Mississippi Turfgrass - Summer 2022

SUMMER 2022

The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine

Measuring Putting Green Firmness Dissecting Infield Playability PLUS

Turfgrasses for the 21st Century

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SUMMER

2022

CONTENTS • The Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine

COVER STORY

14 Measuring Putting Green Firmness FEATURES

10 2022 Keynote Speakers Announced for the Deep South Turf Expo

20 24

Dissecting Infield Playability Standing in the Shadows of the Game

DEPARTMENTS

6 6 8 19

14

From the MTA President Calendar of Events News from MTA Index of Advertisers

Find this issue, Podcasts, Events and More:

THETURFZONE.COM

Mississippi Turfgrass is the Mississippi Turfgrass Association magazine. Subscriptions are complimentary to MTA members. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, its board of directors, Mississippi Turfgrass, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as MTA members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in any issue of Mississippi Turfgrass. Copyright © 2022 by the Mississippi Turfgrass Association. Mississippi Turfgrass is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of MTA. Presorted standard postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: MTA allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to MTA. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

4 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2022

20

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FROM THE MTA PRESIDENT

Mississippi Turfgrass Association Box 9555 MS State, MS 39762 Office: (662) 325-0517 Fax: (662) 325-2705 www.msturfassociation.org

B+

Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, TN 37064 Office: (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 info@leadingedgecommunications.com

Well here we go! Growing season is here and in full swing.

It’s my hope that your properties are poised to have a great season of growth and recovery and that we all experience a summer of good weather.

“Be positive” that we all have similar struggles whether it revolves around the labor pool or our operational budgets. Each struggle can be taken in a positive way if we look at the issues as an opportunity to become better.

Many times we are faced with challenges that test us, that make us feel like it can’t be done. These challenges afford us learning moments to find a way. Throughout our work lives, we have come to understand that there is usually an acceptable compromise in managing our daily workload. These compromises could be as simple as making the decision to not rake bunkers on a daily basis or as complicated as using a post emergent herbicide instead of pre-emergent product to save money. Whatever the task that you are facing, “be positive” that there are usually options.

Take a few minutes and check with your peers for ideas when you are faced with having to formulate a compromise in your normal routine.

Most importantly “be positive” that if you put forth your best efforts and rely as needed on your peers that the final product will come together and impress your clients or owners.

Alan Sullivan 2022 MTA President

MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS EDITOR James D. McCurdy, Ph.D. MTA OFFICERS PRESIDENT Allan Sullivan Grand Bear Golf Course (228) 860-8740 VICE-PRESIDENT / PRESIDENT ELECT Will Arnett EMCC – Lion Hills (662) 418-1939 SECRETARY-TREASURER Dr. Barry Stewart Mississippi State University (662) 325-2725 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Keair Edwards City of Gulfport (228) 861-5641 ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY Linda Wells Mississippi State University Box 9555 MS State, MS 39762 Office: (662) 325-0517 Cell: (662) 769-7558 lmw218@pss.msstate.edu DIRECTORS

Save these dates !

JULY 12, 2022 Yard Dawg Classic Golf Tournament

Chris Hussey / Sod Hussey Sod Farm (662) 231-3203 Jimmy McPherson / Golf MSU Golf Course (662) 610-3260 Todd McCullough / Grounds / Lawn Maintenance City of Louisville (601) 416-3292

The Refuge Golf Course • Flowood, MS

Corey Garrison / Central Country Club of Jackson (901) 490-4547

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 Mississippi State Turfgrass Research Field Day

Elvin Ulmer / South City of Laurel (601) 319-6170

Starkville, MS

Seth King / Industry Ben Nelson Golf and Outdoor (601) 672-4796

OCTOBER 24 – 27, 2022 Deep South Turf Expo Mississippi Coast Convention Center • Biloxi, MS 6 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2022

FACULTY ADVISOR Dr. Jay McCurdy Mississippi State University (662) 325-2331

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NEWS FROM MTA

YARD DAWG CLASSIC JULY 12, 2022

e Mississippi Turfgrass Association invites you to play in the 20th Annual Yard Dawg Classic Golf Tournament at e Refuge in Flowood, Mississippi.

You will note that you can form your own team. Individuals who wish to play and do not have a team will be assigned to a team by the tournament committee. Your team members do not have to be MTA members.

PLAYER LIST 1._________________________________________ 2._________________________________________ 3._________________________________________ 4._________________________________________ Methods of payment: American Express, Visa or MasterCard.

If paying by credit card, signed entry MUST be faxed to 662-3252705 or you may call card number in to 662-769-7558.

