P LACES
TURF MATTERS Synthetic turf, astroturf, artificial pitch, all-weather surface, 3G, 4G, – you’ve probably heard of all those. But what do they mean and what are the differences?
S
ynthetic sports pitches are a popular choice of surface across a range of sports in the UK – at both elite and grassroots level. The main reason is obvious: the
increased number of playing hours they offer clubs and facility operators, when compared to natural grass. On average, a synthetic turf pitch can be used up to 60 or even 80 hours per week (depending on maintenance and floodlighting), while in a worst-case scenario, a grass pitch can only take around 6 to 8 hours per week. In addition, synthetic surfaces remain playable during the winter months and in inclement weather while thousands of community grass pitches The near-guaranteed playing hours throughout the year means that synthetic pitches can also be a great revenue generator for grassroots clubs – and even smaller
© MCARDLE SPORT TEC
around the country become unplayable.
professional and semi-professional clubs. It’s no coincidence that in Scotland, 17 of the Scottish Professional Football League’s (SPFL) 42 clubs now use synthetic surfaces. But what are the different types of
Synthetic turf has been widely credited with turning hockey into a more dynamic sport
synthetic pitches and do the ones used for elite competition differ from grassroots
happened to be pioneers in what they
pitches? And how and why are the modern
did, so their brand names stuck as the
“3G” surfaces so much better than the
de facto description for products.
“plastic pitches” which were so derided just
It is also incorrect to describe any synthetic
a few decades ago? In short, what do you
sports pitch as “4G” – or 5G or 6G, for that
need to know if you want to install one?
matter. This is because the latest, third generation of synthetic sports pitches – or
52
How many Gs?
3G – all have something called “sports
First of all, let’s get some of the terminology
performance infills” in them. These are
right. Not all synthetic pitches are “astroturf”
often a rubber material, but sometimes
surfaces – just like not all vacuum cleaners
organic materials, such as cork, are also
are “hoovers”. Both Hoover and Astroturf
used. It isn’t until a synthetic sports pitch
SPORTSNATION.ORG.UK JUL/AUG 2022
