Q & A WITH PAMELA SHERRATT

How often should our infield skin be laser graded ?

The short answer is every year if you can afford it or every two to three years if you ’ re on a tighter budget . The more informed answer is that it depends on the level of use , because the more a field is used , the more it needs to be maintained . As my friend Ryan DeMay always says , “ field usage and field maintenance are directly proportional .” High-usage and high-profile infields would benefit from being laser graded each year , moderately used infields every two years , and lower-use infields every three .

Above all , grading needs to be done when it ’ s needed , and it should be agreed by all parties involved that it is a standard part of the maintenance program . That is sometimes a difficult message to convey , because people typically rate the quality of a field on the turfgrass area , but the skin is where most of the game takes place .

Laser grading is highly recommended because it uses machine-controlled components to establish tighter tolerances for slope or finish grade . Rough grading or hand grading cannot achieve the same results . Laser grading is the process of leveling the skinned surface to a desired gradient / slope by cutting , filling and smoothing the soil . Laser grading establishes surface elevations through the process of moving soil within a given area using a machine equipped with an automated blade .

A properly graded infield provides a smooth surface for athletes and prevents athlete injury from falling , tripping or bad ball bounces / hops . From an agronomic standpoint , a properly graded infield will shed surface water and not puddle or become waterlogged . Nobody wants to cancel games because of standing water . Even if a high-quality , engineered infield soil mix has been installed , the infield will fail if it is not properly graded and can shed surface water .

The effects from laser grading are not permanent . During the playing season , the skin will be subject to wear and tear . To manage wear throughout the playing season , infields are groomed / dragged to maintain surface smoothness and playability . Conditioners such as calcined or vitrified clays are also added throughout the playing season . Infield mix may be added to low spots . Pitching mounds are repaired after each game .

Bases are sometimes removed before grooming , and high-traffic areas will get worn away . All of this contributes to physical changes to the skin over time . This is why grading is something that should be part of the annual or biennial budget .

The standard slope of a skin infield is 0.5 percent . This will ensure that there is water movement off the playing surface . A slope greater than 0.5 percent could result in loss of infield soil material and conditioners . The pitcher ’ s mound is the highest point of the field ( approximately 15 inches above home plate and the baselines ), and the remainder of the field slopes away in all directions . The infield should be higher than the rest of the field . Since the skinned area will drain poorly due to the engineered material , there must be a positive surface drainage grade . All slopes should have a continuous even grade . The key is to have it sloped toward the foul lines instead of the outfield . If it slopes toward the outfield , it will drain slowly and could create a buildup of a lip on the crown area . On softball fields , the infield should be the highest point on the field . The outfield should then slope away from the infield at a 1- to 1.5-percent slope .

Not all laser grading equipment is created equal . Most laser sources will lose accuracy , so the quality of the equipment and the operator is important . Read SFMA ’ s “ Laser Grading Sports Fields ” to familiarize yourself with the process . When seeking a quote from a local contractor to laser grade the field , make sure that all important tasks are included : ( 1 ) Edging — keep skin : turfgrass interfaces clean , crisp and with no lip buildup , ( 2 ) field size and dimensions should be maintained or corrected , ( 3 ) make sure soil amendments added during the season have not adversely affected the grade , and ( 4 ) pitcher ’ s mound , home plate and bases are all positioned correctly . SFM

Pamela Sherratt Sports turf extension specialist The Ohio State University

Questions ? Send them to Pamela Sherratt at 202D Kottman Hall , 2001 Coffey Road , Columbus , OH 43210 or sherratt . 1 @ osu . edu

Or send your question to Dr . Grady Miller , North Carolina State University , Box 7620 , Raleigh , NC 27695-7620 , or grady _ miller @ ncsu . edu

50 SportsField Management | December 2023 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com