Astro Turf vs. Grass…….
Are you serious….you guys and girls need to get your head out of the gutters. I’m talking about Artificial Turf vs. Real Grass. I’m gonna do a quick head to head comparison between the two; their similarities, differences, even yes…. people’s opinion.
Artificial Turf, ie: Astro Turf, was first used in the 60’s at the Houston AstroDome. Obviously grass has been around for ever and I don’t know nor am I gonna look up where it was first discovered.
Astro Turf can obviously take a beating. It is used in almost every sport where grass is played on. Astro Turf can be subjected to the heat of summer. On hot days, Astro Turf will sometimes give off a burning smell of rubber. On a plus side, Astro Turf requires little to no maintenance to sustain viability. Whereas grass obviously is ripped and torn and must be replaced. Which lead me to my next point….Grass must be replaced when ripped and torn, but so do the ligaments in your outfielders ankles.
Astro Turf has been linked to numerous sports related injuries. Most common are the “rug burns,” but more seriously, is seems athletes’ bodies are subjected to more wear and tear when playing on Astro Turf. Although injuries have been reported while playing on Astro Turf, science has progressed, and given it a grassier (I don’t even know if that’s a word) feel with more give.
Public opinion is mixed about the use of Artificial Surfaces. My personal feeling is sports were meant to be played outside on a fresh cut lawn. I think in the cost cutting future, our communities school corporations, sports arenas, and various venues, will go the way of the dollar. What is going to be more cost effective over the long haul? Re-sodding the field after a rainy night in October where your field is covered in mud, it finally dries out enough to cut the grass (which you have done 38 times since August 1st), and then repaint your hash marks.
I think we all know the answer, and I fully understand cost benefit, but everywhere from high schools to the pros are going the way of Astro Turf. I just believe in a few things and one of those things is this….
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It depends on what you are talking about. Boobies real, turf fake. It lasts longer and its not the 60s artificial turf. Today’s “field turf” has the same effect on athletes as a natural surface and less cost over the long term.