Definition:
Artificial turf is a synthetic fiber that is very much similar to the natural grass. It is mostly used in sports that were usually played on grass. the team of Research Triangle Park researchers were the first who created the artificial turf.
Applications:
It is used in various sports like Baseball, American Football, Field Hockey, Association Football, Rugby, Tennis, Golf, Landscaping and recently in 2015 Women’s World Cup.
Its usage has completely changed the face of sports and was first used in Major League Baseball in the Houston Astrodome in the year 1966, and field started utilizing since its introduction in the 1970s. Competitions in western countries are now hardly played on the natural grass and artificial surfaces are employed.
The Women’s World Cup 2015 also played completely on artificial surfaces in Canada. The reason being as the event was played in Canada, where almost all of the country’s stadiums use artificial turf due to climate issues.
Benefits of Artificial Turf:
- Saves Water:
Water is life for all the living organisms. An average grass playing field consumes about 50,000 gallons of water every week during its growing season.
Just imagine how much amount of water can be saved by utilizing the artificial grass? Yes, using it actually saves in a lot of water.
- Reduces the number of Injuries:
It is very much beneficial to the players on the field. This helps the players by reducing the number of injuries caused and play more number of sports.
They can avoid instances like twisted ankles from potholes, uneven playing surface, slips in the mud.
Less the injuries ∝ more the player can be on-field
- Easy to Maintain:
These turfs are easy to maintain and are not so expensive when compared to the natural grass. In short, they’re very much budget friendly in nature.
Playing sports on the lawn cannot damage the grass and gets easily dried if by chance there is rain or usage of water for cleaning it.
- Pesticide Free:
Natural grass requires the usage of pesticides and fertilizers for the treatment. But all this is not needed in the artificial turf.
One need not spend time on pulling out weeds, purchasing precious fertilizers and weed killers, etc.
- Augmented Playability:
The state that is apt for being played. One can play without the fear of either wounds or cancellation of matches because of abrupt rains.
It doesn’t need any irrigation or trimming. Therefore, turfs are the best for playing.
Kinds of Turf:
Some types of football turfs are as follows:
- Matrix Turf:
Matrix Turf is an artificial turf which is manufactured in Austin, Texas. It is used in the NFL Dallas Cowboys’ stadium and was installed in New Orleans’ Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for Superbowl XLVII’s 2013 NFL Experience event.
- Field Turf:
Fieldturf is the most accepted among all kind of turfs and is used extensively in athletic fields and stadiums. Underneath the field, it uses a base of crushed stones and drainage pipes.
- AstroTurf:
The original AstroTurf product was a short-pile synthetic turf and the major reason to incorporate AstroTurf on game fields was to keep away from the cost of laying natural turf, especially indoors.
