The infill is the system. The same 50 mm carpet plays like a different pitch depending on what is brushed into it. Sand ballasts and stiffens. Rubber cushions and slows the ball. No infill means a denser pile that stands on its own. Each is right somewhere.
| Sand + rubber | Sand-dressed | Non-infill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical pile | 50 mm | 35 to 40 mm | 30 to 40 mm |
| Play | Closest to natural grass; cushioned, slower ball | Firmer, faster; true cricket bounce | Firm and fast, futsal-like |
| Shock absorption | Highest; FIFA-tested systems | Moderate | Moderate, from pile density |
| Weight | About 25 kg/sq m of infill | About 12 kg/sq m | Under 8 kg/sq m with underlay |
| Maintenance | Brush, rubber and sand top-ups | Brush, sand top-up | Brush only |
| Cleanliness | Rubber tracks on shoes | Some sand | Nothing tracks |
| Best for | Full-size and 7-a-side pitches, clubs, academies | Box cricket, multi-sport, tennis | Rooftops, podiums, rental 5-a-side |
Sand and rubber.
The FIFA-tested standard. Silica sand goes in first to hold the fibres upright, SBR rubber on top to give the cushioning the shock-absorption test measures. It plays the most like grass and it is what a club or academy should build. It is also the heaviest system and the one that needs the most maintenance, because rubber migrates under heavy play and must be topped up.
Sand-dressed.
Sand only, brushed to partial depth on a shorter pile. This is the 35 mm hybrid turf under most box cricket grounds and the 15 mm tennis system: a firmer, faster surface with a consistent bounce. Lighter, cheaper, cleaner than a rubber system, and the right choice wherever cricket or tennis comes first.
Non-infill.
A dense, curled-fibre pile that cushions on its own, laid on a shock underlay. No sand, no rubber, a third of the weight. It is what goes on rooftops and podiums, and increasingly on ground-level rental 5-a-sides where operators want a cleaner surface and no infill bills. Firmer and faster than a rubber pitch; players adapt in a session.
Choosing.
- Club, academy, full-size or 7-a-side: sand and rubber on a FIFA Quality or Pro system.
- School ground: sand and rubber on 14K, or sand-dressed hybrid if cricket comes first.
- Box cricket: sand-dressed 35 mm hybrid.
- Rooftop, podium, terrace: non-infill 30 mm.
- Rental 5-a-side on the ground: either sand and rubber on 12K to 14K or non-infill 40 mm; the second is cleaner and cheaper to run.
Products for each on the football page; infill supply on the infill page.
Questions, asked often.
Does rubber infill get hot?
Black SBR absorbs heat and a rubber pitch runs warmer in the afternoon sun. Evening play, lighter infill blends or a sand-dressed system are the answers in hot cities.
Can a sand-dressed pitch be certified?
Not to FIFA Quality for football; the shock absorption is too low. It can be ITF classified for tennis.
Which is cheapest?
Sand-dressed, then non-infill, then sand and rubber. The base is the same for all three, so the difference is a few rupees per sq ft.
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