{"id":1039,"date":"2026-05-04T14:06:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T14:06:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/?p=1039"},"modified":"2026-09-11T15:51:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T15:51:26","slug":"3g-vs-4g-pitch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/fr\/3g-vs-4g-pitch\/","title":{"rendered":"Pelouse 3G vs 4G : quelle est la diff\u00e9rence ?"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\nh2 { font-size: 1.6em; line-height: 1.3; margin: 40px 0 18px; }\nh3 { font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.35; margin: 26px 0 12px; }\np { line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 28px; }\ntable { display: table !important; width: 100% !important; border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 28px; }\nth { text-align: left; padding: 12px 14px; background: #1a5c2e; color: #ffffff; font-weight: 600; }\ntd { padding: 12px 14px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5e5e5; vertical-align: top; }\nfigure { margin: 0 0 28px; }\nfigure img { width: 100%; height: auto; border-radius: 8px; }\nfigcaption { text-align: center; font-style: italic; color: #666; font-size: .9em; margin-top: 8px; }\n<\/style>\n<p>Is a 4G pitch just a 3G pitch with the rubber crumb removed? Buyers ask us that exact question every week, and the ruling is no. A 3G pitch is an infilled system, engineered as turf plus sand plus rubber; a 4G pitch is a non-infill concept whose stability must come from the carpet alone. That single difference decides testing, maintenance, budget and what your surface is allowed to host.<\/p>\n<p>We answer the 3G vs 4G pitch question from the factory floor, where both labels land in the same quote requests every week. The 2G side of the family, including a blunt word on generation marketing, lives in our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/2g-vs-3g-artificial-turf\/\">2G vs 3G artificial turf<\/a>. This page digs deeper on the 4G claims: how each build works, what each can be tested and approved for, and what each costs to live with. Where the evidence is thin, we say so; where a claim is marketing, we call it that.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<img fetchpriority=\"high\" style=\"width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:8px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3g-vs-4g-pitch-slot1.webp\" alt=\"Skid loader working on a sports field surface\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"wp-image-1017\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3g-vs-4g-pitch-slot1.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3g-vs-4g-pitch-slot1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3g-vs-4g-pitch-slot1-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3g-vs-4g-pitch-slot1-768x512.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption>Every generation difference shows up in the surface work first.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"what-is-3g\">What Is a 3G Pitch?<\/h2>\n<p>A 3G pitch is a three-part artificial turf installation: long-pile carpet, silica sand and rubber performance infill. Football builds commonly run a pile of 40-60 mm, with the sand settled at the base of the pile and the rubber filling most of the space above it. A shock pad under the carpet is optional, specified where extra cushioning is needed. Buyers still call every artificial surface Astroturf, but a modern 3G pitch shares nothing with those old short-pile carpets beyond the family nickname.<\/p>\n<p>The infill wears three hats at the same time. It props the blades upright, stabilises the carpet and supplies most of the shock absorption. That is why a slide on a properly filled 3G surface hurts less, and why the ball behaves closer to natural grass. Most football builds pair polyethylene monofilament blades with a polypropylene thatch beneath, a yarn combination the factory side of the market knows inside out. One sports agency describes these pitches as durable, safe, year-round surfaces able to withstand intensive use in any weather.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-is-4g\">What Is a 4G Pitch?<\/h2>\n<p>A 4G pitch is marketed as the step that removes infill. Instead of sand and rubber, the surface relies on yarn structure, density and carpet construction to stand the blades up and absorb play. In practice the label covers several constructions, which is the first warning sign: when one word describes many products, the word is marketing, not a specification.<\/p>\n<p>Without infill, density does the work that sand and rubber do elsewhere: it holds the blades upright and carries the impact of play. The trade is a cleaner surface with no loose crumb to migrate, which is why non-infill carpet found its first real home in indoor halls and small training areas. Expect the label to keep shifting too, because every manufacturer builds density differently.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"comparison-table\">Side by Side: The Full Comparison<\/h2>\n<p>Put the two systems next to each other and the differences stop being adjectives. This is the 3g vs 4g pitch comparison we walk buyers through before any artificial turf installation quote is signed.