What is G-Max Testing?

When it comes to setting a maintenance plan in motion for your artificial turf field, the options can quickly make you feel like you are venturing out into unknown territory.

Many are accustomed to the maintenance routine of a natural grass field (water, mow, fertilize, repeat), but when it comes to artificial turf maintenance, perplexing processes like infill replenishment, decompaction, and G-Max testing replace the garden-variety maintenance procedures.

G-Max testing is perhaps one of the most unfamiliar, but also one of the most necessary. G-Max testing is of the utmost importance as it has led to dramatic improvements in playing surfaces in regards to safety and performance.

What is G-Max testing?

A G-Max test analyzes surface hardness and measures the shock-absorbing characteristics of your synthetic turf field. We’ll spare you the physics lesson, but gist is that a weight gets dropped from a certain height on the surface of the field and then tells you how much shock is absorbed.

Why is G-Max testing important?

When a player falls, the impact is absorbed either by the playing surface or the player. And when the surface is hard, there’s a greater likelihood of injury. Fields that are too hard pose a risk to player safety, while fields that are too soft contribute to excessive fatigue and poor player performance. In essence, the results of a G-Max test are important because they will tell you if your field is too hard (bad for safety) or too soft (bad for performance).

How often should I have my field tested?

This is dependent on a variety of factors such as construction methods and materials used, level of play, environmental conditions, and the frequency and types of maintenance being carried out. But as a general rule of thumb, industry experts recommend that G-Max testing take place on an annual basis at minimum in order to demonstrate commitment to player safety.

Do it right! G-Max testing is an investment in your field’s and your athlete’s future!

If you make the commitment to have your synthetic field tested, you should also commit to having the tests done properly. Player safety is our top priority at Turfix and we perform G-Max testing using ASTM standards to protect your players and protect your investment.

Selecting a Certified Field Turf Specialist like Turfix is crucial to maintaining your field’s playing characteristics and overall safety. Turfix offers G-Max testing, provided by trained and certified professionals with dependable and dedicated equipment that often exceeds factory specifications and standards.

Call Turfix today to schedule your free on-field inspection or to schedule a G-Max test for your field. You can also check out our services page for a more in-depth look at the maintenance programs we offer. Contact Turfix today if you have any questions—we are experts in our field!