Hockey turf installation

Water-based and sand-dressed hockey surfaces laid to FIH playing dimensions, with irrigation and drainage planned in.

Hockey is played on the surface, not over it

Hockey demands a low, dense pile so the ball runs true and fast. A football turf will not do the job — the ball snags and the drag-flick dies on the surface.

Water-based turf gives the fastest, truest surface and is what international play uses. Sand-dressed is the practical choice where an irrigation system is not viable.

12–15 mm pile for true, fast ball roll
Irrigation planning included for water-based pitches
Shock pad mandatory under competition surfaces
Asphalt or engineered base for a dead-flat plane

Hockey specification
Item	Specification
Pitch size	91.4 m × 55 m (FIH)
Pile height	12–15 mm
Surface	Water-based / sand-dressed
Yarn	Texturised polyethylene
Shock pad	Required, 10–15 mm
Base	Asphalt or engineered aggregate
Irrigation	Perimeter cannon system
Standard	FIH Global / National

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Surface options

Four systems, chosen by site

Which one is right depends on rainfall, hours of play and what is already on the ground.

System 01

Water-based turf

Unfilled, irrigated surface. The fastest and what international hockey uses.

System 02

Sand-dressed turf

Partly filled with sand. Lower running cost, no irrigation needed.

System 03

Sand-filled turf

Fully filled. Training and multi-use grounds.

System 04

Shock pad system

In-situ or prefabricated pad beneath the hockey carpet.

Common questions

Hockey FAQ

Water-based or sand-dressed?

Water-based for competition speed. Sand-dressed where irrigation is impractical or running costs matter more.

Can football and hockey share one pitch?

Not well — the pile heights conflict. We advise separate surfaces, or a compromise multi-sport spec that suits neither perfectly.

How much water does a water-based pitch use?

Roughly 20,000–40,000 litres per full watering. Rainwater harvesting and recirculation are worth planning in from the start.

Related surfaces

Other sports we build

Football & Futsal

Basketball

Badminton

Tennis

All twelve sports

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Tell us about the ground

Send the sport, the area and the location. We come back with a specification and a number — after a site inspection, not a guess.

Free site inspection across the North-East
Written specification before you commit
One contractor from base to handover