Articles

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Which shockpad gives the highest ball bounce?

A simple question that reveals a surprisingly complex reality beneath the turf. Ball behaviour on hockey surfaces is far from linear. To demonstrate this, we tested three systems: 1️⃣ A rigid concrete laboratory floor 2️⃣ A 15 mm in situ rubber e-layer 3️⃣ A 10 mm closed-cell PE foam pad Most assume the rigid floor will always produce the highest bounce. Yet when tested across a range of drop heights, the…

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Impact testing for sports surfaces: what they tell us (and what they don’t)

When we talk about “how a surface feels” or “how safe it is,” we are really talking about impact mechanics. How energy is absorbed, transmitted, and returned when the body meets the surface. In practice, the sports surface industry relies on three main tiers of tests. Each provides useful information, but each answers a different question. Direct impact and compaction tools such as the Clegg hammer These are simple portable devices…

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The Rooster Tail! Spray of black rubber.

It may look dramatic in slow motion replays, a spray of black rubber erupting behind a tackle or a hard hit ball. But the “rooster tail” is not something we want to see from a well designed turf system. When there is too much infill in the turf system, the material becomes highly mobile. That leads to: Inconsistencies across the field as infill migrates from one area to another Uneven playing…

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Rethinking Ball Roll Testing in Soccer

Ball roll is one of the oldest tests we still use to evaluate playing surfaces. But do we ever stop to ask if it really reflects the game of soccer? The method dates back to the 1930s when it was developed for golf greens. Over the decades it has been adapted, and in many ways bastardised, into soccer testing. While the test has some merits, it should never be mistaken as…

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The Limits of Pile Height as a Defining Property for Turf

The Limits of Pile Height as a Defining Property for Turf In many discussions, turf systems are still defined by pile height, or more accurately pile length. While length is an important parameter, it is far from the sole determinant of turf functionality and, in many cases, not even the most influential. A turf system’s suitability for a given application arises from a wide set of interrelated properties that together shape…

ArticleResearch

Surface Temperature ≠ Heat Stress

During summer, the importance of surface choice in managing heat stress is more apparent than ever. Well-maintained natural grass remains the gold standard for thermal comfort. Its ability to cool itself through evapotranspiration, combined with high surface reflectivity and low thermal mass, provides a naturally regulated environment for sport and outdoor leisure. However, not every field can be irrigated or maintained at this level. To understand heat stress, it is important…

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Enhancing Urban Health Through Green Spaces

In densely populated urban environments access to play, sport and recreational spaces is not merely an aesthetic enhancement but a critical component of public health. Research consistently demonstrates that outdoor environments contribute to reduced stress levels, improved mood, and enhanced physical well-being. Turf surfaces in particular offer a sustainable and accessible solution to the scarcity of green spaces in urban areas. By providing safe, inviting, and functional outdoor environments, turf surfaces…

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From Mud to Mastery: The Transformation of Natural Grass Pitches

Over the past 30 years, natural grass football fields have undergone one of the most remarkable transformations in modern sport. In the 1980s and 1990s, even top-level stadiums regularly featured surfaces that were muddy, inconsistent, and unpredictable. Matches were often shaped as much by divots and ruts as by tactics and skill. It was common to see standing water in goalmouths, bare patches across midfield, and players sliding through thick mud.…

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When the Fields Are Closed, Everyone Loses

Fields provide one of the most valuable and accessible opportunities for people to play, move, and connect. But too often, they are closed when people need them most. Whether it is due to poor conditions, lack of maintenance, or limited water availability, natural fields are frequently taken out of service. When a field closes, the lost time cannot be recovered. Missed games, cancelled practices, and unused play hours mean fewer opportunities…

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Critical Fall Height & HIC: The Test that protects us

A child drops from the top rung of a climbing frame. A footballer is driven hard into the turf or grass in a last-ditch tackle. In both moments safety, injury, and risk are decided by the surface below. We engineer those surfaces and extensively test our products so the story ends with a quick smile, not lasting harm. 📊 The Science Critical Fall Height (CFH) – The highest point a person…

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Artificial Turf & Drainage: Debunking the Myths

I’m often asked how turf handles water. A surprising number of people still believe turf is impervious to water. This is simply not true Turf is engineered to drain water rapidly, often far exceeding the performance of natural grass or typical backyard surfaces. Most turf systems drain at tested and certified rates of hundreds of inches (thousands of mm) per hour. 🔍 Key Facts: 1. Exceptional Drainage Rates Turf systems have…

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Should female footballers play on different pitches?

Career-impacting injuries in professional female football players remain an under-researched challenge that demands much greater attention. Although promising work is underway, more holistic research is needed to fully understand the complexities. Notably, the linked BBC article on this topic whilst interesting overlooks several critical factors. One being the role of footwear – specifically, how studs, blades, and their configurations affect player-surface interaction. At TenCate, we’ve collaborated with professional female players to…