What is a 3G Pitch?

Third Generation surfaces (3G) have been developed to replicate natural turf, with outstanding performance, reduced ball bounce, and low resistance to turning and sliding – offering greater safety to players, more realistic conditions, and greater durability. 3G pitches are used from recreational to elite competitive levels.

In 3G turf, the pile (artificial grass ‘blades’) is supported by a thin base layer of sand, and by an infill of rubber crumb or a biodegradable suitable alternative. The pile height ranges from 40mm to 60mm depending on which primary sport is to be played on the surface. The shorter pile height is suitable for football and hockey, whilst the longer pile height is suitable for football and rugby.

A shockpad is installed beneath the playing surface to cushion the player upon impact with the ground. This is especially important for the shorter pile turfs designed to speed up football play and allow for hockey play, as the protective capability of the turf is less substantial in shorter pile lengths.

The 3G sports turf can be laid straight onto a stone base with or without the use of a shockpad. This is called a Dynamic system. The optimum construction build-up for 3G pitches is to use a single or double layer of porous macadam to offer a much greater degree of stability. This is called an Engineered system.

The base construction of a 3G pitch is comprised of free-draining stone layer and textile membrane on top of prepared soil formation.

The two main yarn types are monofilament and fibrillated: a monofilament yarn is manufactured as a single fibre string which is nominally preferred for higher specification football and rugby pitches (FIFA Quality, for example). Fibrillated yarn is manufactured as a fibrillating fibre tape, nominally offering greater durability against frequent and intensive use (a 5-a-side facility, for example)