NATURAL BOUNCE - WHY YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT IT

Picture this. You are practicing your chip shot, and the artificial putting green you are playing on will just not receive the ball accurately. No matter how perfect the shot is, the ball bounces and rolls off the back of the green—for the third time. As an enthusiastic golfer, you can recognize that this green is of inferior quality.

Quality synthetic golf green attributes should include these priority reactions:

• Realistic golf ball bounce
• Precise reaction to aim
• True directional roll
• Predictable playability

The key here is to have the synthetic turf behave as naturally as organic turf. As soon as your ball touches the green, you can tell if you’re playing on superior-quality turf or not. If you’re hitting a chip shot, you should be able to predict it will be received by the turf correctly, bounce appropriately, and roll as planned.

If these important characteristics are missing, how could you expect to improve your putt consistency or chipping accuracy?

THE SCIENCE BEHIND TURF BOUNCE

The difference in the bounce between natural and artificial turf comes from the properties of the grass and how it absorbs the kinetic energy of the bounce.

Let’s explore the science.

Bounce, Aim, Roll
The Golden Bear system mimics natural greens by employing base, pad, sand, and fibers to achieve comparable performance metrics. By understanding natural green absorption, spin, and friction, Southwest Greens has been able to utilize a combination of these materials to absorb shots, spin on impact, and customize speed.

HOW WE ANALYZE TURF AT SOUTHWEST GREENS

To ensure you’re provided with an optimal reaction from our synthetic turf, we carry out many experiments, but here are the major ones you should be aware of.

BOUNCE TEST

Tru Firm: Evaluate the shift of the surface to check how the surface effect energy transfer.

Bounce: Proprietary device that mimics natural pitch shot approach angle and spin. This will create a standard and quantify the surface interaction which allows us to understand how the surface will accept a pitch shot.

Spin: Advanced machinery that simulates natural spin. Standardize and quantify the surface interaction to take samples of how the friction of the surface changes ball spin will translate to performance.

THE SOUTHWEST GREENS DIFFERENCE

We have been successful in quantifying key performance indicators to give your golf game fantastic results. By understanding what variables affect performance, we can replicate natural greens.

We identified test methods to learn what variables actually effect performance. Spin, firmness, and bounce were evaluated employing a blend of GSGA testing protocols and proprietary testing methods. These evaluations replicate normal shot and surface interactions.

At Southwest Greens, we are experts in the art of installation to provide the best playing surface available. This is how we manufacture our turf:

SUBGRADE

Taking into account where you live, the dirt may vary from sand to clay to rock. Properly installed artificial grass takes this into account, with a base created to promote proper drainage.

AGGREGATE BASE

Stone is utilized on top of the subgrade (ground) to assist in drainage and allow for a properly constructed surface. It is imperative that the aggregate be constructed and compacted to valid depths. For golf uses, a second shaping aggregate is added to build undulations and breaks.

BACKING

Artificial turf is developed by sewing the fiber through multi-layer backing. The backing, in turn, is covered with high-grade polyurethane to preserve the stitches.

INFILL

Crucial to the turf system, the infill is developed from rounded washed silica. Infill yields ballast, assists with drainage, and has influence on the key bounce indicators.

TURF FIBER

Extruded, PP/PE/ Nylon come in a large number of constructions, colors, and lengths. Fabrics and product composition directly impacts on the surface interaction with the golf ball and surface aesthetics.

Check out this installation video to understand how we identify the appropriate infill layers and artificial green surfaces for your circumstances.

FIND YOUR TURF

Are you searching for a product where a chip shot will land, bounce, roll, stop, and react as comparably to a real golf green as possible?

Residential putting greens differ quite a bit from standard lawn grass. Base work, cup placement, undulations, and turf selections are all essential features of an artificial golf green that adds value to your game, family, and home, all while lowering maintenance costs.

Consider one of our fan favorites: Golden Bear Turf

Golden Bear is our highest-grade synthetic grass with the appearance, feel, and consistency of regular grass. It’s the turf favored by beginners and professional golfers for their homes. In simple terms — it’s the most accurate playing surface obtainable on the market today. Golden Bear is a great pick for more consistency and better predictability. Although constructed with golf in mind, this long-lasting, high-quality turf is also pretty and can provide garden serenity.

The collaboration with Southwest Greens and Nicklaus Design started in 2004 and has improved noticeably through the years in both design and turf engineering. All buyers can take advantage of custom-designed golf greens installed by certified Southwest Greens dealers. Now everyone can participate in superior integration of professional design, installation, and Golden Bear exclusive turf products.

Golden Bear Turf is rated highest in quality, look, and performance for artificial turf products. This high-quality artificial grass bounces, rolls, and receives just like a championship course. Shot after shot, Golden Bear has the most accurate aim of any putting surface. Playability is so real you will feel like you’re playing out on a local Toronto course.

Our Golden Bear Turf gives you championship-level bounce right in your own yard. Scientifically manufactured and tested to have 20-25% more ball retention than other leading artificial turf for real playability. Get in touch with Southwest Greens Ontario if you want to know more about the science.

LET’S FIND YOUR BACKYARD PUTTING GREEN

We’re ready to help you find the right solution for your backyard putting green. Contact us when you are ready to start your project.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in March 2021 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.