Check—Make payable to MTA. Name _______________________________________________

e Refuge Golf Course 2100 Refuge Boulevard Flowood, MS 39232

Team Entry Fee: $500 Individual Entry Fee: $125 Student Entry Fee: $50

DEADLINE TO REGISTER June 17, 2022 8 a.m.

Registration/Warmups 9 a.m.

4- Man Scramble Tee Off (Box lunch provided)

Credit Card Number ___________________________________ Address _____________________________________________

Hospitality Night

Exp. Date__________ Signature__________________________

Monday, July 11 6 to 8 p.m.

Hole in One Contest!

Winner will receive a golf cart donated by Ben Nelson Golf.

Dinner Provided

Mail completed form to:

MTA / Linda Wells Box 9555 • Mississippi State, MS 39762 lmw218@pss.msstate.edu • www.msturfassociation.org 662-769-7558 cell phone • 662-325-0517 office • 662-325-2705 fax

8 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2022

Hosted by Ben Nelson Golf & Outdoor 243 Industrial Drive, North Madison, Mississippi 39110

MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION TM

S POTLIGHT ON MTA MEMBE R S I N T H E N EW S

Bob McCurdy Receives Tennessee Turfgrass Association’s Tom Samples Professional of the Year Award

B

ob McCurdy, the 2022 recipient of the Tom Samples Professional of the Year award, is the senior partner of McCurdy Sod Farm in Dyer, Tennessee and a stalwart leader in the turfgrass community. Bob McCurdy’s influence in the sod production segment has certainly been immense, but it’s the impression he’s made across the industry that has allowed him to be a true leader and example for turfgrass professionals of all stripes.

The family began growing sod alongside other crops and operations in 1986, and in 2006 they transitioned into only sod.

McCurdy Sod Farm is now around 500 acres and employs six full time, year-round staff, a number that doubles in the spring and summer months.

In his decades of work, Bob has served on several industry association boards and has been a dedicated member. Bob is a past president of TTA and served on the board for eight years. He is a founding member of Midsouth Turfgrass Council, which represents five states and 25-30 sod farmers, and serves the primary purpose of raising funds for university research.

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In January, Bob began his tenure as President of Turfgrass Producers International (TPI), an organization which exists to serve the turfgrass production industry “by uniting and representing turfgrass sod and seed producers as well as the many suppliers and manufacturers who are a part of this thriving industry.”

Upon being recognized for this award, Bob shared his appreciation. “A really elite bunch of folks have already gotten this award. To have been able to achieve or influence or baffle your way through is such a nice thing. I hope that I can continue to earn what’s been bestowed in this award. I want to thank those who thought enough of me to give me a chance.”

The Tom Samples Professional of the Year is Tennessee Turfgrass Association’s highest honor, bestowed upon one member each year. Past recipients are a “Who’s Who” of leaders in the Tennessee Turfgrass family, each having demonstrated the hard work and dedication necessary to not only thrive in business, but also to help foster the industry through cooperation and service. •

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THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 9

FEATURE

2022 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED for the

DEEP SOUTH TURF EXPO

Jeff McManus

For a complete description of this year’s Deep South Program please visit

DeepSouthTurfExpo.org FOR 2022 SPONSORSHIP AND EXHIBIT OPPORTUNITIES TURN TO PAGE 12

10 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2022

By Melanie Bonds

The

Deep South Turf Expo Committee is pleased to announce their keynote speaker line-up for the 2022 Expo scheduled for October 24th through the 27th at the Mississippi Coast Convention Center in Biloxi, Mississippi.

First up, on October 26th in the morning session is Jeff McManus! When Jeff was 37, the University of Mississippi hired him as the Director of the newly formed Landscape Services Department. As one of the most junior directors on campus the immediate challenges that faced him were staggering – exceptionally low morale with an unacceptable lack of productivity. In many ways, the Ole Miss landscape services was actually an extreme example of the same problems facing many organizations then and today.

Jeff believed the challenges could be overcome with focused team effort. So, he established a four-step process he calls “The GROW System.” Jeff works from the position that everybody wants to be successful, and they can be by recognizing their personal potential. Great Teams, Raising Results, Offense Scores and Winning Attitudes formed Jeff’s GROW System.

Jeff has been praised by Forbes and the Huffington Post for his book, Growing Weeders into Leaders, where he shares how his team went from last place to being on the national stage.

It wasn’t long before Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS), Newsweek, Princeton Review and USA Today all recognized Jeff and his staff and awarded their efforts with the nation’s most beautiful campus designation.

