Shaw Sports Turf designs surfaces for the optimal athletic performance. [Photo: Courtesy of Shaw Sports Turf]
Philipe Aldahir didn’t start out as a synthetic turf expert. In fact, for most of his early career, his expertise was in natural grass, which is often thought of as the opposing team in the sports field industry. But what Aldahir has learned as the director of research and innovation at Shaw Sports Turf is that natural grass isn’t always the best pick for a high-performing sports field. Here, he explains why turf stands out.
There are three major components to consider when designing any sports field. Number one, it needs to be safe; number two, playable; and number three, aesthetically pleasing. There are many ways that we can achieve that with Shaw Sports Turf systems.
On the safety side, there are a variety of metrics we track. We have one patent-pending playability assessment that tests the metrics of the field and determines how safe and playable it is. It takes into consideration impact tests, which are a metric related to concussion, falls, and tackles. Performance parameters, such as traction, are also considered in that test.
[Photo: Courtesy of Shaw Sports Turf]
