Q: Colin, you’ve been a key figure in the development of Pivot. What was the inspiration behind it?

When we started ideating on Pivot, we had a goal to replicate the best quality stadium grass. We didn’t want to follow a simple evolving process involving slight, incremental improvements. We wanted to pursue something transformational. And we knew from our user feedback research there was a gap between turf and grass. Closing this ‘gap’ was essential; one of the big drivers was to measure and understand grass better so we can more effectively mimic it.

That pursuit of a grass-like experience was very much an early driver of the development of Pivot.

Q: So, there are lots of different grass fields. How did the team define the grass that became the standard for Pivot?

When I say grass, I mean the perfect stadium on the first day of the season—when it’s perfectly manicured, has experienced perfect weather, had millions of dollars spent on it and hasn’t been played on.

That’s the perfect grass. And that was our gold standard.

A perfect natural grass field is not something that exists for a season. It’s something that exists for a moment in time at the start of the year before it is used. But we wanted that moment in time to become the benchmark for turf that would mimic its properties not just on day one, but every day for years to come, regardless of the conditions. So, we spent all this time understanding grass, measuring it, seeing how it grew, and understanding how it behaved when players interacted with it.

Q: Can you further explain the unique engineering process behind Pivot?

It took hundreds of design iterations, years of testing and biomechanical analysis. We even broke a few machines along the way and had to custom rebuild them to get what we needed out of them. It was a process. But we used our engineering prowess, our knowledge of polymers and chemistry and turf design, as well as real world biomechanical data from athletes to better mimic what the players were experiencing on natural grass.

Ultimately, it all comes down to the fibers. We’ve developed a process that conditions the yarns, forming a non-organized structure, much like the way grass grows. This helps create a player/field interaction that is more like the natural grass experience, instead of that harsh and immediate recoil that is common for turf surfaces, especially with rubber infill. That grasslike interaction is what we were chasing.

Q: What biomechanical benefits does Pivot offer athletes?

Understanding why players want to play on natural grass, from a biomechanical and kinesiological point of view, is what helped create a surface that doesn’t give a strong pushback or recoil that increases loads on the player. The fibers have memory, which means they gently absorb loads like cleat pressure, but then slowly return to their original shape and position the way grass does. Players get the protection from load absorption but without high ricochet, just like they get on grass.

Q: What about overheating? That seems to be a tough performance factor for turf to overcome.

So, the biggest problem with heat is the rubber crumb. Those little black pellets (typically ground up car tires) absorb and radiate heat, especially on sunny days. Pivot has eliminated the need for rubber crumb infill, so it doesn’t heat up as much. Additionally, in hotter climates, our natural GeoCoolTM additive can offer additional cooling power that keeps the surface closer to the temperature of natural grass.

Q: Does Pivot improve ball action, especially in sports like soccer and baseball?

Having a natural, consistent ball roll and bounce was really important. We wanted to emulate the interaction that a ball would have with natural grass. And because Pivot requires no performance infill, you’re not getting displacement of infill that creates inconsistencies on the fields from low and high spots. With Pivot, every time the ball hits, it’s predictable. The field stays put.

Another thing is the yarn is not tufted to fall in one direction like most turfs. The yarns are non-directional, meaning the ball rolls the same in all directions, making it much more predictable. This a ‘true’ roll and is very important to players, especially in soccer.

Q: Does Pivot perform better for one sport over another?

We can make minor iterations within the entire turf system to make Pivot adaptable to the sport or surface you want to create. But the fundamentals like grip and biomechanics that matter for every sport remain consistent from sport to sport. That’s where Pivot shines, playing like natural grass.

Q: We’ve talked a lot about the innovation and performance of Pivot. One thing we haven’t touched on, which is instrumental to your company and a huge part of your mission, is sustainability. How does Pivot contribute to environmental sustainability?

While our products reduce the need for irrigation, fertilizers and pesticides on playing fields, and are all designed without PFAS, Pivot has a few unique attributes worth mentioning.

Firstly, there is a potential emissions reduction when shipping Pivot because we don’t need truckloads of sand and infill. While the turf itself is heavier, it does avoid some carbon emissions because you don’t need those extra infill materials and extra vehicles for transportation.

Additionally, Pivot offers a 12-year warranty — the longest warranty in the industry, and this is because it lasts. Without performance infill, there is reduced abrasion against the fibers, decreasing wear. The field plays the same as it did day one for years to come. That longevity is really important, and it leads to another important sustainability attribute.

Our testing shows that Pivot doesn’t shed microplastics the way other fields do because there is so little, or virtually no, abrasion. That’s huge.

And when Pivot does reach the end of its best playability, it’s much easier to recycle because there aren’t components like sand and rubber to extract first. This makes it much simpler to build circularity into the life cycle of this product.

In fact, we’re doing quite a lot of work on LCAs (Life Cycle Assessments) and total cost of ownership. Due to its longer lifespan, reduced maintenance and no need to top-off infill, Pivot is more affordable than almost all other turf on the market over its lifespan. As the results come in, we’re very pleased and can’t wait to share them.

At TenCate, we’re always working towards reducing our environmental impact. That perspective was key in the development of Pivot. Our vision is to build healthier, more beautiful communities. And as the global leader in sustainability for artificial turf, our goal is to offer top-tier performance combined with true sustainability benefits for programs and athletes.

Curious to learn more about Pivot?
Please reach out to our sales team or learn more at playingforkeeps.info/pivot/.