Artificial Turf
A synthetic playing surface of manufactured grass-like fibres, used as an all-weather alternative to natural grass for football, hockey and other field sports.
Definition
Artificial turf is a manufactured surface of plastic fibres tufted into a backing to imitate grass, usually with an infill of sand and rubber granules that supports the fibres and cushions the surface. It is valued for durability and consistency: it drains quickly, tolerates heavy use and does not wear into mud, making it common on training grounds, indoor arenas, hockey pitches and padel courts.
Modern generations are described by labels such as "3G" and "4G", and the surface behaves differently from grass — the ball can run faster and truer, and footing varies with the infill. Elite field hockey is now played almost entirely on water-based or sand-dressed artificial turf. AstroTurf is a well-known brand name often used generically for the whole category.
Scope: The surface material; 'AstroTurf' is a trademark used loosely for the whole synthetic-turf category.
Where you’ll hear “artificial turf”
Sports that use this term:
Football
The world’s most popular team sport — endless running, teamwork and community in one game.
Field Hockey
An outdoor team sport that uses curved sticks to move a ball, built on agility and teamwork.
Padel
A sociable, doubles-first racquet sport played in an enclosed court where the walls stay in play.
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Playing surfaces
- Artificial turfSynthetic grass, often filled with sand or rubber, that gives a firm, even, all-weather surface. It plays faster and truer than worn natural grass.
- GrassNatural turf grown on soil — the traditional surface for many field sports and, in tennis, a fast court with a low, skiddy bounce.
- Synthetic trackAn all-weather rubberised athletics running surface — firm, springy and high-grip — giving sprinters and distance runners fast, consistent, predictable footing.
Facilities
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- Content type
- Term
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
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- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-09-01
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