Evaluation of Playing Surface Characteristics
of Various In-Filled Systems

Andrew S. McNitt, The Pennsylvania State University
Dianne Petrunak, The Pennsylvania State University

Surface hardness (gmax) of infill systems determined with the Clegg Impact Tester prior to and after grooming¹.
Treatment 2005 2006
Gmax²
26 May 29 Jul 23 Aug 19 Sept 6 Oct 20 Apr 6 Jul 14 Aug 25 Aug 26 Sep³ 25 Oct³

¹Grooming of wear and no wear plots occurred on 5 and 9 Aug 2005.
²Surface hardness was measured using a Clegg Impact Tester equipped with a 2.25 kg hammer.
³3Data collected in plot areas with extreme wear (in tractor tire tracks).
426 May testing performed prior to any wear in 2005. 29 Jul testing performed after wear simulating 96 games. 23 Aug testing performed after grooming. 19 Sep testing performed after wear simulating 4 games after grooming. 7 Sep testing performed after wear simulating 8 games after grooming. 13 Sep testing performed after wear simulating 12 games after grooming. 6 Oct testing performed after wear simulating 32 games after grooming. 20 April testing performed prior to any wear in 2006. 6 Jul and14 Aug testing performed after wear simulating 108 games. 25 Aug testing performed after grooming.
NR = Not Rated in 2006.
No Wear
Astroplay 40.3 39.2 41.6 40.6 42.1 NR NR NR NR NR NR
Astroturf 94.6 76.5 75.6 77.7 74.8 74.0 67.3 82.3 80.4 -- --
Experimental 47.2 46.0 48.9 54.9 53.5 NR NR NR NR NR NR
Fieldturf 60.4 56.0 56.9 59.6 63.2 60.0 57.1 62.3 55.1 -- --
Geoturf 71.4 63.9 63.0 65.2 63.8 NR NR NR NR NR NR
Nexturf 39.6 35.4 36.7 37.3 38.8 NR NR NR NR NR NR
Omnigrass 41 46.7 47.8 50.3 49.4 51.3 49.5 50.6 49.9 47.3 -- --
Omnigrass 51 34.9 37.8 38.4 38.5 40.3 40.1 42.7 40.0 36.9 -- --
Sofsport 58.8 55.0 58.8 57.3 57.8 56.5 62.5 58.5 58.3 -- --
Sprintturf 65.0 57.5 65.3 67.9 66.7 62.4 51.0 68.3 66.9 -- --
Wear4
Astroplay 48.1 46.7 50.2 49.8 49.4 NR NR NR NR NR NR
Astroturf 80.3 89.1 87.1 84.5 83.6 78.6 78.9 93.8 90.0 90.1 88.5
Experimental 51.6 52.2 53.0 60.5 57.1 NR NR NR NR NR NR
Fieldturf 68.0 60.2 63.6 67.9 63.5 65.1 66.9 70.6 65.5 81.5 76.7
Geoturf 75.2 70.3 71.2 71.1 69.7 NR NR NR NR NR NR
Nexturf 40.8 40.2 40.7 41.2 42.6 NR NR NR NR NR NR
Omnigrass 41 53.4 59.0 58.9 58.6 59.2 58.0 62.8 62.4 58.7 68.9 59.4
Omnigrass 51 40.0 44.8 45.8 47.7 47.0 49.0 53.2 52.3 45.1 57.2 48.0
Sofsport 61.1 61.8 61.7 63.0 62.9 60.8 70.2 63.5 62.8 70.8 71.3
Sprintturf 68.9 69.7 69.5 75.1 71.6 66.4 63.8 77.2 78.0 85.6 86.6
LSD (p=0.05) 7.0 1.4 1.7 1.0 1.3 3.9 2.8 8.6 3.0 9.1 10.6

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