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Feature<\/th>\n<th>3G Pitch<\/th>\n<th>4G Pitch<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Pile height<\/td>\n<td>40-60 mm on football builds<\/td>\n<td>Usually shorter and much denser<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Infill<\/td>\n<td>Silica sand plus rubber performance infill<\/td>\n<td>None; stability carried by yarn and density<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fibre materials<\/td>\n<td>Long-pile carpet, commonly PE monofilament blades over a PP thatch<\/td>\n<td>Dense short-pile yarn builds; composition varies by system<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Cushioning<\/td>\n<td>Carried by the infill, optional shock pad<\/td>\n<td>Depends on carpet build and shock pad design<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Feel underfoot<\/td>\n<td>Soft, close to natural grass<\/td>\n<td>Firmer and faster<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Ball behaviour<\/td>\n<td>Predictable bounce and roll, damped by the infill<\/td>\n<td>Quicker roll and higher bounce; varies between products<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Maintenance<\/td>\n<td>Grooming, infill top-ups, de-compaction<\/td>\n<td>Brushing and cleaning, no infill work<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Approval route<\/td>\n<td>Established testing with major governing bodies<\/td>\n<td>No dedicated certification category<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Lifespan evidence<\/td>\n<td>Documented with upkeep; usage decides<\/td>\n<td>Long-term data still lacking<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Best fit<\/td>\n<td>Football, rugby, certified match play<\/td>\n<td>Training, indoor and recreational use<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>One analogy holds the table together. Infill works like ballast in a ship&#8217;s hull: invisible while it sits where it should, and the first suspect the moment the surface starts to misbehave. Remove the ballast and the whole design has to compensate with structure alone. That is precisely the bet a 4G build makes.<\/p>\n<p>Ball behaviour splits the two systems too. On a filled 3G surface the bounce and roll stay predictable because the infill damps the impact. On non-infill carpet, players report a quicker roll and a higher bounce that varies between products, which matters once matches depend on a true bounce.<\/p>\n<p>On either system, roll width quietly moves the final bill. Our standard rolls come in 2m, 4m or 5m widths at 25m long, and a 4m roll covers roughly 100 square meters. On pitch-scale projects the wider carpet means fewer seams to tape and protect, which matters most where infill would migrate through a bad seam. The range view of surfaces sits on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/sports-artificial-grass\/\">sports artificial grass<\/a> hub.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<img style=\"width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:8px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3g-vs-4g-pitch-slot2.webp\" alt=\"Brown rubber granule infill texture in close-up\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" class=\"wp-image-1018\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3g-vs-4g-pitch-slot2.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3g-vs-4g-pitch-slot2-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3g-vs-4g-pitch-slot2-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3g-vs-4g-pitch-slot2-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption>Rubber infill is the layer that makes a 3G pitch play like grass.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"player-experience\">Player Experience: Bounce, Grip and Skin<\/h2>\n<p>Construction settles the comparison on paper; players settle it with their feet. Grip is where the 3g vs 4g pitch difference starts. On a filled surface, studs bite into sand and rubber, so turns, stops and sprints feel controlled. On dense non-infill carpet, grip comes from the yarn alone, and the firmer ride makes play feel quicker. Neither system is wrong here; they simply hand the same game a different tempo.<\/p>\n<p>Skin tells the rest of the story. A slide on a properly filled 3G pitch lands on a cushioned layer, so friction stays predictable and abrasions stay shallow. A surface without that layer leans entirely on the shock pad beneath it, so comfort varies more from build to build. That is why pad and infill specification decide how a surface feels as much as the carpet does. Facilities that host mixed ages feel this most, because children judge a surface by how falls end.<\/p>\n<p>Safety questions belong in the same conversation, handled honestly. Published research on infilled 3G surfaces has generally found injury rates comparable to natural grass, which is why the established route survived years of scrutiny. No comparable body of long-term evidence exists yet for non-infill play, and until it does, any safety claim either way is a forecast, not a finding.