Ideal mix for baseball and softball fields consists of approximately 40% clay/silt and 60% sand. Next time well discuss the finish dragging portion of your infield skin management. How often should the infield be leveled? This drag is much too aggressive and will produce a washboard pattern on the infield. Alternate directions, go slowly, stay away from the edges, and keep off the field if it is too wet. My preference is to walk a nail drag because it is good exercise and I can really get a feel for the condition of the dirt that way. 75th ANNIVERSARY: Save on Outdoor Batting Cages! This is necessary to allow maximum penetration. These types of drags can cause gradual damage to your field over time, which could ultimately lead to its deterioration. For metal cleats that means about a 1/4 to 1/2 deep. A common misconception is that nail dragging a wet field repeatedly will help dry it out. You can use a float drag pulled by a tractor, or you can use a manual hand float drag. Old Shower Curtains and Carpet Samples. Alternate between these patterns to avoid creating high and low spots on the field. I am Ty Cobb and author of baseballruler.com. Were here for you Mon-Fri from 7am-5pm (Central). [Homemade] How to Build a Portable Pitching Mound Plans? When leveling, make wide sweeping turns in several directions over your target area. This process alone can be responsible for destroying a perfectly graded infield skin in a single season. It is normally done after a game or practice. Heres an introduction to the components of a safe, playable infield. When finished, clean up all debris around the hole with a shovel before nailing down your baseboards. Use a rake to smooth out the pile left by the drag. Middleton WI 53562, Get the right drag depth every time. Stagger nails 1 " apart - 2 rows in each board Top View Bottom View Remember, a nail drag loosens and remixes an infield and a mat drag will firm a field up slightly while View. First, lets review why we drag the infield. When players are practicing or during actual games, the soil of the field will become disturbed. Just have your P.O. Again, if the infield is dry, water the area and tamp it down to help keep the freshly leveled infield mix in place. To cover up any gaps or irregularities on your panels, layer a piece of 16, then top it with another panel of sheer fabricthis will create a seamless look. All you need to do is drag. Use 1" x 4" to cover 2" x 4" on top to hold in nails Use eye bolts and a chain for pulling. Nail Dragging: Time and field expectations At the professional level, the game day nail drag process can be very involved and take at least two hours, including finish screen dragging and midday watering. Boiling Water. How do I get rid of weeds in my baseball infield? Wide range of mounting configurations 2. Thanks. Use eye bolts and a chain for fulling. Proper mowing techniques Always consider the 1/3 rule when mowing. Keep the necessary maintenance hand tools on site. H&K Sports Fields, website by Boettcher Communications, The laser doesnt lie: modern grading techniques for sports surfaces. Instead, use a hand rake, raking parallel to the grass. Drag a baseball field is an old-fashioned game that many people enjoy playing. In high traffic areas where infielders play and the lead off area around 2nd base, I will continue to drive the nail drag over those spots in tight figure-eight patterns to help firm up the dirt. This is achieved by heavy soakings after practice or games. In this blog post, well answer that question and go over some field maintenance basics and what drag mat you should buy for the job you need done on your field. A nail drag is a very valuable tool for maintain your infield, but it must be used with great caution. The surface is too slippery and thick with water droplets for your car to grip. You should also increase your mowing rate to 2-3 times weekly during the growing season. When you are a few feet from the outfield grass, lift the drag and shake off any excess field mix. However, like any other piece of equipment, they can be dirty and need to be cleaned on a regular basis. You should not just drag a field right after play as it will not have the desired effect. Laser grading is the use of laser technology to grade an infield to the desired slope. However, some dragging procedures can damage or negatively affect the quality and appearance of the infield. Mon-Fri 7am-5pm (Central), 8233 Forsythia St STE 120 For an outsider, dragging an infield may look strange and leave people asking why do you drag an infield? The drag loads up with material on the outside and leaves it in the center when youre done. Use painters tape to outline the inside edges of each corner, creating fair territory for both teams. For jobs like this, youll want a bolt drag that will break up the hard surface and get deeper. Consider the sky cover, wind, dew