April 30, 2021

Your guide to understanding how roll works on artificial turf.


The Physics of Golf

Physics. It influences everything in life, especially the popular game of golf.

Physics, is the nature and properties of matter and energy: the hitting of the ball, the ball’s trajectory in the air, the initial bounce, and its roll out.

Ideally, the ground in the direction of the shot would be perfectly flat, perfectly uphill, or perfectly downhill would be perfectly flat, perfectly uphill, or perfectly downhill in the direction of the shot. This would make hitting the ball into the hole a simple task by hitting it straight.

However, at times, you’ll learn that the ground is sloped. When this happens, the ball trajectory can’t be a straight line to the hole, meaning it’s a more challenging task. The ball now must follow a particular curved path to enter the hole. Whether the ball has to curve is dependent on the amount of the slope and undulation of the putting green.

Whether or not synthetic turf or natural grass is selected to build your dream backyard putting green, the physical characteristics of the putting surface affect the performance. We employ a blend of typically used golf course tests and our proprietary playability testing.

A standard test for ball roll is the stimpmeter test. Stimp testing is calculated by the distance a ball rolls on artificial turf in meters when released from a one-meter height. The ball-to-surface interaction of the grass is directly correlated to the ball roll distance.

The proprietary playability testing for roll provides an analysis of the consistency of outputs with a standard putting stroke. This test analyzes the initial bounce of the club face and the spin to roll transition.

Let us take a closer look into the elements that impact how a golf ball reacts and rolls on a turf.


Green Characteristics

Product Construction: Plastics that are extruded and recycled and come in an assortment of constructions, colors, and lengths. Proper construction is critical in ensuring key putting green installation practices; construction enables turf to be infilled and rolled. Properly rolled fibers will look and play like natural greens.

Pile Height: The grass blades’ thickness and height will provide differences in friction; having an effect on the speed and smoothness of your putt.

Fiber: The composition of the fibers will have a substantial effect on how a golf ball moves throughout the putt. Fiber composition impacts friction and pile lay. How the turf lays affects how the ball interacts with the surface.

Infill: Essential to the turf system, infill is composed of rounded washed silica. Infill gives ballast and improves drainage. How the infill is shaped is directly related to performance; angles and edges impede roll.

Aggregate Base: Stone is compacted creating challenging slopes and undulations; one that performs and drains like a championship golf course.

The formula to creating a Backyard Putting Green that performs like a Championship Golf Green utilizes the perfect raw materials with elite-proven-tested installation techniques. This is especially important when you are on the putting green attempting to gently hit your ball into the hole.


The Southwest Greens Difference

Southwest Greens have been able to quantify key performance indicators. Because we have the understanding of what variables impact performance, we are able to mimic natural greens.

With Golden Bear Turf, you will enjoy smoother rolls that feel like playing on your favorite championship course. Scientifically tested and developed to replicate natural grass, from the initial bounce off the clubface... to the spin transition… to the smooth ball roll into the cup...

Golden Bear presents only the best! It is the best backyard practice putting green that will offer the most realistic putting surfaces on the market.


Take a look at our Gold Bear Turf, and discover why golfers around the world love Southwest Greens.


See The Greens