Built for IMPACT

Shockpads are a crucial element of 3G pitch systems. SportsNation spoke to some of the leading suppliers in the field

Shock pads are impact-absorbing underlays installed beneath the synthetic carpet in modern 3G turf pitch systems. They act as a resilient cushioning layer, designed to provide vital shock absorption, enhance player safety and extend the lifespan of the synthetic surface. Crucially, they also deliver uniform bounce and ball roll across the entire pitch, helping to prevent the playing surface from compacting and hardening over time. SportsNation spoke to three leading shockpad suppliers to gauge their views on the latest industry trends and to gain insight into their latest product innovations.

Regupol: Consistent playing characteristics through prefabricated shockpads

The quality of a synthetic turf system is largely determined by its structural build-up. As requirements for durability, playing comfort and consistent performance continue to increase, the shockpad is becoming an increasingly important focus in system design.

With Regupol turfpad SP, Regupol offers a prefabricated shockpad for synthetic turf systems designed to deliver stable performance. Manufactured from high-end granulates, it ensures uniform force reduction and consistent ball behaviour across the entire playing surface.

Factory production allows for defined material properties and a high level of uniformity across the surface. This results in reproducible sports functional characteristics that can be precisely integrated into the overall system design. For planners and contractors, this means a high level of installation reliability and a dependable basis for the implementation of demanding sports surfaces.

As part of the overall system, the shockpad plays a key role in the durability of the pitch. It helps to maintain mechanical properties even under intensive use and thus supports the long-term quality of the facility.

Regupol turfpad SP is suitable for a wide range of artificial turf systems and meets the requirements of modern sports facilities in terms of functionality, safety and longevity.

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Schmitz Foam: Circular economy shock pads deserve more recognition

The transition toward more sustainable sports infrastructure is accelerating worldwide. Environmental product assessments are becoming increasingly important in procurement and specification processes across the synthetic turf industry. Schmitz Foam says it supports this development – but feels that environmental assessment methods should better reflect true circularity.

“Transparent environmental data is essential to building a more sustainable future”, the company says. “Our latest Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results have highlighted an important challenge: today’s environmental scoring systems do not always reflect circularity as expected.”

For decades, Schmitz Foam has focused on circular production methods for shock pads, an integral part of sustainable synthetic turf systems. Its flagship product, ProPlay, is manufactured from repurposed cross-linked polyethylene foam sourced from industrial residual streams. Every year, Schmitz Foam gives more than 10 million kilograms of reclaimed foam a second life through its circular production process, from its Roermond facility alone.

Designed for durability, player comfort and sports performance, ProPlay combines premium performance with responsible material use. Yet recent reassessment in line with the latest EN 15804 framework and registration in the Dutch National Environmental Database (NMD) revealed the complexity of evaluating circular products within existing environmental models.

“Current LCA methodologies strongly weigh factors such as product mass and transport impact,” the company says. “As a result, products manufactured from reclaimed materials are not always fully recognised for their contribution to waste reduction and material reuse, while products based on virgin raw materials may receive environmental credits later in their lifecycle.”

Schmitz Foam believes transparent environmental assessment methodologies are essential for the future of sustainable sports infrastructure. The industry should continue refining these systems to ensure circular material use is properly recognised.

Because sustainability is not only about reducing emissions, it is equally about preserving valuable materials, extending product lifecycles and ensuring that circular products remain viable, so resources can stay in continuous use for future generations instead of becoming waste again.

Trocellen: ProGame shock pads deliver in Spain

In Vizcaya, Northern Spain, a newly completed football pitch is setting the standard for modern sports infrastructure – combining performance, durability and smart system design beneath every step of the game.

As part of an extension project for a private school, the 5,594sq m installation integrates Trocellen’s ProGame shock pad beneath a synthetic turf system, installed on a solid asphalt base. While invisible to the eye, the shock pad plays a decisive role in how the pitch performs – day after day, match after match.

At the heart of the system, ProGame 5010 XC is engineered to do more than just absorb impact. It delivers consistent force reduction and controlled energy restitution, creating a balanced playing surface that supports athlete safety while enhancing comfort and performance. The result is a field that feels reliable underfoot, reduces player fatigue and maintains its playing characteristics even under intensive use.

Designed specifically for synthetic turf applications, the shock pad ensures uniform surface behaviour across the entire pitch – an essential factor for both training environments and competitive play. Its robust structure also contributes to long-term resilience, helping facilities meet performance standards over time without compromising on quality.

While invisible to the eye, the shock pad plays a decisive role in how the pitch performs – day after day, match after match

More than just a single project, the field in Vizcaya reflects a broader trend: the growing demand for high-performance, future-ready sports surfaces. At the same time, it highlights ProGame’s expanding footprint in Spain, supported by strong local partnerships and increasing regional presence.