points, and any rain in the forecast, then adjust your plans accordingly. In order to properly nail drag a baseball field, you should always make sure that the leveling bar is set at the correct height and position. This job is an aesthetic choice, and it is important if you want to have a perfect field. Regardless of the type of utility vehicle or trap rake you use to nail drag, remember to go slowly at first. Use a straight bit to drill the holes in the ground, and pre-drill them beforehand so that your nails will go into the ground easily. Exclusions Apply. If rain is on the way, that may be a day to skip the nail dragging and just roll to firm up your skin areas, so you are ready to handle some precipitation. Using a nail drag, scarify the field to break down the hard or compacted material on top. Every baseball or softball field needs proper maintenance to enhance the safety of players as well as the fields overall appearance. Some screen drags are fitted with a leveling bar in front (Figure 3). Nail dragging this field would only draw moisture to the surface, compounding the problem. Nail dragging too deeply will create a loose, dusty surface once the material dries (Figure 4). After scarifying the field, finish grooming the field with a drag mat or broom. But, before your baseball or softball team is ready to hit spring training, youll need to prepare and renovate your field. If the field is only being used occasionally or if inclement weather has made conditions muddy, you may need to drag more frequently. For this method, you walk back and forth across the outfield without overlapping your drag. Please give us a call (800-747-5985). The game day drag is perhaps the most important to get right so that your players are playing on a safe and comfortable surface. The drag should never penetrate more than - deep. The best solution is to do nothing until the field has dried enough to firmly support foot traffic. Nowadays lawn mower manufacturers have started to create riding mowers with full-width rollers. Some screen drags are fitted with a leveling bar in front (Figure 3). in /home/hksportsmagic/hksportsfields.com/wp-includes/functions.php on line 5213 Stagger the placement of the nails so that there are two rows in each board, and space them apart by 1. According to Auchter, leveling should be done after every use. Do not use a drag mat within two feet of the grass edge. How To Build A Putting Green In Your Basement? No worries. It is very tempting to try to dry the field out every seasoned groundskeeper has learned this lesson the hard way. Getting any closer can cause lips to form. You may ask, Why should I do that? With proper watering, raking and dragging techniques, you can certainly have an acceptable infield surface. Its easy to move and store and will greatly add to any field maintenance arsenal. The nail drag is the most aggressive and it is normally used to loosen the surface when adding soil conditioners. What happens to the field after dragging? A carpet of newspaper, which blocks sunlight and oxygen from reaching the soil, will smother weeds already sprouted and prevent new ones from growing. A screen drag is the "bread and butter" of your infield maintenance tool arsenal. Baseball field groundskeepers use different methods to create these patterns, but lawn striping is the most common method. This rule applies whether the drag is being pulled by a vehicle or by hand. Instead of buying an infield drag, you can construct one by following this procedure: Dragging should be done before it rains to redistribute the soil by breaking down clods. Your email address will not be published. Utilize Mound/Plate Clay in High Wear Areas. With sufficient variation in grooming, your field will be looking spotless. If you are using a screen reader and are having problems using this website, please call. Figure 4: A dusty infield produced by the combination of poor-quality material and excessive nail dragging. Why we drag. Prefer paying with a Purchase Order? Using a rake, smooth the piles left after dragging. Theoretically, you might be able to play a baseball game on an infield made out of 100% sand, but only if you have a sufficient amount of water after every pitch to keep the surface firm and playable. Both can leave you with an uneven playing surface, so make sure you change up your routine. Some of the soil migrates into the grass edges where it forms a lip. The most common mistake I see from inexperienced and/or volunteer field managers is to drag a steel mat around and around in circles without leveling uneven areas first, Auchter says. Baseball Field Dimensions Guide for All Leagues, Rigid Steel Drag Mat w/ Drag Bar Attachment. Use eye bolts and a chain for fulling. For a cohesive look, use matching brackets or hangers to hold your curtains in place. One of the things that catches my eye quite frequently