New Dry Hockey Pitch - Domo Sports Grass

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has a clear and ambitious vision for the future of hockey pitches: they will be played entirely without water. However, achieving this vision is easier said than done.

Hockey players, who rightly place high demands on their playing environment, logically do not want to compromise on playing comfort and performance. This has made the development of dry hockey surfaces a major challenge, as the current dry pitch solutions on the market do not yet meet the needs of hockey players.

Not the first, but surely the pioneer of dry hockey pitches

Domo® Sports Grass has risen to this challenge with the introduction of Domo® Optimum Dry. This innovative dry hockey pitch has been created using a proprietary, patent-pending yarn technology developed to meet the performance requirements of both the FIH and hockey players.

Geert Haentjens, who is part of our R&D team, was at the beginning and further development of this new hockey product: "For us, the balance between softness and smoothness of the hockey surface was the crucial factor in the development. The existing dry hockey pitches feel rough which increases the risk of injury and the ball behaviour can never be the same as on a water-based pitch. We felt that developing a new unique fibre could make a difference here. The fibre is round and much finer than the average hockey fibre, making the softness and smoothness a significant difference compared to current solutions in the market. By optimisation of the fibre density in the artificial turf and adding our Domo® Infinitum backing, the result is an optimal hockey product for dry use."

This means that Domo® Optimum Dry ensures that hockey players can execute their playing techniques in a manner closely resembling traditional hockey pitches that are irrigated with water. The extremely round, textured fibres provide a smooth and soft playing surface, allowing players to rely on consistent and fast ball behaviour. They can also glide with less risk of injury, while still maintaining sufficient grip thanks to the high number of filaments in the pitch.

Innovation driven by practical experience

Our Business Line Director, hockey coach and former international Belgian hockey player Jean Willems was involved in the development from the very beginning. He knows better than anyone what a hockey pitch needs to get the best out of players.

"The most important aspect of a dry hockey pitch is that hockey players can execute their techniques effectively and have full control of the ball, similar to classic water-based pitches. Until now, this has not been the case with the dry water pitches on the market so far. These pitches were quickly brought to market to meet the FIH Innovation Category, but issues with roughness made sliding difficult. With Domo® Optimum Dry, we aimed to improve upon this, and we can confidently say that we are the first to strike the right balance." - Jean Willems
The next step, according to Jean Willems, is now to install the first Domo® Optimum Dry hockey pitches and receive the reactions from the rest of the hockey world.

Sustainability in hockey: a different approach to water and materials

Domo® Optimum Dry is designed to deliver consistent hockey performance without the need for pitch watering during play.

Traditional hockey pitches can require significant amounts of water to maintain playing conditions. Depending on the pitch, weather conditions and watering practices, water consumption can vary considerably.

By eliminating the need for watering during matches, Domo® Optimum Dry can help reduce water use associated with pitch preparation and play.

This can also reduce the operational resources required for pitch maintenance, making the system an option for clubs and municipalities looking to manage water use and operating requirements.

Moreover, Domo® Optimum Dry is available with the latex- and polyurethane-free Domo® Infinitum backing. This backing configuration has been developed with material recovery and recycling in mind.

Depending on the complete turf system configuration and available recycling infrastructure, materials recovered at the end of the pitch's service life can be processed for use in new turf components or other plastic applications.

The future of hockey pitches is possible today

The journey to creating a waterless hockey pitch that performs closely to a water-based pitch has been full of challenges, but the rewards are substantial. Thanks to the continuous efforts of our R&D team and our contacts with the hockey community, we can achieve a sustainable future for hockey. Here, Domo® Optimum Dry offers the perfect balance between quality, comfort and environmental responsibility. With this artificial grass, we can ensure that future generations will enjoy hockey as much as hockey players do today.