Case Study - A Tale of Two Backstop Nets

New backstop nets can be constructed in many different ways.  In this blog post we are looking at two different installations:

1. Greensburg High School (Indiana)
2. Crawfordsville High School (Indiana)

Greensburg High School

This installation was a rather basic installation using poles that were installed into the ground and then the block backstop was constructed around the poles.  Here are a few photos of the project.

 Before

 During

After

Crawfordsville High School

This installation was more detailed.  The system was cable stayed. (tied back)  Also a single tie back pole was used for both baseball and softball since the playing surfaces were near to each other.  As you can see, this creates excellent viewing since there are no poles in the viewing angle of the spectators.  Here are a few photos of the project.

 Before

 Before

 After

 After

 Support Pole Detail

Center Tie Back Pole for Both Backstops

Note - In both projects the installation of the cabe on top of the wall was similar, eyelets for the cable and the net laced to the cable.  As you can see, the installations were very transformative.   Both installations are excellent, but the cable stayed system will typically cost more due to the need for larger poles, additional cable, and more seasoned installers.  

Are you looking for a new backstop net?  Let us know as we can assist on any project big or small.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!

--Jamie

@JamieMehringer

Tricks of the Trade - Lace Those Backstop Nets

I stopped by a high school baseball field late last week.  As you can see, there was a lot of slack in the bottom of the net.  The bottom of the net was connected to the cable by zip/cable ties.

It is common to purchase the net that is a little larger than the opening.  The best way to adjust tightness of the net is to lace the cable using #30 tarred treated twine.  In this application, the J&D Turf team gathered the net along the cable and laced the net to the cable.   This will eliminate cable tie breakage.  Note how the net is consistent across the bottom cable and every piece of the net is square.

If gathering the net is not an option, you can always trim the net to "fit to size."

Look for future posts on backstop nets and a case study from a high school project.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Tricks of the Trade - Building a Base Rack

How many of you are dealing with bases lining the floor of dugout storage rooms?

This past week the J&D Turf team was at the P&G Cincinnati MLB Urban Youth Academy.  While at the academy base racks were installed in the dugout storage rooms.  Complicated design?  Expensive?  No, just a few 2x4's.  Let's look into the process.

First a 2x4 was cut and installed on the cement block wall using Tapcon Anchors.  Next, shorter 2x4's were screwed into the wall installed next to the concrete block.  Note the 2x4's are spaced at the width of the anchor.  Finally, a final 2x4 was installed across the smaller 2x4 running parallel to the 2x4's installed into the cement block.  Here is the process in photos:

As you can see, this was a quick and simple project.  Material costs were less than $50

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Job Posting - Manager of Grounds - P&G Cincinnati MLB Urban Youth Academy

J&D Turf and the Reds Community Fund are looking for a new Manager of Grounds at the P&G Cincinnati MLB Urban Youth Academy.

Below is an overhead shot of the playing surfaces.

Interested?  Follow the LINK to the job posting.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Ball State University Synthetic Turf - REPLACED After 8 Years - Let's Do the Math

The IndyStar posted an article today on the replacement of synthetic turf football playing surface at Ball State University.

Let's do a little simple math:

Cost to install - $750,000

Cost of ownership per year for 8 years - $93,750.00
Maintenance of surface per year - $10,000.00

Total cost per year for the past 8 years - $103,750.00

Cost for replacement - $386,141.00


Cost of ownership per year for 8 years - $48,267.63
Maintenance of surface per year - $10,000.00

Cost per year for next 8 years - 58,267.63

Average Cost PER YEAR for the first 16 years of the plastic surface - $81,008.81

A question - HOW IS THAT CHEAPER THAN A NATURAL GRASS SURFACE?

Answer - IT IS NOT CHEAPER - Most High Schools spend $10,000 - $20,000 per year to maintain a football field.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Baseball and Softball Infield Drainage - Do’s and Dont’s - Architect Blueprint

We have discussed infield mix drainage in past posts of the SmartTurf Blog.

Today, I wanted to share a photo from an unnamed architect that shows a cross section of infield mix drainage on a plan approved for construction.

Will this work?  Of course not.  Yet another reason why synthetic turf infields are becoming more popular for baseball infields.  If natural soil/engineered soil infields cannot be designed properly, they are doomed to fail.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Seven Different Rootzone Options for Athletic Fields

I was visiting with a school board member of a very large school district a couple weeks ago and he made a statement that was very concerning.  His statement - “I thought our only option for our football field was what we have (native soil) or synthetic.  I didn’t realize there are different options.”

My first thought - that is very concerning.  What are we doing as a green industry?  Where are the advocates for natural grass?  My second thought - explain the options for rootzones of athletic fields.

So, here we go - 7 Different Rootzone Options for Athletic Fields

1. Native Soil - This is the rootzone composition of most high school/recreational playing surfaces.  A native soil rootzone is simply using the soil that is on site, grading the material to a certain grade and establishing natural grass.  This is the most cost effective method, but also often times is poorly draining and prone to compaction.  How can you determine the composition of your native soil?  How quickly will it drain?  Simply pull 2 different sample for testing. First - An  Undisturbed Core Sample. Second - A Topsoil Quality Test.  Both tests are critical to determine the composition of the native soil, percent of surface grade and assist in determining the possibly of the next rootzone......
2. Modified Native Soil - This rootzone follows a similar path as listed in #1 except sand or organic matter is added.  How much?  What type?  Those questions are answered with the Undisturbed Core Sample and Topsoil Quality Tests.  Just add one load of sand and till it in?  Probably not.  Oftentimes, modifying a rootzone is more expensive then the next rootzone option.......
3. Sand Cap/Cambridge - Otherwise known as The Spartan Sand Cap.  In this application subsurface drain lines are added and sand is aggressively topdressed across the playing surface - THIS WORKS!  A great “low cost” option for high school/recreational surfaces.
4. Sand Cap Rootzone - This rootzone is simple as well.  A rootzone similar to a USGA rootzone, in regards to subsurface drain lines but the gravel layer is omitted.  At a six inch depth, this is the best “apple to apple comparison” to to a synthetic turf rootzone.
5. USGA Rootzone - The “best” natural grass rootzone, this uses a gravel blanket along on top of drain lines with 10-12 inches of rootzone sand on top of the gravel.  This surface will drain in excess of 15 inches an hour.  Simply put, this is a “rainout proof” surface.  This is the rootzone used on most if not all high end athletic fields - ie - the ones you see on TV.  As the school board member stated - “I wondered how they played in a rainstrom without the field becoming muddy?”
6. USGA - Stabilized - The “best of the best” for natural grass.  An example of this would be Xtragrass.  Using a stabilizing system in addition to a sand based rootzone, this system can take a similar amount of play as a synthetic surface without using crumb rubber
7. Gravel - Synthetic Turf Base - This option is for synthetic turf only.  The rootzone consists of subsurface drainage underneath a 6 inch gravel blanket.

So, there are many rootzone options.  It is concerning that oftentimes a sales rep will compare a non laser graded 25 year old native soil playing surface to a new synthetic field.  Of course the new synthetic field will look and drain better than a 25 year old playing surface!  One size does not fit all!  

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer