A Question About Turf

[lifer]

I'm watching the Lions/Riders game on TSN right now and just saw Paris Jackson make a diving catch. The parts of him that were dragging kicked up a brown substance into the air. I've seen this happen at Rogers Center too on its turf, as well as many other ball parks that use the new turf. So here's my question to anybody who has played on it or would know from any other experience: Is that dirt? If so, why do they have dirt on artificial turf?
Thanks in advance.

[ken0042]

It's black rubber. Added for the realistic effect that you describe.

And because Winnipeg's is older you may not have seen as much in that game.

[lifer]

Thanks Ken. Rubber eh? Is there enough of it that it serves any kind of protective purpose too?

[ken0042]

No, but it is engineered to be softer.

Making a diving catch at McMahon 5 years ago it felt like I had just landed on something hard. I haven't had a chance to play on the new turf, but I have walked across it. It's definitely softer; ie as soft as natural turf.

[lifer]

thanks. I always figured that hurt like a bugger to dive on some of that old astro-turf on foodball fields and ball stadiums. It looked like a thin, green carpet thrown on top of a parking lot.

I wonder if the NLL ever considered switching to this new stuff.

[browna]

Softer, and, combined with a little bit longer thread, (as opposed to green industrial, no pile style carpet used previously) the rubber fill also allows the turf to "give" a bit more then the old turf, meaning not as many twisted knees and broken ankles, as players feet no longer get as "stuck" like they did with carpet.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by lifer

thanks. I always figured that hurt like a bugger to dive on some of that old astro-turf on foodball fields and ball stadiums. It looked like a thin, green carpet thrown on top of a parking lot.

I wonder if the NLL ever considered switching to this new stuff.

It's a permanent field, not something you can just roll in. It actually goes a few inches deep I believe.

It's softer, feels like real grass, takes away water much faster than regular grass and dirt and even when wet it isn't very slippery.

[lifer]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

It's a permanent field, not something you can just roll in. It actually goes a few inches deep I believe.

It's softer, feels like real grass, takes away water much faster than regular grass and dirt and even when wet it isn't very slippery.

How would they manage that in a place like Rogers Center where it needs to have a different appearance and dimensional configuration for football and baseball? I imagine that it would be a permanent set up underneath, and just a different top layer. That would make sense to me, and it would explain why the NLL doesn't use it.

[worth]

NLL doesn't use it because they don't have enough money.

I believe it cost $1 million to install at McMahon. I doubt any NLL team could afford that. Maybe a couple of the teams that sell out every game like a Colorado.

[Julio]

Worth, the NLL doesn't use fieldturf for a fairly simple reason...they already have an official turf supplier, Sportexe.
http://www.sportexe.com/dieterturf_turf.htm
As for using any sort of infill turf system for indoor stadia, it wouldn't work for the simple reason that the turf isn't left in place, but instead is rolled up after each use and stored. Imagine how many little pellets would be on the ice @ the Dome after the turf would be rooled up after a 'Necks game!

[Bill Bumface]

Plus how well would a lacrosse ball bounce off of turf?

I thought there was sand in the mix too, and that was mostly what you saw flying up all the time.

[ricoFlame]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Plus how well would a lacrosse ball bounce off of turf?

I thought there was sand in the mix too, and that was mostly what you saw flying up all the time.

well, it works well for field lacrosse: http://www.fieldturf.com/lacrosse/index.cfm

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by lifer

How would they manage that in a place like Rogers Center where it needs to have a different appearance and dimensional configuration for football and baseball? I imagine that it would be a permanent set up underneath, and just a different top layer. That would make sense to me, and it would explain why the NLL doesn't use it.

actually what some stadiums have been known to do is lay it in panels that actually roll onto the playing surface. They are interlocked and seamless so really you can remove it or put it in with some minimal effort. Like putting lego blocks together