Jeff’s presentation is a must for those in the industry wanting to cultivate leaders. Jeff holds a bachelor’s degree in Landscape and Ornamental Horticulture from Auburn University and is a Certified Arborist.

The Committee is delighted to announce that Dr. Pat Cobb, retired entomologist with Auburn University, will present as a keynote speaker on Wednesday. Dr. Pat Cobb is a veteran Extension specialist who served the state of Alabama for 20 years. She is a native of Prattville, Alabama, with a bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s degree in entomology and a Ph.D. in entomology. During her tenure with Extension, she served as an extension specialist on the state staff and an Extension entomologist and professor in the Auburn University Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. Pat’s former students will be delighted to re-connect with her, and if you haven’t met Pat, you should take the opportunity to meet her at the Deep South Turf Expo! Those that know her will agree, her nuggets of information “are as rare as hen’s teeth”!

Drs. Jay McCurdy (Mississippi State), Scott McElroy (Auburn University) and Pawel Petelewicz (University of Florida) will present in the afternoon session. Their presentation, “News of the (Herbicide) World” describes exciting new herbicides on the market, and a few old ones that have been revamped. Join them for a discussion about where these herbicides fit in a weed management program and how they may help overcome some of the challenges faced by practitioners. The panel will also be discussing pending regulation of herbicides and just how it affects end users.

In addition to the speakers, this year’s tradeshow will be held on Wednesday afternoon in conjunction with some of the speakers and book signings by Jeff McManus and Dr. Cobb.

Wednesday is also when we hold the host organization’s annual business meetings, so please come prepared to “Stay the course” on Wednesday! •

DSTE • Continued

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THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 13

COVER STORY

M EAS U RIN G

PUTTING GREEN FIRMNESS

By Daniel O’Brien; Doug Karcher, Ph.D. and Mike Richardson, Ph.D. This article was originally published in GCM, June 2021.

P

utting green firmness can be a difficult metric to define and interpret. Turf scientists discuss different measurement methods and how to translate the data into management decisions.

We’ve been extremely fortunate to work with a lot of neat “gadgets and gizmos” during our research, taking all types of measurements, usually on putting greens. We’ve collected a lot of interesting data and learned quite a bit along the way, but we must confess that when it comes to firmness, we still have a lot of questions. We’ll work our way back to those, but let’s start with the basics of what we do know.

Putting green firmness: Important and elusive In and of itself, firmness isn’t a difficult concept to understand or appreciate. After all, it’s one half of the celebrated mantra of “firm and fast,” it has direct implications on playability, and the overwhelming consensus is that it’s a desirable attribute of a quality golf course. We care about firmness because it relates to ball-bounce and shot-hold capacity and the durability of the putting surface. When managed properly, firmness can be a defining hallmark of the skill and strategy required to play the game at the highest level.

But where the waters become a little murky is when you try to articulate what ideal firmness looks like. We often talk about firmness not so much by what it is, but by its absence — “These greens are too soft/too hard.” Ultimately, firmness is about

14 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2022

rewarding (and demanding) quality golf shots while preserving the integrity of the putting surface.

The key point in all of this is, with firmness, sometimes it’s easier to attach a number than a definition. With technology today, we can measure a lot of things, but firmness measurements on their own are just a number. If you’re going to spend the time collecting those numbers, you need to have a picture of what that number looks like at the moment of impact when the golf ball meets the putting surface.

Tools for measuring putting green firmness When it comes to producing a number you can work with, there are several options for how to do it. We’re going to separate those options into two basic camps: accelerometer measurements and depth measurements (Figures 1 and 2). There is a third “indirect”option for assessing firmness through volumetric water content(VWC), which we’ll touch on as well.

Starting with accelerometer measurements, the Clegg Impact Soil Tester is the standard in turfgrass research. Originally developed by Baden Clegg, Ph.D., for testing road subgrades (1), this device has proven particularly useful for evaluating the hardness(or softness) of turfgrass surfaces. The accelerometer

FIGURE 2. Firmness meters such as the TruFirm Turf Firmness Meter (left) and the Clegg Impact Soil Tester use a free-falling impact hammer to measure surface firmness of turfgrass surfaces. The TruFirm directly measures penetrating depth of the hammer into the turf, while the Clegg uses an accelerometer to measure the deceleration upon impact.

FIGURE 1. Impressions made on a putting green surface by the TruFirm Turf Firmness Meter (left) and the Clegg Impact Soil Tester during the measurement process. Photos by Daniel O’Brien

is contained within a weighted cylinder (aka impact hammer), which is raised to a prescribed height and dropped through a guide tube, and upon impact with the ground, everything comes to an abrupt stop. The deceleration caused by that collision with the ground is recorded through electrical impulses and reported in units of gravities (G) (7). While these units are not something most of us encounter on a daily basis, the take-home message is, the larger the number, the firmer the surface.

