slightly larger). This makes for easy storage and fits comfortably in a car trunk. The basket also comes with some stakes to help secure the feet to the ground, however I haven't felt the need to use them, even on slightly uneven ground. This basket would be a fun thing to take on a vacation trip or to family gatherings for fun in the yard.”

NEGATIVE:

“Its chain profile is very narrow and it only has one row of relatively light chains. Its basket is made of mesh that bounces discs every way imaginable. Sometimes you will hit the basket broadside short and the disc will just flop over the top of the mesh. Discs are able to fall in to the basket through the top ring but most players would be able to realize that wouldnt happen in a tournament with real baskets. “

Latitude 64 ProBasket Go 

• Price: $229.00 USD / €212.14

• Chains: 16, zinc coated

• Height: 55.12 inches / 140 cm

• Chain Rack Diameter: 24.02 inches / 61 cm

• Weight: 24lbs / 10 kg

• Carrying Case: Included

• Other Features: Easy three-step assembly

Latitude 64 ProBasket Go Reviews

POSITIVE

“Very satisfied, easy to fold and carry, good size. Slightly heavier than expected but still quite portable in the included bag. Good quality and feels solid even though it is made of part fabric.”

NEGATIVE:

“Very heavy! This is supposed to be a portable basket but I ended up selling it bc it was way too heavy to carry around. Maybe better for having in the backyard.”

DGA Mach Lite 

• Price: $179 USD / €165.84

• Chains: 16 (8 inner, 8 outer)

• Height: 33.27 inches / 84.5cm

• Chain Rack Diameter: 23.23 inches / 59 cm

• Weight: 25 lbs / 11.34 kg

• Carrying Case: Included

• Other Features: one year warranty,  multiple colors, PDGA approved

DGA Mach Lite Reviews

POSITIVE

“This disc catcher is amazing! Truly an incredible design, it is what makes this disc catcher such a good one. I love how it collapses and is put up, very intuitive and easy. Also another plus is that it is PDGA approved; as such, it will help you prepare for those tournaments without having to go to a course…Overall a wonderful basket. It's at a great price, which is wonderful. It seems to be quite durable. Excellent for the taking it places as well. I love the basket!”

NEGATIVE:
“This basket is functional and if you practice using it, you’re putting will get better. However, there are several issues with this basket.

It’s not all that easy to actually set up. It takes quite a bit of force to deploy the upper and lower sections. To line up the hole for the locking pin in either the set up position, or the collapsed position, is difficult at best. I generally have to turn the entire basket upside down, and then twist the basket while holding the center pole, even then it’s hard to do. It’s not that good at catching discs. You will have a lot of spit outs. It just does not catch even close to a course basket. The fabric in different areas almost immediately started to fray. I’ve had this basket for nine months and it already looks very threadbare.”

Comparing the Best Light-weight, “Travel” Portable Disc Golf Baskets

Presumably, if you’re considering this type of basket, weight is going to be important to you.  The Innova DISCatcher Traveler is clearly the winner in this category, weighing in at only 15 lbs. 

However, the DISCatcher’s chain rack diameter is considerably smaller than that of a professional course basket and only has 12 chains.  This could be a good thing, as it forces you to become a more accurate putter, or a bad thing if you want your practice to mimic what you would experience out on the course.

Latitude 64’s ProBasket Go comes closest to the size of a professional basket, which is great for mimicking a true, on-course putting experience, but is the most expensive of the three.

DGA’s Mach Lite comes in as the heaviest option, which is perhaps not what buyers are looking for when opting for a travel style basket. That being said, it is only a pound heavier than the Latitude 64 basket. One thing to note is that the Mach Lite has its 16 chains arranged with eight on the outside and eight on the inside, which should result in a better-catching basket.

The Best Portable Disc Golf Basket for You

When it comes down to it, it’s all about what works best for you. For some people, the weight and portability of their practice basket is going to be the most important factor.  For others, it might be how close it feels to a professional course basket. In other words, how well it catches.

Still others might be looking for the most affordable basket, no matter what the features are.

If you ARE simply looking for the cheapest option around, I will give you this piece of advice: think twice. The baskets in this article are all good quality, but stay away from off-brand options at your local hardware store or online (aside from the Remix). 

That’s what I did at first. I went with the cheapest, no name option I could find at a local hardware store. Within a few weeks I knew I wouldn’t use it again. I ended up buying a better model after trying one that a friend owned (The MVP Black Hole Pro). The first one just didn’t feel like putting on a real basket. Instead of spending just a little more up front, I ended up wasting money on one that I don’t use.

Whatever the most important feature is for you, I recommend trying out a few of these baskets before buying, either through your friends, or through visiting a local shop where they have them set up.

One thing’s for sure - having a basket you can practice on is going to shave strokes off your game.

See you out there!

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