Both artificial sporting fields and artificial residential turf have been on the market for a while. The material used to create this synthetic grass is constantly improving, resulting in surfaces that are more pleasing to the eye as well as to the touch. However, there are some environments where artificial lawns and turf haven’t received such a warm welcome. One of these is soccer.
There are several stadiums located in Europe that use a natural and artificial turf blend for their “football” teams. This material recently made a debut at this year’s World Cup competition. It seemed that there were plenty of players who had trouble with the change. Because it is so smooth, the way that the ball moved was different than it would have been on natural grass. The faster game led to misjudgments and errors on the part of both teams. There were also players who were noted as saying how strange the playing surface felt to them.
For many sports, artificial turf prices are a great savings over the cost of maintaining a natural grass pitch in an indoor stadium or in more unforgiving climates. However, going with artificial will only work in cases where the change in surface doesn’t affect the play of the game itself. It might be a while yet before a surface is developed that really works for the players and the sport. But considering the advances that have already been made, that might not be a future that’s too far off.
These days, synthetic grass is the field material of choice for a wide variety sports. However, soccer, better known as football in many countries around the world, is not one of them. A generation ago, artificial surfaces were introduced to the game of soccer. Both the players and the fans were angered at the change. Today, natural grass is still the surface of choice for what some consider to be the most popular game in the world.
However, synthetic lawn materials are making a comeback during this year’s World Cup competition, albeit in a more subtle way than before. Several of the major stadiums in Europe have already premiered what could be considered “hybrid” turf; artificial grass fibers have actually been woven into the natural grass turf, interspersed between the living blades. This revolutionary surface saw play for the first time in the Slovenia vs. Algeria game in Polokwane on June 13th. Players at the Nelspruit stadium also experienced this new kind of turf.
How does the fake turf intermingle with the real thing and actually stay put? The threads of the artificial grass are actually sunk over half a foot into the surface of the natural turf and twist around the roots of the real grass. The result is an even surface that is sturdy enough to withstand whatever the athletes throw at it.
This unique type of turf is manufactured by a company called Desso Sports Systems, located in Brussels. The World Cup introduction is a big test.
These days, there are quite a few sports that are played on artificial pitches. However, the one sport that you won’t find courting the artificial turf manufacturers is soccer, better known outside of the United States as football. Plenty of other professional sports organizations have made the switch over to artificial playing surfaces, so why hasn’t soccer followed suit?
There actually was an attempt to replace soccer’s natural grass with artificial lawns several decades ago. However, the artificial turf in those days lacked the technological advances that we see on sports fields today. The British Queens Park Rangers were the first to switch to a fully artificial surface, back in 1981. A few other teams also tried out these new surfaces. No one was happy with the results.
The product offered by the artificial grass suppliers of the day wasn’t suited for the movement of a soccer ball, which would bounce and skid in ways that the players weren’t able to follow. The players themselves also skidded, which resulted in a higher injury rate than with natural grass. Tackles resulted in friction burns and abrasions. It’s no wonder that the artificial fields were quickly dropped.
However, as important as natural grass is to the game, the game is popular enough that there is a need to play in more environments than just those that are suited to growing natural turf. The main concern is that trying out artificial turf again could have a dramatic effect on gameplay like field hockey.
There are many benefits offered by artificial lawns, particularly when it comes to maintenance. However, as technology advances, artificial turf advances with it, offering new and exciting possibilities in a wide area of uses.
One of the latest advances was patented by the CEO of a company named Sportexe, the second biggest maker of the artificial turf used in many NFL stadiums. The new technology involves adding fiber optics into the turf along with the blades of artificial grass. In essence, this means that the football field itself will be able to function in much the same way that the Jumbotron screens do, opening up a world of possibilities that ordinary fake lawn grass can’t quite match.
While the opportunities for advertising and spectacular halftime shows are the most obvious use of this technology, there are some enticing practical applications as well. Stadium owners may eventually be able to forgo the costly procedure of repainting the field for other sporting events. The ability of the fiber optics to sense when they are being blocked could allow the referees to retrace a player’s footsteps for particularly difficult calls. And the digital line signifying the first down line on your screen could be on the field as well.
While this technology isn’t yet available for consumers looking to buy artificial grass wholesale, the day may come when suburban residents will have a whole new set of rules in their Homeowners Association bylaws about what they can and can’t display with their lawns.
The material that is popping up in synthetic lawns across the country got its illustrious start on the football field. Artificial turf allowed indoor stadiums to have an affordable alternative to natural grass fields. Today, a variety of sports are played on artificial lawns, and the materials used to create these surfaces are constantly evolving.
One sport in which the artificial playing surface has had a more dramatic effect is field hockey. Simply called hockey in countries where other varieties such as ice hockey are less prominent, field hockey has a long history and is one of the few team sports where women’s competition attracts plenty of attention.
How has artificial grass changed the rules for field hockey? Synthetic surfaces first came into use for the sport in the early 1970s. This surface was also used for the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. Today, international and most national tournaments require the use of artificial pitches. Because the balls will travel a much straighter path on artificial turf, the shape of the hockey stick was changed, becoming shorter and stubbier. The material of the sticks themselves has also changed, from completely wood to wood core to synthetic composite.
There are new techniques and tactics that have come into play as well, including now-common moves like the Indian dribble. As the materials used in the game and the way the players themselves move has changed, new rules have had to come into play in order to govern the changes that have occurred.