It is important to note that there are different models and protocols for the Clegg. Different models have different hammer weights, and protocol differences typically involve variations in the height from which the hammer is dropped or the number of drops in a single location before the value is recorded. If you’re trying to compare your measurements to a reference data set or a range of values, be sure you know the model and protocol used.

The American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) is a good source for more details on specific testing protocols. For turfgrass situations, the 2.25-kilogram model is very common, as is a single hammer drop per location (a 0.5-kilogram model is also available). At the time this article was written, a 2.25-kilogram Clegg could be found for around $4,500.

When it comes to depth measurements, the TruFirm Turf Firmness Meter from Spectrum Technologies is similar to the Clegg in appearance, but it does not contain an accelerometer. There was

an original version of the TruFirm developed by the USGA’s Matt Pringle, Ph.D., for use by USGA agronomists that did utilize an accelerometer. Spectrum Technologies’ adapted version replaced the accelerometer with what it calls a “rotary position sensor” (6).

The TruFirm’s impact hammer has a dome-shaped end to mimic a golf ball, and upon contact with the ground, the dome’s maximum depth of penetration is what is reported in inches.

Other devices, such as the Precision Putting Green Digital Firmness Meter (Precision USA), create a similar measurement by dropping a weighted ball from a standard height and measuring the indention in the green with a digital depth gauge. We’ve even seen videos online of DIY versions replicating this technique with an Accugauge and bed knife. Whichever device is used, it is the deformation of the putting surface that is effectively being measured, so that the larger the number, the softer the surface. Current prices for the Spectrum TruFirm and Precision USA Firmness Meter come in at just under $950 and $600, respectively.

On a related note, if you’re interested in firmness of bunkers or fairways or measuring compaction farther down beneath the surface, you may want to consider an additional category of devices known as penetrometers. Penetrometers measure the resistance of the soil when a probe is pushed in with steady force,but their use on putting greens is not as common as the previously mentioned devices.

THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 15

COVER STORY • Continued

Putting green firmness and moisture This is the place to mention something that you already know intuitively: There is a meaningful relationship between putting green firmness and moisture content, and, typically, wetter greens tend to be softer (4, 5). With the prevalence and versatility of today’s portable moisture meters capable of measuring VWC within 0.5 inches (1.27 centimeters) on the putting surface (Figures 3 and 4), moisture meters are definitely a part of the firmness measurement conversation (3).

That brings us full circle to our lingering questions, the first one being, if you’re already using a moisture meter on your greens, how much do you consider the firmness measurement to be redundant as opposed to unique information?

There is a relationship between moisture and firmness, but what is the extent of that relationship? If the moisture meter reading is on the dry side, but the firmness meter gives you a number you consider soft, how do you balance those two pieces of information and translate them into specific cultural management practices? All of this leads to another, broader question: What else, in addition to moisture, is reflected in a firmness measurement?

Several years back, we put out a Twitter poll that some of you may have participated in, asking about perceptions related to putting green firmness (Figure 5). Moisture was No. 1, followed pretty closely by organic matter and thatch, with rolling intensity a distant third. For the record, there is probably not a single right answer, as they can all play a role. But even more, firmness meters can be excellent tools to assess how different cultural practices alter firmness, not so much by measuring firmness as by measuring the change in firmness.

FIGURE 3. Portable soil moisture meters such as the TDR 350 (Spectrum Technologies Inc.) are capable of estimating volumetric water content (VWC) close to the putting surface using short (“Turf”) rods and a spacer block.

16 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2022

If you measure firmness before and after rolling, topdressing, aerification, applying a wetting agent, etc., and quantify the change in firmness each of those practices brings about, then you’ve really refined (and expanded) the tools available to you for managing firmness. Irrigation and evapotranspiration could certainly be included as well to help predict the response of firmness to changes in VWC throughout the day. Ultimately, you’re creating a strategic arsenal for managing firmness in a more comprehensive way — not just managing the moisture, but giving yourself an opportunity to manage all the factors that may influence firmness.

Finally, it’s worth asking whether you’re measuring firmness in order to hit a specific benchmark number, or is it about monitoring consistency across all greens? Consistency is especially interesting,because it leads to other questions, such as how much putting green size, slope and hole length should factor in when attempting to optimize firmness. If you have a short par 3 with a large, flat green where players are lobbing in high-arching shots with lots of spin, and you have a long par 4 with a small, undulating green that receives a lot of low-trajectory, long-iron approach shots, how important (and appropriate) is it for the firmness measurements of those two greens to be the same number?

