NATURAL BOUNCE - DOES IT REALLY MATTER?

Think of it this way. You are working on your chip shot, and the synthetic turf you are playing on will just not receive the ball smoothly. No matter how accurate the shot is, the ball bounces and slides off the back of the green—for the fifth time. As an avid golfer, you can already tell that this green is of inferior quality.

Superior Quality artificial golf green features should include these priority reactions:

• Natural golf ball bounce
• Accurate reaction to aim
• True directional roll
• Predictable playability

The key here is to have the artificial turf respond as naturally as traditional grass. As soon as your ball touches the green, you can tell if you’re playing on top-notch turf or not. If you’re hitting a chip shot, you should be able to predict it will be received by the grass correctly, bounce naturaly, and roll as expected.

If these major features aren’t present, how could you realistically improve your putt consistency or chipping accuracy?

THE SCIENCE OF TURF BOUNCE

The difference in the bounce between natural and synthetic grass comes from the properties of the turf 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 utilizing base, pad, sand, and fibers to attain like performance metrics. By understanding natural green absorption, spin, and friction, Southwest Greens has been able to utilize a mix of these materials to absorb shots, spin on impact, and customize speed.

HOW WE ANALYZE GRASS AT SOUTHWEST GREENS

To make certain you’re obtaining an optimal reaction from our artificial turf, we carry out many experiments, but here are the major ones you should know about.

BOUNCE TEST

Tru Firm: Measure the shift of the surface to check how the surface impact 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: State of-the-art device that recreates natural spin. Create a standard and quantify the surface interaction to check how the friction of the ground changes ball spin will translate to performance.

THE SOUTHWEST GREENS DIFFERENCE

We have been able to quantify key performance indicators to give your golf game fantastic results. By understanding what variables affect performance, we can recreate natural greens.

We created testing methods to better understand what variables actually impact performance. Spin, firmness, and bounce were judged utilizing a combination of GSGA testing protocols and proprietary testing methods. These tests tries to recreate normal shot and surface interactions.

At Southwest Greens, we are experts in the art of installation to provide the finest playing surface available. This is how we create our grass:

SUBGRADE

Depending on where you call home, the dirt may differ in properties all the way from sand to clay to rock. A professional who is installing the synthetic grass takes this into account, with a foundation created to support proper drainage.

AGGREGATE BASE

Stone is employed on top of the subgrade (ground) to help drainage and provide a permit to a properly constructed surface. It is essential that the aggregate be constructed and compacted to valid depths. Specifically for golf uses, a second shaping aggregate is added to build undulations and breaks.

BACKING

Synthetic grass is developed by stitching the fiber through multi-layer backing. The backing, in turn, is covered with high-quality polyurethane to maintain the stitches.

INFILL

Essential to the turf system, the infill is developed from rounded washed silica. Infill yields ballast, aids 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 construction creates an impact on the ground interaction with the golf ball and surface aesthetics.

Check out this installation video to get a grasp how we determine the correct infill layers and synthetic grass 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 vary quite a bit from ordinary yard grass. Base work, cup placement, undulations, and turf selections are all important features of a synthetic 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 premium-grade synthetic turf with the look, touch, and consistency of natural grass. It’s the turf preferred by novices and expert golfers for their homes. In simple terms — it’s the most precise playing surface accessible on the market today. Golden Bear is the perfect pick for more consistency and improved predictability. Although installed with golf in mind, this long-lasting, high-quality grass is also attractive and can offer backyard serenity.

The alliance with Southwest Greens and Nicklaus Design started in 2004 and has matured significantly through the years in both design and grass engineering. All buyers can benefit from custom-designed golf greens installed by authorized Southwest Greens vendors. Now everyone can take part in best-in-class integration of professional design, installation, and Golden Bear exclusive turf products.

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

Our Golden Bear Turf gives you championship-level bounce right in your own garden. Scientifically manufactured and examined to have 20-25% more ball retention than other leading artificial turf for real playability. Connect with Southwest Greens of Augusta if you have more questions about the science.

LET’S SEARCH FOR YOUR BACKYARD PUTTING GREEN

We’re ready to help you find the best solution for your backyard putting green. Connect with us when you’re ready to initiate your project.

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