performance

Article

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…

Article

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…

ResearchTesting

Grip, Traction, & Cleat Release

In our latest round of player testing, we’ve taken a deep dive into the biomechanics of cleat release, often simply thought of as grip or friction, between the athlete and the surface. Using a suite of high-end sensors, IMUs, and high-speed video analysis, we’ve measured cleat release down to the millimeter. We worked with a diverse group of players (N = 300); male and female, elite and amateur, and tested under…

Article

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…

Article

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.…

Research

Recoil and Foot Stability: A Critical Difference

Foot stability is fundamental to athlete performance, yet it is often overlooked in surface design. One of the key contributors to instability is recoil. Natural grass provides exceptional foot stability with minimal recoil. The surface allows athletes to plant, pivot, and push off with confidence and control. This stability is not accidental. It is the result of a surface that absorbs impact in a controlled way without returning disruptive energy back…

Article

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…

Research

Understanding Player-Surface Grip

Biomechanical Complexity, Surface Design, and the Limitations of Current Testing Standards Grip between a Football or Soccer player’s footwear and the playing surface is one of the most critical factors in performance, comfort and safety. Scientifically, grip is defined using metrics such as the coefficient of friction, shear force, translational traction, and torsional resistance. These terms attempt to quantify how well the player can push off, stop, and change direction safely…