Admittedly, there is a reluctance in asking these questions, as if it’s sacrilege to the Stimpmeter way of thinking, where consistency is paramount. But the more we work with firmness meters,the easier it is to appreciate the fundamental differences between the information they give us and what a Stimpmeter provides. Consistency makes a ton of sense for green speed because there is so much consistency with the type of shots most affected by it, i.e., putts. But there can be so much variability in the types of shots landing on greens, it’s fair to wonder whether we are becoming too beholden to a firmness number just because we can measure it.

For those of you currently using firmness meters, practically speaking, how different do firmness measurements have to be before it makes a difference in what you see when a ball lands on your greens? Just because two numbers are statistically different doesn’t necessarily mean they are appreciably different in terms of ball bounce and putting green damage.

The bottom line is, it all comes back to matching firmness measurements with what you see happening with your own eyes as shots land, and determining what you consider the groundtruth data for firmness measurements to be.

Real-world applications One of the best lines regarding all the technology, measurement and equipment stuff we write about in “What the Tech?” came from one of our own, Mike Richardson, Ph.D., as we prepared for our “Gadgets and Gizmos” seminar at the Golf Industry Show. “You have to remember,” he said, “in our research, we use all of these devices for documenting, but the superintendents we’re speaking to have to use them for decision-making.” And while we’ve always tried to appreciate that important distinction, firmness is definitely the most difficult one to grasp from the decision-making side of the coin.

FIGURE 4. Turf rods on their own measure to a depth of 1.5 inches (3.81 centimeters) (4A), and when used with a spacer block, measurements can be made at 1.0 inches (2.54 centimeters) (4B) and 0.5 inches (1.27 centimeters) (4C).

FIGURE 5. Results of a Twitter poll conducted by Mike Richardson, Ph.D., gauging perceptions regarding putting green firmness.

THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 17

COVER STORY • Continued

If there’s anyone out there who wants to talk firmness, please drop us a line. We’ll continue to study firmness, but for that research to be truly meaningful, it needs to be meaningful to you. Ultimately, turfgrass research needs to better understand how a firmness measurement might change the way you manage your greens — if it leads you to do something different than you otherwise would have without it. •

Daniel O’Brien is a former program technician and current Ph.D. student, Doug Karcher is a turfgrass soil specialist and professor, and Mike Richardson is a professor in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

LITERATURE CITED 1. Clegg, B. 1976. An impact testing device for in situ base course evaluation.

Australian Road Research Board Conference Proc 8(8).

2. Karcher, D., T. Nikolai and R. Calhoun. 2001. Golfers’ perceptions of greens speeds vary. Golf Course Management 69(3):57-60.

5. Stowell, L J., P. Gross, W. Gelernter and M. Burchfield. 2009. Measuring greens firmness using the USGA TruFirm and the Clegg Soil Impact Tester at Victoria Country Club: A preliminary study. Online. PACE Turf Super Journal. PACE Turf LLC, San Diego (https://www.paceturf.org/PTRI/Documents/0901_sj.pdf).

3. Karcher, D., M. Richardson and D. O’Brien. 2019. Use moisture meters for greater efficiency and healthier turf. Golf Course Management 87(7):40, 42, 44, 46.

6. Spectrum Technologies Inc. 2013. Field Scout TruFirm Turf Firmness Meter product manual, Item Nos. 6490, 6490B and 6491. Spectrum Technologies, Aurora, Ill.

4. Linde, D.T., L.J. Stowell, W. Gelernter and K. McAuliffe. 2011. Monitoring and managing putting green firmness on golf courses. Applied Turfgrass Science 8(1):1-9.

7. Thoms, A.W., J.T. Brosnan, J.C. Sorochan and A.M. Saxton. 2016. Exploring relationships in surface-hardness data collected with different instruments.

Journal of Testing and Evaluation 44(2):945-951.

