The Development of Artificial Sports Surfaces & Reaching Parity With Turf

If you own or run a turfed sports area and are looking to renew the surface, it could be worthwhile to consider alternatives to traditional turf. Artificial grass alternatives have had issues in the past with being regarded as second class behind good quality natural grass, but there have been many advances in the artificial turf industry in recent years. So before you decide to renew your pitches with replacement natural turf, read on to find out the reasons why artificial turf is a realistic and viable alternative to natural grass in many sports applications.

Functionality

Artificial grass is designed to have a similar appearance to real natural grass, but the similarity in appearance is for aesthetic purposes – artificial turf is actually made of entirely synthetic fibres that are embedded into a sheet backing. However, in terms of function artificial turf is designed to closely mimic real grass in all the ways that make it a great surface for playing sports. The texture of the ‘grass’ leaves is much improved over the relatively harsher forms of the earlier decades, meaning that artificial turf is more comfortable to play on in case of falls and slips. Typically, a modern artificial sports surface has silicone layered on the outside of the grass blades to add durability without compromising the texture of the grass. The softness of the turf means that players can easily transition from real to artificial grass without noticing much, if any, difference in the tactile feel of the playing pitch.

Playing Conditions

Grass fields aren’t just great to play on because of the grass leaves themselves. They are also dependent on the stuff below the grass, the earthy ground itself. This isn’t the same as just any field with a soil or clay surface – the grass roots hold the earth together so that you get a combination of a forgiving surface with resilience to impact and shoe types that can dig in. The result is a surface that is supportive of acceleration and quick movement changes from players.

Wear and Tear

Modern artificial turf closely mimics this behaviour of natural turf by adding special crumb rubber layers in between and beneath the actual artificial grass blades. A major complaint of early Astro Turf was the unforgiving, hard and unrealistic feel of the actual surface beneath the ‘grass’, and this made it a distinctly inferior playing surface. Thanks to simulated earth you will get all the rebound, give and drive that a real grass field can offer.

Maintenance

Though artificial turf was originally devised to allow for natural style playing surfaces indoors, there are many advantages to using it in outside areas, too. The most obvious is the reduced need for expensive maintenance. The irrigation needs of large grass pitches can be relatively expensive over time for smaller clubs; needless to say artificial turf has zero need for irrigation (though it may require some washing from time to time). It does not require trimming, and it will stand up to the rigours of repeated practice and play without being worn away over a season. Playing conditions will always be consistent with artificial turf. This is great news for sports club owners who generate revenue from repeated practices – you’ll be able to use the field with greater frequency without the worry of wearing out the field prematurely. Overall, the improved feel of artificial sports surfaces means it is a highly recommended substitute for the real thing. Line markings and grass pile won’t decay over a season, and a fortune can be saved in maintenance. While nothing can ever quite replace the real thing, artificial grass has certainly come a long way since 1965.