The Many Uses of Artificial Grass Surfaces

Synthetic grass fields have come a long way from the old "Astro-Turf" that was once the standard for artificial grass surfaces. Newer types of synthetic fields look and feel more authentic, using actual blades like real grass. This new synthetic grass gives you the opportunity to use it in more places than ever.

Football

Synthetic fields offer multiple important benefits when used for American football. A key concern for choosing a surface for full contact football is cushion. The cushioning should be soft enough to cushion falling players while sturdy enough to prevent leg injuries from stopping, starting and changing direction. Previous generations of synthetic fields were ineffective at striking the balance between cushion and safety for athletic moves made by players. Newer synthetic fields incorporate rubber shavings inside of grass-like blades for a more natural footing and cushion for football players.

Soccer

Soccer fields made of synthetic materials come with the benefit of a durable surface, able to withstand foot traffic and the elements, while matching the characteristics of a natural surface for consistent and fair play. Soccer players are often called upon to make athletic movements including sudden stops and starts and changing of direction. The shoes worn by soccer players playing on one of the first types of athletic carpeting would often cause the foot to plant in a direction and stick. The player, attempting to make a move in a different direction, would often damage ankle or knee ligaments and tendons. Newer options for synthetic fields allow for players to make soccer specific movements as they would execute on a natural field, without an increased risk of injury.

Baseball

Baseball and softball fields made from early types of Astro-Turf were showcases for a phenomenon not as easily noticed in other sports using similar surfaces. The height of a bouncing ball on an artificial surface was often comically inconsistent with the attitude of a baseball or softball bouncing on a natural surface. The difference in the way the balls rebounded from the surfaces made the game so challenging that practiced players would have no way to gauge and anticipate how much higher a bouncing ball would travel on a synthetic surface. Newer synthetics offer a more consistent rate of rebound, much more consistent with the reaction by a falling ball to a natural grass surface.