TenCate Targets Turf Consistency to Ease Athlete Workload Pressures

At the 77th Annual NATA Clinical Symposia in Philadelphia, manufacturers and medical professionals examined how synthetic turf technology can alleviate the strain of year-round competition. TenCate debuted its Pivot Performance Turf system, which eliminates traditional rubber infill to create a more predictable surface. By removing loose infill, the design aims to replicate the consistent response of natural grass, reducing the variability that athletes encounter during planting, cutting, and deceleration.

Joe Fields, CEO of TenCate Americas, noted that the surface acts as a fundamental component of an athlete’s environment. As trainers adopt more data-driven approaches to managing fatigue and movement, the goal is to provide a reliable platform that remains stable under repeated use. Colin Young, Chief Technical Officer at TenCate, emphasized that the development process relied on biomechanical testing with college and professional athletes to ensure the surface holds up during the specific, high-force maneuvers inherent in modern sports. For facility managers and athletic departments, the shift toward infill-free systems represents a move toward prioritizing long-term field performance over initial installation aesthetics.