Aritificial Turf vs Grass

[buckeye]

A local news channel here in Columbus did an article on field turf and the possible amplified affects that cause injuries. What is your opinion on the topic? Do you prefer grass or turf?

http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2015/10/29/columbus-ohio-the-trouble-with-turf-10-investigates-uncovers-impact-dangers.html

[johnnysama]

Well, while grass is still somewhat better, the artificial turfs of today are fast catching up with almost being like the real thing; and advances in such technology are still ongoing today. This isn't like 30 years ago, when most turfs were carpet-like in texture and feel.

[St Louis Cardinals]

There are some rumors going around that the little black tire pellets they put in turf, in ingested, can cause cancer. It's been showing up in goalkeepers (women) a lot. Personally I much prefer playing baseball on turf but that is just because the grass we usually play on is in pretty bad shape.

[2001mark]

Pete Rose (on the Jay & Dan podcast) said he actually preferred artificial turf because it was truer & more predictable.

[Gothamite]

Natural grass. Even the modern turfs are associated with increased injuries.

[ICTknight]

Turf. Easier to keep up and no hidden holes where I can tear my ACL. (Happened to my dad and almost to me a few times) I could give a damn about the cancer. Still gonna eat processed meat and play on turf.

[Gothamite]

Turf is associated with an increase in ACL injuries.

[ICTknight]

Oh well. Still prefer turf. Plus I think it looks better for field design.

[SFCOM1]

I umpire HS football in the Phoenix, AZ area. I have seen examples of both fields. A well maintained grass field is what I would prefer, though with advances in technology (as said in a previous post) field turf and next turf are gradually close. Only thing is that here in Phoenix, due to our summer heat the field turf fields have a nasty tendency to hold the heat much longer an a grass field. And with two HS fields with the actual grass used in SB 42 (Moon Valley HS) and SB 49 (Tolleson HS) both are holding up well even with our oppressive heat!

As for the rubber tire bits in the field turf fields. I have heard of that, but no substantiated cases have been discovered in Phoenix yet!

[Needschat]

I'll go with those who play on it: Soccer players, both men and women, prefer the real stuff over the fake.

[Jaffa]

I find artificial pitches to be harder on my legs, especially my knees. Mind, that may also be down to me being a decrepit old so-and-so.

[Almighty]

In this years MLB playoffs i noticed the stuff that bounced up when the ball hit the turf in Toronto, is that the same black rubber that is talked about could cauce cancer ?

[SFCOM1]

In this years MLB playoffs i noticed the stuff that bounced up when the ball hit the turf in Toronto, is that the same black rubber that is talked about could cauce cancer ?

Yes, though there has been no solid proof that the rubber pellets cause cancer. (I actually believe everything causes cancer, but who an I to be quoted)

[kevsim1]

After watching the Jays these playoffs on Fox, I never want to hear the word turf again.

[chcarlson23]

My high school has really nice grass for our football field. Our coach hates it when people go on it for no reason, and tear it up, so it's very well kept and I much prefer playing on good grass than turf. The turf causes lots of burns and gets really hot in the summer, and freezing cold in the late season. Although most big high schools in Minnesota like the turf, cause the snow kills the grass as it's under there half the year.

[KittSmith_95]

Grass. Why use something fake when it's not needed?

[Quillz]

I prefer natural grass, but there are certainly situations where you'd need artificial turf (domed stadium, location that doesn't offer much sunlight, etc.)

In this years MLB playoffs i noticed the stuff that bounced up when the ball hit the turf in Toronto, is that the same black rubber that is talked about could cauce cancer ?

I thought it was sand? I recall reading that SkyDome added sand infill some time back.

However, seems they are converting to natural grass by 2018. If that's the case, then that will leave only Tropicana Field as the only artificial turf stadium in baseball.

[BigBubba]

I prefer natural grass, but there are certainly situations where you'd need artificial turf (domed stadium, location that doesn't offer much sunlight, etc.)

In this years MLB playoffs i noticed the stuff that bounced up when the ball hit the turf in Toronto, is that the same black rubber that is talked about could cauce cancer ?

I thought it was sand? I recall reading that SkyDome added sand infill some time back.

They switched to a more rubber-based one this year.

[jc...]

It's a shame that grass has to be referred to as, "natural grass."

[NJTank]

To me baseball grass is ideal and football field turf is better

When asked what he preferred Grass or Astroturf

Tug McGraw said I never smoked Astroturf.