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18 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2022

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Agra Turf, Inc... ................................. 9 www.agrainc.com

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ChemTrade Turf, LLC. . ........................ 5 chemtradeturf.com

Dave’s Sale and Service..................... 9 www.turfeagle.com

Harrell’s LLC. . ..................... Back Cover www.harrells.com

Jackson Sand. . ................................ 13 www.jacksonsand.com

Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation. . ...... Inside Back Cover www.jerrypate.com

Progressive Turf Equipment Inc........ 13 www.progressiveturfequip.com

Regal Chemical Company................... 3 www.regalchem.com

Riebeling Farms, Inc... ..................... 19 Sod Solutions.. ................................ 11 www.sodsolutions.com

STEC Equipment.............................. 21 www.stecequipment.com

Sur-Line Turf, Inc............................ 19 www.surlineturf.com

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THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 19

FEATURE

DISSECTING INFIELD PLAYABILITY

By Evan C. Mascitti and Andrew McNitt, Ph.D. This article was originally published in Pennsylvania Turfgrass, Spring 2021

A

baseball often touches two different surfaces during the same play. This sets baseball apart from other ball sports. Most ground balls take their first bounce on the turf and are fielded on the infield skin (Figure 1). The concentration of play in this small area means that infield playability consumes much of the grounds crew’s focus. Experienced managers know instinctively when the ball is reacting the way they want, and they can produce a consistent surface despite changing weather conditions. Playability can be an ambiguous term because it is easy to observe but hard to describe.

This article unpacks infield playability by combining practical observations with bite-size pieces of physics. We will cover the following ideas:

1. Consistency is king 2. Components of speed 3. Corkboard = plasticity + stiffness

CONSISTENCY IS KING Above all else, infielders want a consistent, predictable surface.

This means no surprises about how the ball will react from one hop to the next, and that the field will play identically throughout a game and over the season. Elite athletes can field almost any ball, fast or slow — so long as the bounces are the same, each and every time. Infielders prefer ground balls to “hug” the surface: a shallow path makes the ball easier to track and collect. The grass and dirt areas should have similar speed and the transition between them should be seamless.

Predictability is crucial for players to be able to do their jobs. If the final hop is deflected by just a few degrees, the ball can easily carom off the heel of a player’s glove or scoot beyond his reach.

COMPONENTS OF SPEED Players and coaches sometimes ask us to “speed up” or “slow down” the infield, usually by adjusting the cutting height of the turf. Ball response is more nuanced than fast vs. slow, and canopy height plays only a minor role. However, it has been said that perception is reality, so a perceived change may satisfy such a request – even if we fib about having lowered the reels by 1/8" or so. Ball response is divisible into three important elements: pace, bounce, and spin.

FIGURE 1: Most action occurs on the infield skin.

PACE DENSITY OF MLB FIELDING PLAYS

Pace is the relative velocity of a ball after impact. Infield pace is mostly determined by hardness and friction. It is measured as a simple ratio, the Coefficient of Restitution (COR):

COR =

• Map includes 39,869 batted balls from 2020 season • Data source: Baseball Savant Database

20 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2022

OUTGOING SPEED INCOMING SPEED

There is limited research on infield pace, but data suggest that soil properties affect COR more than cutting height or thatch.

Dr. Jim Brosnan measured COR on real infields and on research plots (Brosnan and McNitt, 2008a; b; 2011). Infield COR ranged from 0.4 to 0.6, meaning a ball retained 40 to 60 % of its initial velocity after the first bounce. COR was generally higher on skinned surfaces than synthetic turf, which had a similar (but slightly higher) COR than natural grass.

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FEATURE • Continued

FIGURE 2: Surface hardness on baseball infields generally exceeds values recommended for American football.

FIGURE 3: If the ball can skid through impact, initial spin will influence the release angle.

Adapted from Daish, 1972.

DECREASING TOP SPIN NO SPIN INCREASING BACK SPIN

In the work by Dr. Brosnan, pace was closely related to surface hardness. Hardness is easy to measure with the familiar Clegg hammer or the F-355 device (for synthetic infields). Brosnan and McNitt (2008a) found that most infield skins had Clegg values well over 100 Gmax – much higher than values recommended for turf areas (Figure 2). However, it is worth noting that some fields in this study were substantially drier than typical game moisture. In a baseball context, hardness may be more useful for managing playability than safety, as baseball players are never tackled and rarely become injured by falling on the surface.

Ball-to-surface friction is determined by soil texture, presence of conditioner, and the all-important water content (Goodall et al., 2005). A thick conditioner layer reduces surface friction because the granules rotate like ball bearings as the ball shears against them. The ball will skid rather than checking up. Friction also affects the ball’s release angle, which in turn alters the bounce height (Figure 3).

BOUNCE

FIGURE 4: (A) This “corkboard” infield will not affect ball path because of its plastic yet stiff consistency. (B) Large, ragged cleat marks may cause erratic bounces, leading to errors or injuries.

A

B

The term bounce defines the vertical rebound of a ball after impact. Some research on cricket pitches suggests that the ball “speed” experienced by a real athlete is more related to bounce than pace. Adams et al. (2005) found that umpires’ perception of speed was more closely linked to the ball’s rebound height than its velocity. A higher bounce means the ball carries farther between bounces, leading to the perception of a faster surface.

