We spoke with Grassify about all things Artificial Grass Pitches:

Artificial Grass Pitches

What is a 3G pitch?

A wonderful alternative to real grass is becoming more and more popular these days: the 3G pitch artificial grass meets the FIFA, FA, IRB, RFU and RFL requirements of the football and rugby regulatory bodies in the UK.

How to install 3G Pitch?

The 3G pitch installation  includes excavation of existing site and the addition of sub base. The sub base used will depend on specification which can be an engineered or dynamic specification.

An engineered sub base consists of a compacted stone and macadam laid to the correct tolerances.

This will provide a stable base for the installation of shockpad and artificial grass surfacing.

A dynamic sub base consists of deeper base of compacted porous stone and a shape beforehand shockpad in preparation for the 3G pitch.

How to maintain 3G Pitches?

A routine  maintenance needs to be carried out for the 3G pitch in order to keep the surface clean and to avoid unnecessary damage.

Normal use might cause wear and tear of the carpet if it is not maintained properly, and the surface might get blocked and flooded if dirt and debris are not taken away.

Cleaning the artificial grass is very easy as it just needs a brush to keep the rubber and sand infill equally distributed this will also keep the playability even and consistent.

We recommend you check the area on a regular basis to confirm there is no damage on the carpet.

If something is wrong and you notice it soon, it will be easier to fix before it gets worse and you will also save money as it won’t turn into a more serious and expensive repair.

Artificial pitches costs

The latest 3G pitches are more affordable than ever. They remain soft during cold weather and they don’t freeze.

Every blade of artificial grass on a 3G pitch has a hard spine that allows it to go back into position after it has been walked on this ensures that the pitch always looks amazing and plays consistently well.

According to the BBC, the average 3G pitch costs around £500,000.

But since more and more clubs and local associations install them, the price will keep falling. Depending on the measurements, as well as the type of absorbing base required, installing an artificial pitch in England can cost anything between £300,000 and £500,000.

The greatest support of the modern 3G pitch comes from FIFA, which has given the technology a 2-star rating.

This is the highest possible rating, and it allows matches in the Champion’s League to be played on the surface.

If a 3G artificial pitch is good enough for the most prestigious club tournament in world football then you can be sure it is good enough for all tiers of English football right down to grass roots.

3G vs 4G Pitches

Over the last few years there has been mass confusion over the difference between a 3G pitch and what some call a 4G pitch.

It’s a classic example of trying to use the latest infill products and specs along with newer techniques to drop the infill into the pile of the grass fibres.

However only 3G artificial grass surfaces have been accredited and thus a 4G pitch sounding like it is at the forefront of modern day production is creating a little bit of a false pretences in a way.

Essentially what is being said is “We have produced a new batch of artificial sports grass and it is even better than the last one we produced named 3G (3rd Generation) so this product will be 4G (4th Generation)”.

Strict FIFA accreditations will determine whether a pitch is up to standard and worthy of being awarded a FIFA accreditation.

Testing includes a variety of measures including: Vertical ball bounce, shock absorption, vertical deformation, surface regularity, rotational resistance, ball roll as different angles and a few standardised principles such as dimensions etc.