SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/49194
No question about it: an artificial turf surface (when built well) will drain beautifully and have a deep, green color without the wear at the baseline and in other spots common to natural grass courts. ferred to the roof deck. They are loose-laid so construction joints are easily tended to. Because the finished weight is between 3 and 5 pounds, there is sufficient ballast so the courts do not lift. Also in situations where there is moisture, the courts are not affected by hydrostatic pressure or damage from moisture release from the pavement." One of the charms of infilled turf sys- tems for tennis courts is that they can be laid over existing asphalt or concrete pave- ments, allowing for reconstruction of badly weathered or cracked courts. It is essential to note, however, that a turf court is only as good as the pavement it is laid on; there- fore, a cracked pavement must be leveled to insure planarity. If it is not, the turf will wear unevenly and the cracking will be visi- ble as uneven areas in the playing surface. Once that type of wear becomes apparent, the surface must be completely replaced; resurfacing is not a possibility. "The newer arena we now consider in the national turf marketplace is the munici- pal, cracked hard court market. Some of these entities, like boroughs, swim clubs and townships may not have the funding to repair hard courts. They now do consider synthetic turf for these areas for tennis and soccer surfaces for youth," adds Rob Werner. "Also, with the USTA QuickStart format, synthetic turf will be a great market to retrofit smaller kids' areas, and to provide portable, rollout turfs as a solution for park- ing lot areas. It's easy to install and to use for other sports, including golf." According to Burke, a synthetic turf ten- nis court surface provides an enjoyable ex- perience, and can be adjusted to provide the type of play the owner wants it to have. "Generally, most players enjoy the com- fort of play," he states. "The surface pro- vides great shock attenuation. Most of the shock from impact is not returned to the body. Because the surface is loose granules, there is great foot release without foot-lock. There are three basic options for playability: First, a tight nap, short pile with the infill www.stma.org SportsTurf 27 below the tip of the fiber for a quick grass court type play. Second, a more open pile with sand just below the tip of the fiber for a medium-paced play. Third, a shorter pile with a colored infill over the top of the fibers for a clay court slide and slow play." But according to the book, Tennis Courts: A Construction and Maintenance Manual, adjustments have to take place on the part of the athlete as well: "Players sometimes complain that the in- filled turf surface is so unique that it requires a considerable adjustment to their game. Also, unless the surface is well-groomed, any imbalance of fill will result in irregular ball bounce and non-uniform traction." As with turf facilities used for other sports, there are multiple advantages, in- cluding the ability to permanently line the facility for play, and not needing mowing or weeding. There are also the disadvantages including the warmer playing surface, the need to keep the turf clean of impurities, and the higher cost to repair damages caused by improper use, vandalism, etc. And while NFL players have been surveyed regarding their preferences of natural vs. synthetic fields, tennis players have never been given such a poll, so player opinion data isn't available. MAINTENANCE: THE COMMON DENOMINATOR No question about it: an artificial turf surface (when built well) will drain beauti- fully and have a deep, green color without the wear at the baseline and in other spots common to natural grass courts. But like its natural counterpart, it's not going to stay in peak form without work on the part of the owner. Preseason maintenance will include