surface

Research

Predictability: The Foundation for ALL Sports Surfaces

When athletes step onto a field, whether they are elite professionals or grassroots players, they expect one thing above all else: trust in the surface beneath them. Different sports require specific surface characteristics such as defined traction, ball properties, and shock absorption. Yet across all ages, abilities, and disciplines, one factor consistently emerges as essential for both performance and safety: predictability. Extensive biomechanical research and independent player studies have demonstrated that the…

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

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…

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

Grass & Turf: Approach to Maximising Playability

The video below demonstrates the difference in how grass and turf respond to intensive use, simulating the equivalent of 8 full matches over a typical weekend (4 on Saturday, 4 on Sunday). While the grass surface visibly degrades and becomes increasingly unplayable, the turf retains its performance characteristics throughout, showing no meaningful change in playability. This is not a criticism of grass. Rather, it highlights the growing need for a more flexible, resilient…

Article

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…