Key Factor 3: Shockpad Design Controls the Mechanical Balance

Another common misunderstanding is that denser turf automatically provides better cushioning. In practice, cushioning is primarily determined by the shockpad or elastic base layer, not by density alone.

For sports applications, the shockpad plays a major role in impact absorption, vertical deformation, joint protection, and overall player comfort. A good non-infill turf system should use a controlled closed-cell PE or similar performance shockpad with engineered cell size, density, and compression recovery.

Without a proper shockpad, even a very dense turf may feel hard and uncomfortable. This is why some “high-density” low-grade products still feel stiff underfoot and fail to provide adequate protection.

For sports fields, shock absorption and vertical deformation should stay within a controlled performance range. Vivaturf’s sports-grade non-infill systems are commonly designed with shock absorption around 55%–61% and vertical deformation around 5–8 mm, balancing player protection with stable footing.