Dalton, GA – AstroTurf®, the inventor of synthetic turf, and Brock®, the leading producer of turf shock pads, have come together to present an innovative new baseball and softball turf system: The AstroTurf® Diamond Series 3DK. The 3DK line is a transformative turf system that accomplishes a greater level of safety, cooling ability, and performance, giving today’s athletes a premium surface equipped to deliver the ultimate playing experience.
“The Diamond Series 3DK does it all – it’s safer, more durable, and it addresses a major problem with other systems – too much heat. Using a natural infill made from sustainable material, it’s also gentler on the environment,” says Aaron Klotz, AstroTurf Director of Baseball. “We’re always looking for ways to make our turf systems even more incredible and to give players exactly what they want. They’re out there giving their all, so we do the same. Our engineers spent an incredible amount of time researching and testing, and couldn’t be happier with what we’ve done in association with Brock®.”
The combination of AstroTurf’s resilient yet soft-textured synthetic fibers with Brock’s shock pads and cooler infill promises the highest layer of player protection. 3DK consists of AstroTurf RootZone®, BrockFILL®, and the Brock SP Series shock pads.
RootZone was proven to be the safest turf system bio-mechanically by independent researchers at Michigan State University and the University of Tennessee Turf Research Center. The nylon RootZone was also designed to minimize infill migration, thus increasing longevity.
BrockFILL®, an eco-friendly and durable organic material, sits beneath the turf fibers. The infill is made from an abundant species of southern pine, which is grown, harvested, and responsibly replanted. BrockFILL® doesn’t radiate heat or give off an unpleasant smell. It’s also more stable underfoot.
The Brock SP Series shock pads absorb shock well while keeping the field firm for athletes. These pads are known to outperform competitor pads that have twice the thickness. Made with a special micro-coating binder, they also allow for fast drainage, helping to preserve the integrity of the material for longer.
Even more exciting, one of the first fields to be laid with the new turf system will itself make history for softball and women’s athletics. AstroTurf® Diamond Series 3DK has been installed in the infield at Rosemont Park in Chicago in August. Rosemont Park, which is located within the Parkway Bank Sports Complex, will be the official playing field for the new Athletes Unlimited Softball League. The league will have its first game on the new field on August 29, which will air live on ESPN2.
“We are thrilled to have AstroTurf’s 3DK synthetic turf system on the field at Parkway Bank Sports Complex for our inaugural Athletes Unlimited Softball season,” said Cheri Kempf, Senior Director for Athletes Unlimited. “AstroTurf has been an innovative industry leader for decades and our players are excited to play on the new turf.”
Athletes Unlimited is an innovative new sports league created to give elite athletes the chance to compete professionally, while also providing fans the opportunity to discover, follow, and support world-class players. AstroTurf® and Brock® are proud to be a part of the league’s journey and to be able to offer the best synthetic turf in the industry to the players.
About AstroTurf®
For athletes and sports enthusiasts, AstroTurf® has redefined the way the game is played. The brand offers advanced, state-of-the-art, multi-sport, and specialized synthetic turf systems with proprietary engineered technologies. A growing number of high schools, colleges, professional sports teams, and municipalities continue to select AstroTurf-branded products for their premium quality, technical superiority, and safety. To learn more, visit AstroTurf’s website at www.astroturf.com.
About Brock USA
Brock USA is the nationwide leader in performance shock pad systems for artificial turf fields. With over 120 million square feet of Brock pads in athletic fields worldwide, the company engineers the best, safest and most sustainable playing surfaces in the world for athletes at all levels. In October 2011, Brock became the first company in the industry to have a Cradle-to-Cradle Certification CM for its combined drainage and shock pad product. Brock also manufactures BrockFILL, an organic wood particle infill. It is sustainably grown and harvested from trees in the United States. Its benefits boast greater foot stability and reduces the temperature of the field. To learn more, visit Brock USA’s website at brockusa.com.