Playing Surface Performance Research

STRI is continually researching and developing ways to improve the performance of playing surfaces for different sports. We understand that the reputation and success of sports clubs and facilities is reflected in the quality and condition of their sports surfaces and our research team is focused on supporting the sports turf industry by researching cost-effective ways to produce high quality and durable surfaces.

Each sport requires an individual approach to the design, installation and maintenance elements in the development of successful sport surfaces, to ensure the required performance level, quality, durability, and aesthetics are all achieved.

There are three research areas we are currently focusing on for the development of natural and artificial sports surfaces:

1. Sports Turf Research & Development – we are working in partnership with world-class sporting venues and sports governing bodies, providing detailed testing and assessments of current sports surfaces and undertaking specific research into understanding and improving the playing qualities and durability of sports turf for different sports.
2. Sports Turf Management – researching holistic approaches to managing sports turf; testing the combination of individual products, methods and machinery to understand how different combinations influence performance and aesthetics of sports surfaces.
3. Sports Turf Performance Analysis – research and development to provide detailed and accurate assessments of the playing qualities and characteristics of turf for individual sports. We are continuing to develop new technology, tools and methodologies that give our clients a comprehensive insight into the performance of their sports surfaces, providing them with vital information to help develop improvement and maintenance programmes for their sports turf.

One of our most recent advances in measuring sports turf performance has been the development of the STRI Trueness Meter™. This measures the smoothness and trueness of putting greens to a high degree of accuracy, enabling golf clubs to understand the current performance of individual greens and monitor future progress in playing quality.

Our research is conducted at various locations across Europe and at our extensive research facilities in Bingley, where we have designed turf and maintenance programmes to replicate each of the different sports surfaces we are researching, including bowls, cricket, equestrian, football, Gaelic sports, golf, rugby and tennis.

Contact us on +44 (0)1274 565131 or info@stri.co.uk for more information on our research into the characteristics and performance of sports turf and how this can help you to develop and improve your sports surfaces.