When it comes to softball and baseball field construction and maintenance, choosing the right infield mix is critical to safe and satisfying game play. Without a good mix, players can be injured or games can be delayed longer due to rain. The right infield mix however, is comfortable to play on, helps manage water content, and keeps players safe from cracks or over-dried ground.
If you are looking for athletic field equipment and maintenance accessories, look no further. As a dedicated field maintenance equipment company based out of St. Louis, SportsFields4u provides high quality materials and expert advice on all things related to athletic field equipment and maintenance for sports fields throughout Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and other surrounding states. Our specialty, however, is baseball, and we take our infield mix very seriously.
To learn more about SportsFields4u and the products we can provide, just give us a call at 636-235-3000.
What Is Infield Mix?
Infield mixes have been developed carefully over the history of baseball as a sport. In short, an infield mix is a blend of soil, silt, clay, and possibly additional conditioners and additives that fills out the infield of a baseball field. While this sounds simple at first, getting the mix of these three components just right can be complicated — and your infield mix needs will change based on the environment of the field, the level of use, and all kinds of other factors. Thankfully, there are a few different options on the market, and our professional team at SportsFields4u can help you sort through the options and find the right mix for you.
What to Look for When it Comes to Infield Mixes
One thing to keep in mind when choosing the best infield mix is that you want a well-balanced mix of these three core components: sand, silt, and clay. Too much sand, and the playing surface will dry out becoming too unstable and soft. On the other hand, too much silt and clay can create draining issues, which leads to puddles, rain delays and more. Plus, with repeated use and potential drying, an infield mix with too much clay will become hard and even crack creating an uneven playing surface and dangerous conditions on the field.
When you are looking for the right infield mix, it is important to know what percentage of the mix is made of each of these components. Then you will need to consider your weather conditions and play needs, and whether you want to add any conditioners or color to the mix.
Our Infield Mix Products
At SportsFields4u, we provide only top of the line mixes. You will find these great products available from leading manufacturers:
- Turface SAF Diamond Mix: This is our most cost-sensitive mix, made from a naturally occurring blend of silt, clay, and sand. It performs consistently, but does require watering and moisture monitoring for the best results.
- Turface SAF Diamond Select: With a sand content at 70%, this infield mix is meant to be easier to maintain and offers consistency above all else.
- Turface SAF Diamond Elite: This mix is a beautiful red color that can add an aesthetic touch to your ballfield. Furthermore, it can be custom blended to your specifications, though is generally provided with 60% sand, and 20% each of silt and clay.
- Diamond Pro Infield Mix: From Diamond Pro, this mix uses screened clay and features a 60% sand to 40% silt and clay ratio.
Learn More About Choosing the Best Infield Mix
To learn more about our range of field maintenance equipment and accessories or for help selecting the best mix for your softball or baseball infield, contact the experts at SportsFields4u today. Contact us online or call us in St. Louis at 636-235-3000.