Any debate about whether a perceived faster surface really has a greater pace or a greater bounce is purely scholastic, because the players’ experience is what ultimately matters. Bounce is related to hardness, and a harder surface will appear faster, even if only due to its higher bounce.

SPIN The influence of ball spin can be large or small, depending on the ball-to-surface friction coefficient μ (Daish, 1972). If μ is large, the ball “rolls” during impact and its new spin rate is determined by the original incoming velocity. If μ is small, the ball retains some spin as it skids through impact

22 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2022

and its release angle is steeper (Figure 3, bottom panel). The latter is the usual case on closely-mown turfgrass.

You can observe this phenomenon during batting practice.

It’s hard to hit accurate fungoes with full effort, so experienced coaches prefer a flatter but more controlled trajectory with some backspin. The steeper release angle helps compensate for lost velocity by increasing the ball’s carry after its first bounce.

It’s unusual for a ground ball to be hit with backspin during a game. Most ground balls have forward spin and release at an angle beneath their incoming trajectory (Figure 3, top panel).

CORKBOARD = PLASTICITY + STIFFNESS We associate the word plastic with man-made products like disposable water bottles – but the word is actually derived from plastikos, an ancient Greek term for clay. Plastikos roughly translates to “fit for shaping.” Plasticity is perhaps the most useful property of clay: it helps potters to mold clay into useful objects before firing, and it allows a groundskeeper to scarify, shave, and pack soil with proper moisture. New grounds interns are quickly taught the sacred importance of moisture management.

Plasticity is important for two reasons. First, it means the soil will be smoothly remolded around players’ cleats, rather than “chunking out” or shattering into chips. This delivers the coveted corkboard surface and minimizes the number of imperfections which could cause bad bounces, as shown in Figure 4. The second reason is that if a ball does hit one of the cleat marks, the soil will readily deform again – allowing the ball to continue its initial path. Plasticity provides the “give” which makes wellwatered soil so nice to play on.

Plasticity alone is not enough. Most finegrained soils are plastic at high water contents, but many lose their shear strength when so much moisture is added. Such a soil can never provide stable footing if watered to a plastic condition — the players will sink and slide, leading to injuries. Other materials retain more stiffness when wetted above the plastic limit. Stiffness is a measure of the force needed to deform the soil. An ideal infield soil retains a plastic and stiff consistency, even under hot sun or during a rain game. Designing these types of mixes is a current research topic at Penn State. We recently created a laboratory method to measure the cleat-in/cleat-out effect. We are using the method to test infield mixes containing various clay minerals, since these respond differently as the soil wets or dries. Thanks are extended to the PA Turfgrass Council, KAFMO, and the SAFE Foundation for supporting the project.

On a synthetic turf infield “skin,” surface deformation happens differently. The fibers (rather than soil water) reduce the rotating and sliding of infill particles. The sand: rubber ratio and particle size distribution of the infill may also affect performance.

SUMMARY Ball response can be managed intuitively, but it helps to consider the underlying physics. Consistency is most important. What infielders experience as speed is a combined effect of pace, bounce, and spin. Conditioners reduce the effects of ball spin by lowering surface friction. The soil must be both stiff and plastic to achieve the coveted corkboard. Future research could define new playability measures and how to achieve them. •

REFERENCES

Adams, W.A., S.W. Baker, D.M. James, and R.J. Young. 2005. Measuring and Modelling the Bounce and Pace of County Championship Cricket Pitches.

International Turfgrass Society Research Journal 10(1021-1026): 1021–1026.

Brosnan, J.T., and A.S. McNitt. 2008a. Surface Conditions of Highly Maintained Baseball Fields in the Northeastern United States : Part 1 , Non-Turfed Basepaths. Applied Turfgrass Science (April). doi: 10.1094/ATS-2008-0520-01-RS. Brosnan, J.T., and A.S. McNitt. 2008b. Surface Conditions of Highly Maintained Baseball Fields in the Northeastern United States: Part 2, Synthetic versus Natural Turfgrass. Applied Turfgrass Science (April): 8. doi: 10.1094/ATS-2008-0520-02-RS. Brosnan, J.T., A.S. McNitt, and T.J. Serensits. 2011. Effects of surface conditions on baseball playing surface pace. Journal of Testing and Evaluation 39(3). doi: 10.1520/JTE103215. Daish, C.B. 1972. The Physics of Ball Games. The English Universities Press, London.

Goodall, S.A., K. Guillard, W.M. Dest, and K.R. Demars. 2005. Ball response and traction of skinned infields amended with calcined clay at varying soil moisture contents. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal 10: 1085–1093.