While more and more companies are purchasing wholesale artificial turf for various commercial projects, more and more homeowners are taking advantage of the benefits that come with owning an artificial lawn that requires less maintenance than natural grass. There are a variety of different groups of people who can benefit from the ease of owning a synthetic lawn.
If you know an elderly homeowner who is struggling to maintain the condition of their vast landscaping, you might want to suggest that they look into artificial lawns. As these require much less work, they are perfect for older individuals who aren’t as active as they used to be.
Likewise, an artificial lawn is a great choice if you don’t spend the whole year in your residence. Whether you travel a lot or you have a second vacation home, lawns can suffer when no one is there to maintain them. Having synthetic lawns on your property is often more affordable than hiring a caretaker to keep your landscape in tip-top shape while you’re away.
There are some regions where it can be difficult to maintain a healthy lawn, no matter how much effort you put into your lawn care. If you live in a particularly arid environment or in an area where there isn’t much natural sunlight to nourish grass and other plants, you might find yourself dissatisfied with the state of your yard. An artificial lawn will give your landscape a vibrant appearance no matter what the weather in your region.
Whether you’re looking to buy artificial turf to replace the natural grass surrounding your residential home or for commercial purposes, chances are that the material reminds you of professional sports to some extent. While synthetic lawns in both suburban and urban areas are becoming more and more popular, particular in regions that are prone to droughts and water restrictions, the fact of the matter is that fake grass grew in popularity because it was an affordable alternative to attempting to maintain a natural grass playing field in an indoor stadium. And the first artificial grass to come into popularity for this purpose was AstroTurf.
Invented in 1965 by a team of employees from the Monsanto Company, AstroTurf didn’t start out as AstroTurf. After the product was patented in 1967, it hit the market under the questionable name “Chemgrass”. Luckily, that name was changed after the material received publicity for its use in the Astrodome stadium in Houston. An employee of the Patent Company named John Wortmann has been crediting with coining the new name. The brand AstroTurf has passed through several hands since then.
In today’s market, there are a wide variety of options available for those looking to purchase artificial grass wholesale. Many companies continue to push the edge in terms of the technology used for these surfaces, including creating softer, more realistic materials for the artificial grass. However, AstroTurf will continue to be an important part of the history of both synthetic grass and of professional sports itself.
Thanks to the wonderful invention known as artificial grass, indoor sports arenas are able to have a playing surface that’s similar to the natural grass that would be used when playing outdoors, at a much lower cost. While it is certainly possible to have a natural grass playing field indoors, the cost of maintenance is much too high to make it worthwhile for most stadiums. Indeed, fake grass is so much less expensive and easier to maintain that there are teams who have switched to using it for outdoor playing surfaces as well. This is especially true when it comes to teams who play in frostier climates, including some major stadiums in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati.
These days, artificial grass turf is a popular choice for football and baseball fields and stadiums located across the United States and Canada. But how did this material come to be? Many people would say that the accomplishment of developing a successful artificial turf falls to one man in particular: David Chaney. A resident of North Carolina who eventually served as the dean for the College of Textiles at North Carolina State University, Chaney was in charge of the group of RTP researchers that were responsible for developing the first noteworthy artificial grass surface. The popular magazine Sports Illustrated certainly made sure that he received credit for this accomplishment, declaring him to be the man responsible for the viability of playing major league baseball in indoor stadiums, as well as “millions of welcome mats”.
Artificial turf first gained popularity with use in sports arenas, for sports that were originally intended to be played on grass. However, more and more people are choosing to use synthetic lawns as a part of the landscaping for their residential homes. Likewise, more businesses are using this synthetic grass in their business applications. What is the appeal of artificial grass over the natural thing for so many people?
The biggest benefit, the one that attracts more and more people each year, is the fact that an artificial lawn is much easier to maintain than a natural lawn. There are few people who actually enjoy pushing a mower around on a sweltering day (or paying through the nose for a local kid or service to do it). Artificial turf doesn’t require any trimming because it doesn’t grow. This can save the landowner both time and money.
An artificial lawn doesn’t need to be watered, which can save you money by completely eliminating the cost of setting up an irrigation system. It will also maintain its vibrancy in times of water restrictions, when your neighbors’ lawns are starting to look a little bit brown due to limited hydration. Who doesn’t want to have the best-looking lawn on the block?
Lastly, an artificial lawn is more durable than natural grass, which is the reason it has become such a staple in sports arenas. Your kids and/or pets might not play as rough as professional athletes, but they can certainly damage normal grass.
There are many benefits that come with swapping the natural grass in your yard for synthetic turf, particularly when it comes to the ease and lower expense of maintenance. However, even though synthetic grass has come a long way since its early days, there are still some down sides that should be taken into consideration when choosing this material. It’s always best to weigh the pros and cons in order to make the most informed decision possible.
While synthetic lawns don’t need to be watered or cut like natural grass, there are those who say that they do need to be disinfected on a regular basis. Natural turf is far better at breaking down certain types of pathogens than artificial turf is. On the plus side, there are varieties of microbes that you’re less likely to find in fake grass as compared to real grass.
Artificial turf can be harder on the skin than natural grass. Those who play sports (or simply play) that involve any sliding or other friction with the ground can find themselves with burns or abrasions from the contact. This can be particularly serious, as injuries received from artificial turf have been shown to have a higher risk of MRSA infection. Luckily, some of the latest artificial grasses are being made with polyethylene yarn, which is soft enough to eliminate this issue. Athletes and kids alike should still be aware that artificial grass will generally reach much higher temperatures in direct sunlight than natural grass will.