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"sports-fit\">Which Sports and Levels Suit Each<\/h2>\n<p>Match the surface to the sport before comparing labels. Football runs the full span on 3G: junior training, senior sessions and sanctioned competition all sit inside the tested route. Rugby asks more of a surface, because scrums and repeated heavy contact demand deeper shock absorption and stricter testing, and only an infilled system built for that load qualifies.<\/p>\n<p>Hockey sits on a different branch of the family, historically tied to shorter sand-dressed carpet rather than long-pile 3G. Multi-use games areas compromise with shorter piles and sand dressings, which is why a MUGA never plays like a full-size football pitch. The lesson generalises: a surface tuned to one sport rarely serves another at the same standard.<\/p>\n<p>Training grounds sit lower down the same ladder. A session surface can tolerate compromise on pile height and testing because nobody awards points on it, but write the intended level into the quote anyway. A pitch specced for drills will feel the strain the moment fixtures arrive.<\/p>\n<p>Schools and community clubs weigh a different set of numbers: weekly hours, mixed age groups and a maintenance budget that competes with everything else. A 3G artificial turf installation earns its keep where the site hosts fixtures or rents out peak hours. Non-infill carpet suits a low-mess training yard that never hosts a league game. The 3g vs 4g pitch choice here is a timetable question, not a technology question.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"four-g-myth\">The Truth About 4G and 5G Labels<\/h2>\n<p>Independent definitions are blunt about this. Guidance published by one national football association states plainly that there is no such thing as 4G or 5G, calling them terms used by salespeople. The same guidance declines to accept non-infilled carpets as football surfaces at the levels that matter. Government guidance in another market goes further, classifying 4G as an early-stage technology that no governing body has yet recognised.<\/p>\n<p>None of this makes non-infill carpet useless. It makes it a different product with a narrower job: training areas, indoor facilities and recreational spaces where loose infill is a nuisance. Our advice is to treat every 4G quote as an unproven system until the test reports arrive. Ask what the carpet is made of, how density is achieved and which tests the finished system has passed.<\/p>\n<p>The 5G label now drifting through brochures deserves the same scepticism. A bigger number is a sales story until an independent test category stands behind it, and today none does.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"boots\">Boots: What You Wear on Each Surface<\/h2>\n<p>Footwear is where the 3g vs 4g pitch difference becomes personal. On an infilled 3G surface, moulded studs and artificial-ground soles are the sensible default, because they grip the carpet without punching through the pile into the base. Long aggressive studs and metal blades dig past the fibres, stress the backing, and most facility operators ban them for exactly that reason. Facility rules exist to protect both the player and the carpet, so check them before the first session.<\/p>\n<p>Non-infill carpet plays firmer underfoot, and short stud patterns keep that ride honest. Smooth trainers rarely give enough grip once play speeds up. The same pair of boots usually serves both surfaces, which is one less line item to budget. Because every 4G build differs, the operator&#8217;s footwear rules are the final word on any given site.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"weather\">Weather: Freeze, Flood and Heavy Rain<\/h2>\n<p>Rain is the easy case when the system is built right. An artificial turf installation drains through perforated backing into a free-draining base, and the falls engineered into that base move water off the field. When a surface holds water, the fault usually sits below the carpet: a blocked or badly graded base, not the turf itself.<\/p>\n<p>Freeze is the honest caveat. Moisture held inside sand and rubber infill can harden in a cold snap, and a frozen 3G surface is unsafe until it thaws. That is why responsible operators inspect and close rather than schedule. A thaw returns the surface to service, and the inspection record is what protects players in between. Neither system escapes that rule, because both stand on the same kind of base.<\/p>\n<p>Non-infill carpet does not automatically handle standing water better. With no infill in the pile, a 4G pitch leans entirely on base drainage and fibre design. A seller who equates no infill with all-weather performance is skipping a step. Judge weather behaviour by the drainage plan, never by the generation label.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"maintenance\">Maintenance You Should Budget For<\/h2>\n<p>A caretaker dragging a grooming brush across goalmouths every Friday knows the difference better than any brochure. A 3G artificial turf installation lives on that routine: grooming keeps the blades upright, top-ups replace rubber that play has migrated, and periodic de-compaction stops the surface hardening. Skip the cycle and ball roll degrades first, then player complaints arrive.