THE MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE • 23

FEATURE

STA NDING IN THE

SHADOWS OF THE GAME

By Barry Stewart, Ph.D.

On

April 20, Dr. Jay McCurdy and I participated in a very interesting activity with the Curriculum Unit at Mississippi State University. We along with several other stakeholders met to begin the process of creating a high school curriculum in Turf Management for Mississippi High Schools. We made good progress and the plan is for this new course to be available to high schools in the fall of 2023. It will be part of the Vocational Agriculture Curriculum and will be an excellent way to introduce more students to turfgrass management as well as educating students who may be ready to enter the Turfgrass Management workforce or pursue more education in Turfgrass Management.

Will Arnett and Danny Smith of East Mississippi Community College also attended and contributed to this meeting. Toward the end of the meeting Will got a phone call regarding working in the broadcast booth for the SEC Network/ESPN at the MSU vs Auburn softball game on April 29. He was unable to fulfill this request but knew that I have been a softball fan for a while and attended most of the games. He gave me a phone number to call, and I called the guy and he was happy they had found someone willing to work and that was vaxxed and boosted (ESPN requirement). I had to call another person, and I was hired to fill the Dual Role of Talent Stats and Booth Coordinator.

24 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2022

I spent the week filling out paperwork to be hired by the company that hires people for ESPN/SEC Network. I was told to show up two hours before gametime at the broadcast booth at Nusz Park. The week zips by and it’s Friday at 4 pm and I walk into the broadcast booth. There I meet the MSU broadcast team who run the cameras and provide the production for the broadcast. The production studio is actually in the North Endzone of Davis Wade Stadium, so all the various feeds are routed there.

My job was to relay stats to the broadcast talent and have the play-by-play announcer read advertisement of upcoming ESPN programming. I think there were four such reads this night. The announcers this night were Tiffany Greene and Kayla Braud.

These ladies were very professional and had obviously done a lot of homework in preparation for the game. They did not need me for much. I was on a headset with the broadcast crew and relayed information to the announcer via notes or hand signals.

During the game I was able to point out that MSU 3rd baseman Paige Cook was the 2nd toughest SEC player to strike out and the shortstop Madisyn Kennedy tended to have long at bats. It was an excellent game and MSU won 3 – 2. It was fascinating seeing how a game broadcast comes together.

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B A S E D O N D ATA A S O F N OV E M B E R 2021.

FEATURE • Continued

The next week I got an email about performing the same role for two baseball games against Florida. I could not resist seeing what the broadcast booth at the Taj Mahal of baseball looked like. Baseball is a much bigger production than softball and I had to visit Mr. Bennie Ashford MSU’s broadcast manager to get a press credential. Again, I had to be in the television booth two hours prior to game time. There I met Tom Hart and Kyle Peterson, SEC Network/ESPN announcers. Nice men, and they are treated like baseball royalty. They left the booth to go talk with teams and visit the Left Field Lounge. This was the first time ESPN announcers had worked baseball on site at MSU since 2020, and maybe even 2019. All the pandemic broadcasts featured announcers in their homes, so this was a big deal. They were treated to ribs and Everett Kennard’s Lounge box and Coach Polk came over for a visit before the game. Tom Hart asked me to keep a score book and keep track of the pitch count, which I did. It was the same set up as softball: get Tom Hart, the play-by-play announcer, to do the in-game reads and find an interesting stat or two. MSU lost both games.

The announcers’ chairs in the TV booth

26 • MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS • SUMMER 2022

My final game with SEC Network/ESPN was the Tennessee game on May 17. My role for this game was called “official stats”.

I was the eyes and ears for the announcers, again Tom Hart and Kyle Peterson, who were in their homes. I had the same headset as before, but now I sat before a laptop computer, in the front row of the MSU Press Box, on a Zoom call. Tom Hart was in his home in Atlanta and Kyle Peterson was in his home in Omaha. One job for me was to keep track of pitchers warming up and other substitutions. This was the 27 – 2 win by Tennessee, so there were a lot of pitchers to keep track of. It was fascinating to see the announcers try to keep this game interesting. I was excited as Tennessee’s starting pitcher Chase Dollander had a perfect game through three innings. He was working on a 1 walk no-hitter when he left after the 6th inning. I’ve never been to a baseball no-hitter live.

I have had a great time doing this little side hustle and learning how games are produced. I hope they call me again next spring. I tried to get in some information about our turf program and will try harder next time. Both announcer teams said they were always impressed with the beautiful fields at Mississippi State. •

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