Last Updated on September 26, 2022 by ReTurf
Artificial turf can be used for a variety of sports and hobbies, including everything from batting cages to R/C tracks. Whether installed at home or at a commercial facility, artificial turf provides a consistent surface that can be used for numerous activities.
And, because it’s easy to clean and maintain, it’s a great option for high-traffic areas—as well as places where you don’t want to have to worry about damaging or messing up other types of flooring.
Here are 5 creative ways you can use artificial turf to build the perfect environment for your favorite activities:
Indoor Sports Fields
Turf can also be used to create an indoor sports field. This is a great option for sports that are typically played outdoors but can be adapted to an indoor setting, such as soccer, football, and lacrosse.
Of course, you don’t need to be building a stadium or installing a full-sized regulation sports field to use artificial turf—you could simply use it to create an indoor training or practice space in your home or garage. Wouldn’t your kids—or your pets!—love having their own little field to play on when the weather outside is gloomy?
(And wouldn’t you love not having to worry about the mess they’re making since artificial turf is durable and easy to clean?)
Gym Flooring
Turf can be used as flooring for indoor gyms and sports facilities. It is a popular choice for both home and commercial gyms because it is easy to clean and maintain, and provides a consistent surface.
It’s also durable and easy to clean, making it ideal for high-traffic areas like gyms and weight rooms. Unlike some other types of common gym surfaces such as low-pile carpet, tile, and wood flooring, artificial turf can be more cushioned and shock-absorbent to better protect athletes from injury.
Indoor sports facilities, arenas, and stadiums may also use turf as surfacing, or in sections where there is a high amount of foot traffic. The turf is combined with other materials such as rubber infill to create a more durable, shock-absorbent surface.
Batting Cages
Batting cages are another common application for artificial turf. When building a batting cage, indoors or out, artificial turf keep the ball clean and dry, and provides a consistent surface for hitters and throwers to train upon. Artificial turf can be installed in a batting cage to minimize wear from spikes/cleats and to protect the base of the cage from impact.
For indoor or outdoor batting cages, turf can also provide a realistic surface, as the ball will react similarly on turf as it would on natural grass. This is helpful for training purposes as it provides hitters with a surface that more closely resembles game conditions.
Naturally, artificial turf also provides resistance to insects and reduced exposure to allergens.
There are many types of artificial turf available, so it’s important to choose a turf that is designed for the specific application. Professionally-installed artificial turf systems for batting cages can be durable enough to withstand years of heavy use, and can be customized to fit the unique dimensions of the space. If exposure to rain is an issue, the artificial turf can be installed with an efficient drainage system to ensure that water is quickly removed from the cage.
Hobby / R/C Racing Tracks
Artificial turf is often used as a secondary surface for R/C tracks because it provides a dynamic surface that is still easy to drive on. You can integrate artificial turf into your track design to create a more realistic and enjoyable experience.
Depending on the type of racing (i.e. on-road or off-road) you can choose a turf product with different levels of realism, traction, and shock absorption:
- If you’re using it as the grassy area next to a road course, for example, you’ll want to choose a turf that looks like grass but is still smooth enough to provide good traction for the cars.
- On the other hand, if you’re using turf to create an off-road track, you’ll want to choose a turf that has a more realistic texture and is durable enough to stand up to the rigors of off-road racing.
An Outdoor Dirt Track Utilizing Field Turf On Jumps
For an on-road to off-road track conversion, you can even create stretches and jumps out of artificial turf to add an extra element of fun and realism to your track, and open up new possibilities for racing.
Putting Greens
Golf lovers of all skill levels can enjoy practicing their putting on a turf green. Whether you’re an avid golfer or just enjoy putt-putt every now and then, artificial turf can be used to create a realistic and challenging putting green you can use any time—day or night—without having to worry about greens fees.
Artificial turf is often used to create home putting greens because it provides a true roll and consistent speed. It is also easy to maintain and can be used indoors or outdoors.
Whether outdoors or inside, a turf green is a great way to improve your game. (And they make a unique addition to a game room, a garage, a man cave—or even an office!)
Other Uses for Synthetic Grass
No matter what your sport or hobby, artificial turf can be a versatile and affordable surface to enhance your experience. Choose the right turf for your application to get the most out of your investment, and enjoy the benefits of a low-maintenance, consistent surface for years to come.
Of course, there are many other ways to use turf in sports and hobby applications than the 5 listed in this article. These are just a few of the most popular ways to use artificial turf, but there are countless other creative ways to put artificial turf to work.
Let your imagination run wild, and see what you can come up with—for any activity that requires a durable, low-maintenance surface, used field turf may be the perfect solution.
