Three Benefits that Make Artificial Turf the Preferred Play Surface Sports Fields

The fame of artificial grass may have made it to residential spaces in recent years, but it still maintains its great reputation in the athletic world. To this day, school sports fields, professional league stadiums and community centers in Phoenix and elsewhere in the U.S. still prefer artificial turf over natural grass. It’s not a real mystery why, however, since synthetic turf was specifically engineered to be the superior option for athletic fields.

With constant developments and innovations, artificial grass has reached a level that no other play surface can hope to match. If you need any more reason to break tradition and give artificial grass a go, here are a few perks you could look forward to.

Increased Playability

Natural grass fields are severely limited in terms of use. Back-to-back games and matches for three or four consecutive days can easily wear it out and put it out of commission at least until the maintenance staff finish their work. The same could happen after a little bit of rain. That nice, green field could turn into a giant pit of mud. Anybody foolish enough to play can find themselves with a sprained ankle, a broken hip, or a even worse injury from slipping. With synthetic grass, on the other hand, athletes can play for more hours and under any kind of weather without putting their own safety at risk.

Injury Deterrent

Speaking of injuries, high quality artificial turf also goes beyond just preventing slip and fall accidents. Synthetic grass is made of multiple layers—an infill system, a leveling layer, a drainage layer, a natural compacted subgrade, and on top of all that is a layer of artificial fibers that act as a shock-absorbing pad. In the event that an athlete takes a tumble, synthetic turf breaks his fall by absorbing the impact without collapsing. Even if it’s a pretty bad fall, the force of impact will be significantly reduced. Once the pressure is released and the player is safely back on his feet, the grass will bounce back to its original shape, ready to catch the next fall.

Cost Efficiency

Maintaining a playing field clad in natural turf takes time, labor and a whole lot of money especially in an area that experiences dry weather like Phoenix. Getting the play surface ready before a big game can already be expensive, but you’re possibly looking at spending more than $35,000 for a whole year’s maintenance. While installing artificial turf is a considerable investment, it pays for itself in a just few year’s time. It doesn’t need to be watered, mowed, aerated or fertilized since it doesn’t need to be grown. It also won’t require the use of pesticides and herbicides that can harm athletes. Synthetic turf remains at the same height and will remain its vibrant green color.
With decreased injury risks, less maintenance costs and more playing hours, switching to artificial grass might just be the key to improving the athletic performance of your home team. Contact professional installation companies, such as Sunburst Landscaping, to ensure that your facility can get the most out of your new turf.
Sources:
New Artificial Turf Designs Improve Safety, ASME.org
Advantages of Artificial Turf Athletic Fields, SportsByAPT.com