NATURAL BOUNCE - DOES IT REALLY MATTER?

Picture this. You are practicing your chip shot, and the synthetic putting green you are playing on will just not receive the ball accurately. Regardless of how perfect the shot is, the ball bounces and slides off the back of the green—for the third time. As an passionate golfer, you can look and tell that this green is of inferior quality.

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

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

The primary objective here is to have the synthetic turf respond as naturally as real turf. As soon as your ball touches the green, you can tell if you are playing on high-quality grass or not. If you’re hitting a chip shot, you should be able to predict it will be received by the grass properly, bounce naturaly, and roll as planned.

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

THE SCIENCE BEHIND TURF BOUNCE

The contrast 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 understand the science.

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

HOW WE ANALYZE TURF AT SOUTHWEST GREENS

To ensure you’re getting an optimal reaction from our synthetic turf, we carry out many tests, but here are the most important ones you should understand.

BOUNCE TEST

Tru Firm: Calculate the displacement of the surface to check how the surface impact energy transfer.

Bounce: Proprietary device that re-creates natural pitch shot approach angle and spin. This will standardize and quantify the surface interaction so we can understand how the surface will react to a pitch shot.

Spin: Advanced machinery that recreates natural spin. Create a standard and quantify the surface interaction to see how the friction of the surface varies ball spin will translate to performance.

THE SOUTHWEST GREENS DIFFERENCE

We have been successful in quantifying key performance signals to offer you the best golf experience. By studying what variables affect performance, we can recreate natural greens.

We developed test approaches to learn what variables actually impact performance. Spin, firmness, and bounce were evaluated using a combination 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 develop our grass:

SUBGRADE

Considering the area you live in, the earth may vary from sand to clay to rock. Properly installed artificial turf takes this into account, with a foundation developed to promote proper drainage.

AGGREGATE BASE

Stone is used on top of the subgrade (ground) to support in drainage and provide a permit to 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 grass is created by sewing 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, 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. Materials and product composition have direct impact on on the ground interaction with the golf ball and surface aesthetics.

Check out this installation video to get a grasp how we decide the appropriate infill layers and artificial grass surfaces for your condition.

FIND YOUR TURF

On the search 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 ordinary lawn grass. Base work, cup placement, undulations, and turf selections are all important traits 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 artificial turf with the look, feel, and bite of regular grass. It’s the green favored by beginners and expert golfers for their homes. In simple terms — it’s the most accurate playing surface accessible on the market today. Golden Bear is the perfect pick for more regularity and improved predictability. Although manufactured with golf in mind, this long-lasting, high-quality turf is also attractive and can provide lawn serenity.

The collaboration with Southwest Greens and Nicklaus Design started in 2004 and has improved significantly through the years in both design and turf science. All consumers can benefit from custom-designed golf greens installed by certified Southwest Greens vendors. Now everyone can participate in top-rated integration of professional design, installation, and Golden Bear exclusive turf products.

Golden Bear Turf is of the highest-quality, look, and performance for synthetic turf 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. Playability is so authentic you will feel like you’re playing out on a local Detroit and all of Michigan course.

Our Golden Bear Turf gives you championship-level bounce available in your own backyard. Scientifically researched and examined to have 20-25% more ball retention compared to other leading synthetic turf for real playability. Get in touch with Southwest Greens of Michigan if you have more questions about the science.

LET’S FIND YOUR BACKYARD PUTTING GREEN

We’re prepared to help you find the perfect solution for your backyard putting green. Contact 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.