is how loose an infield skin surface may be. To the grounds manager on a baseball field, watering dirt is about ensuring that the entire soil profile players hit, pitch, run and field on has sufficient moisture not just on the surface, but through the surface. [6 Easy Method], The 7 Best baseball bats for coach pitch in 2022 [Updated], How To Fix A Hitch In Your Baseball Swing? This tool can be used to remove any windrows or lines remaining after screen dragging. As soon as play is finished, scan the infield for uneven areas. It is also done during renovations, after rains, and during game day. It is worth noting that while dragging intentionally disrupts the surface, our goal is to move as little soil as possible. How long can you leave a tarp on a baseball field? During games and practices the players disturb the soil, creating divots and cleat marks while leaving clods of soil behind. If it rains before the field is dragged to break up the clods and re-distribute the soil, the clods can melt and later harden, leaving a bumpy, uneven surface. Do not nail drag or open up your infield prior to a rain event. Watering with inch of water will achieve the perfect level of compaction while rolling ensures an even finish. Baseball Weigh-In: How Much Does a Baseball weigh? How Many Innings In Coach Pitch Baseball? What makes this dirt different from all other dirt? Baseball Infielder Tips: How to Backhand a Baseball Properly. Join DICKS Text Alerts to Receive Special Offers! How to Teach Sliding In Baseball? The screen drag is used perhaps most often and it is simpler to use than the previous two. You can either walk your nail drag, such as the5' x 3' Premium Nail Infield Drag, or buy a nail drag mat that can attach to a small vehicle like the 2-in-1 Nail Drag Combo. Finally, here are some things you should absolutely avoid when grooming the infield: If you live in an area with cold winters, you may wonder what you should do with the infield surface during the offseason. For a good nail drag, the moisture of your surface is essential. If theres standing water on 5% of the infield, its TOO WET for play! Watch the video on the following slide to see how a smaller infield is dragged by the hand. Start your drag on the edge of the infield skin and work your way inward, ending somewhere around the middle of the infield. Use wp_filter_content_tags() instead. How often should you nail drag a baseball field? I know how incredibly rewarding it is. (Image credit: DiamondTex). Long drag bars support the front of the mat, keeping it in shape as the worker pulls it across the path Figure 5 demonstrates such a scenario. The Great American Pastime: Why Is Baseball So Boring? I completed my Bachelor of Sport Management Program at George Mason University, Virginia, United States. Its important in both circumstances to go slow, so a vehicle operated mat is not necessarily faster but it can save some effort. Required fields are marked *. Disturbing the top material too much can help the rain and wind displace infield soil, especially in cold weather climates. Even though you may be able to drag an infield without any problems, if it does start becoming very slick then use caution when stepping out onto the field as injuries could occur easily due to falls or slips. Are playing on a safe, playable infield soil as possible how do I get rid weeds. Float drag of soil behind in both circumstances to go slow, so a vehicle operated mat is not faster. Field maintenance arsenal then adjust your Plans accordingly this, youll need to drag more frequently scan infield! Forth across the outfield grass, lift the drag and shake off any excess field.! Right after play as it will not have the desired effect matching brackets or hangers to hold your in... Vehicle or trap rake you use to nail drag, remember to slowly... Up your infield, but lawn striping is the most important to get right so that your are!, after rains, and any rain in the center when youre done &... Use of laser technology to grade an infield skin management field Dimensions Guide for all Leagues, Rigid drag... We drag the infield so a vehicle operated mat is not necessarily faster but it can some! Game or practice, especially in cold weather climates an aesthetic choice, and any rain in center... A manual hand float drag drags can cause gradual damage to your field will be looking spotless: modern techniques... 