“Deflategate,” the scandal that alleged the New England Patriots deflated footballs to gain advantage over the Indianapolis Colts during the 2014 AFC Championship game, highlighted deflated footballs. Yet football fans should know, there are several factors that can help or hinder a football player or the game, including the kind of field teams play on.
There is much more to a field than simply bearing a team’s name or the city they represent. There is a science to field turf, and various kinds of turf yield various results.
Traditionally, football fields used a variety of grasses, but with the invention of man-made turf, natural grasses were replaced on many football fields. Artificial turf eliminated grass maintenance and upkeep and also allowed many games to be played regardless of weather or conditions.
Here are five common types of football field turf and how they differ from one another.
Natural grass
Research continues on natural turfgrasses, seeking varieties that provide a tough playing surface that can stand up to the rigors of football and other field sports. In general, grasses like Kentucky bluegrass, Bermudagrass or a combination of various types are used for football fields. While natural grass requires significant resources in manpower, water, fertilizer and pest control, it remains a viable choice in fields ranging from recreational to NFL stadiums.
AstroTurf
AstroTurf, the pioneer of synthetic turf, is said to be one of the most iconic brands in American sports. USA Today said the turf surface was invented in 1966. AstroTurf is said to be very hard with little padding and no flexibility to the surface, so its use in U.S. professional sports arenas was discontinued in 2009, USA Today reported.
FieldTurf
FieldTurf, one of the newer artificial turf surfaces, is made to mimic natural grass. FieldTurf is made with polyethylene blades up to 3/4-inch tall and a mix of crushed tires, or crumb rubber, to soften the surface. This “grass” also reduces skin friction and abrasions, and offers superior durability, high resilience and temperature stability.
AstroPlay
AstroPlay is a surface made by the makers of AstroTurf. The surface of AstroPlay is very similar to FieldTurf, except AstroPlay uses only a rubber base instead of crushed sand and rock. AstroPlay can also be embedded with antimicrobial technology. AstroPlay is used on a variety of professional soccer and NFL football fields.
Matrix Turf
Matrix Turf artificial blades are made in several lengths and shapes and installed with a silica pea gravel base, which is designed to increase cushioning and shock absorption. Matrix Turf is said to have undergone decades of in-depth research and intense testing to make it stronger and more reliable. This turf is used in the NFL Dallas Cowboys’ stadium and was installed in New Orleans’ Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for Superbowl XLVII’s 2013 NFL Experience event.
