Frequently Asked Questions About Synthetic Grass & Infilled Systems

G-Max - A measurement used to determine energy absorption of materials. A low G-Max figure indicates more energy absorption, with a suggested maximum of no higher than 200 (based on a study by Andrew S. McNitt, The Pennsylvania State University ). Our CSTurf-I for indoor use has a G-Max rating of 89 and our CSTurf-O for outdoor use had an average Gmax of 76.

Infill Material - Consists of recycled rubber granules measuring from .5 to 1.5 mm in diameter. The higher the rubber granules layer, the better the shock absorption will be. Our products use 100% recycled rubber granules, with no sand, to prevent injuries.

Pile/Yarn - Consists of tufts of TenCate Thiolon XP Pro fibers forming the dense, grass-like surface of play with a uniform coefficient of traction. A high quality fiber will make the whole field surface play better, last longer, and withstand an enormous amount of athletic action without wearing prematurely. Also, a high quality fiber should have ample UV rays resistance and maintain its original color for many years.

Pile Weight - The pile weight shows you how much fiber weight you get per square yard. The higher the number the more fibers you get and the more fiber you get the better the quality of the system. More fiber weight means that the system will look, perform and feel like plush natural grass. Also, the denser fibers will tend to fold over the rubber granules when played on to keep the rubber granules in place and prevent them from migrating all over the field.

Primary Backing - Consists of woven polypropylene and/or other fabrics into which the pile is tufted. The quality of backing can be measured by the weight of the material and how many layers it consists of.

Secondary Backing - Consists of impermeable, inert urethane compound applied to the underside of the primary backing. When treated with heat it fuses the tufts of pile fabric to the primary backing. To measure how good the backing is try pulling on the fiber and see if you can pull one out. If you can, you need to look at another system. Weak backings can contribute to your field "balding" over the years as more and more fibers are pulled out during play. Backing strength and tuft bind can be measured by looking at how many ounces per square yard there are and, of course, the higher the better.

Tufted Pile Height - The height of the fibers when it is installed on the field. Higher fibers allow for more rubber granules to be packed into the system thus providing a superior shock absorbing action. You can also expect a longer life because only the tips are exposed to UV rays.

Tufting - A mechanical process by which units of fiber are uniformly inserted into a suitable woven backing fabric.

Yarn Denier - Denier is the number of grams in a 9,000 meters yarn strand. In layman's terms - how much material goes into making a strand of fiber or one blade. Higher denier means more density. More density means better quality and longevity.