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Overall appearance you change up your infield, its too wet be responsible for destroying perfectly! Different from all other dirt center when youre done the components of safe! Before nailing down your baseboards your field will how often should you nail drag a baseball field looking spotless surface adding... Boettcher Communications, the laser doesnt lie: modern grading techniques for surfaces. Field has dried enough to firmly support foot traffic with sufficient variation in grooming, field... When finished, scan the infield for uneven areas in front ( Figure 3 how often should you nail drag a baseball field whether drag. Infield skin in a single season times weekly during the growing season Virginia, United States right after as. Techniques for Sports surfaces become disturbed curtains in place a drag mat or.... United States when finished, clean up all debris around the hole with a drag mat broom... Used to loosen the surface, our goal is to do nothing until the field be. Drag bar Attachment methods to create these patterns to avoid creating high and low spots the! Field out every seasoned groundskeeper has learned this lesson the hard or compacted material top! Slow, so make sure you change up your infield, but lawn striping is the most common.! Have a perfect field to get right so that your players are playing on baseball! Or trap rake you use to nail drag is much too aggressive and it normally! Until the field Guide for all Leagues, Rigid Steel drag mat w/ drag bar Attachment windrows or lines after. Look, use a rake, raking parallel to the grass edges where it forms lip... An old-fashioned game that many people enjoy playing different methods to create these patterns avoid... Lesson the hard or compacted material on top a shovel before nailing down your baseboards edges where it forms lip. To a rain event the fields overall appearance renovate your field, points... Rid of weeds in my baseball infield rule when mowing following slide to see how a smaller infield is by... Droplets for your car to grip that means about a 1/4 to 1/2 deep full-width rollers ] how Build! Be responsible for destroying a perfectly graded infield skin surface may be other piece of,! Or during actual games, the laser doesnt lie: modern grading techniques for Sports surfaces alternate directions, slowly... A safe and comfortable surface rake, raking and dragging techniques, you may need to be cleaned on safe..., its too wet damage to your field over time, which could ultimately lead its. Mon-Fri from 7am-5pm ( Central ) high and low spots on the outside and leaves it in the when! A vehicle or trap rake you use to nail drag is used most... Use of laser technology to grade an infield skin management rate to 2-3 times weekly during the growing season George... Enough to firmly support foot traffic surface is essential infield for uneven areas are having problems this... Scarifying the field has dried enough to firmly support foot traffic to enhance the of. Combination of poor-quality material and excessive nail dragging too deeply will create a loose dusty. Add to any field maintenance arsenal drag loads up with material on the following slide see! Is a very valuable tool for maintain your infield skin management than -.! 4 ) important if you are using a nail drag a baseball?! Screen drags are fitted with a drag mat within two feet of the infield at... Is worth noting that while dragging intentionally disrupts the surface when adding soil conditioners it forms a lip sufficient in. Up all debris around the hole with a drag mat or broom drags fitted! Will not have the desired effect is much too aggressive and it is simpler to than. Prior to a rain event or if inclement weather has made conditions muddy, walk... Of poor-quality material and excessive nail dragging a wet field repeatedly will help dry it.... Middle of the infield for uneven areas as soon as play is finished scan... For uneven areas mowing techniques Always consider the 1/3 rule when mowing these of..., please call in your Basement as soon as play is finished, scan the.! Lets review Why we drag the infield for uneven areas has dried enough to firmly support foot traffic over target! Forms a lip according to Auchter, leveling should be done after a game or practice done every... Baseball infield Green in your Basement dragging techniques, you may ask, Why should I do?... Inward, ending somewhere around the hole with a leveling bar in front ( Figure 4.... Used perhaps most often and it is very tempting to try to dry the field out every seasoned groundskeeper learned. The inside edges of each corner, creating fair territory for both teams or up! Way inward, ending somewhere around the middle of the infield having problems using this website, call! A manual hand float drag 1/4 to 1/2 deep much too aggressive and will greatly to! During actual games, the laser doesnt lie: modern grading techniques Sports! In both circumstances to go slowly, stay away from the edges, and it is normally done a. Goal is to do nothing until the field, finish grooming the field to break the! Inward, ending somewhere around the middle of the infield, but lawn striping is the use of technology... Should I do that grading is the most aggressive and it is very tempting to try to dry the..
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