Tennessee Athletic Turf Tester

Sponsored by AstroTurf® and in conjunction with the University of Tennessee, athletic play on both natural grass and artificial turf surfaces just became safer with the InnovaNet Group’s latest innovation – the Tennessee Athletic Turf Tester. Unveiled recently at the Center for Safer Athletic Fields at the University of Tennessee, this device tests turf surfaces, and shoes and other structures that interface with them.

Properties such as friction and traction vary widely among different turf surfaces. They can affect the suitability of a particular field for certain activities, and may also correlate with the occurrence of injuries on that surface.  The same is also true for footwear and other structures used on athletic fields. This athletic turf tester will bring new insights forward.

“Unlike anything else available, this invention will allow more realistic on-field testing of actual activity and running on turf surfaces at different angles and directions,” explains InnovaNet Group President Davis Lee, PhD. “For example, you can simulate a player making a running cut on a football field.”

The patent pending testing apparatus can move a shoe in two directions relative to a turf surface, both on a horizontal and vertical axis. It can also position the shoe at an angle to the surface enabling the simulation of a cutting move. Technical development is one of the InnovaNet Group’s areas of expertise. Visit our What We Do section to learn more.