<\/p>\n<p>Maintenance is where the 3g vs 4g pitch argument is usually won. The 4G column looks emptier, and sellers lean on that. What never disappears is brushing, cleaning and inspection, because litter, organic debris and compaction happen on any outdoor carpet. No infill does not mean no maintenance, and a supplier who says otherwise is selling the quote, not the surface.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<img style=\"width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:8px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3g-vs-4g-pitch-slot3.webp\" alt=\"Utility vehicle parked at a sports facility\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"wp-image-1019\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3g-vs-4g-pitch-slot3.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3g-vs-4g-pitch-slot3-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3g-vs-4g-pitch-slot3-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3g-vs-4g-pitch-slot3-768x512.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption>Maintenance fleets differ as much as the carpets do.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"lifetime-costs\">Lifetime Costs: The Ten-Year View<\/h2>\n<p>Follow the money across ten years, not one invoice. A 3G budget carries three infill line items: the initial sand and rubber purchase, periodic top-ups as play migrates material, and de-compaction visits. A 4G budget deletes those three items but rarely prices the compensation: denser carpet, heavier yarn and a firmer ride for players who judge the surface every session.<\/p>\n<p>Longevity under heavy usage is where the systems part company again. A maintained 3G build absorbs thousands of hours of school sessions, club training and weekend fixtures, and wear shows first in goalmouths and centre circles where play concentrates. Non-infill carpet is marketed as outlasting infilled systems, yet with long-term data still missing the claim remains a forecast. A shallow infill profile can concentrate wear in exactly those high-traffic zones. On either carpet, the care programme decides service life more than the label does.<\/p>\n<p>Public data on the full lifetime comparison is thin, and we would rather admit that than invent a winner. What is documented is narrower: non-infill builds save the infill purchase and its follow-up costs. The service life of a maintained 3G pitch tracks usage, climate and how faithfully the care programme is followed. Our factory-direct carpet pricing runs $7-60 per square meter, indicative until spec and quantity are confirmed, with grade and type setting the final point. Compare systems on carpet spec, maintenance plan and test evidence together, never on the carpet line alone.<\/p>\n<div class=\"cta-box\" style=\"background:#f0f7f2;border:2px solid #1a5c2e;border-radius:8px;padding:28px;margin:0 0 28px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#1a5c2e;margin-top:0;\">Get a Spec, Not a Label<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:20px;\">Tell us the sport, the weekly usage and the area, and we will spec carpet, infill plan and roll widths to match. A free 20 x 20 cm sample pack ships in four to six days, so the surface reaches your hands before the invoice.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/contact-us\/\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#1a5c2e;color:#ffffff;padding:12px 28px;border-radius:6px;text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;\">Request a Pitch Spec<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"approval-path\">Getting Approved for League Play<\/h2>\n<p>This is where the 3G vs 4G pitch difference stops being academic. Major governing bodies run established laboratory and field test programmes for infilled 3G systems, and an artificial turf installation that passes can host training and specified levels of competitive play. Non-infill systems have no dedicated certification category today, so a 4G surface cannot currently carry the approval a sanctioned fixture requires.<\/p>\n<p>The bill for ignoring this arrives at fixture time. A club that needs sanctioned fixtures must budget for the tested route from day one, because no retrofit turns non-infill carpet into an approved surface. Buying the unproven system for league play usually means buying the compliant surface twice.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-we-spec\">How We Would Spec It<\/h2>\n<p>If a client brought us both quotes for an artificial turf installation tomorrow, we would put three questions on the table first. What sport and what level does the timetable serve? What maintenance crew and budget will actually exist in year three? Only then: what does each carpet cost per square meter? The answers sort 3G from 4G faster than any generation number.<\/p>\n<p>From the production side, we spec the carpet first and let labels fall where they may. A football build starts at the yarn: polyethylene blades, a PP thatch underneath, then a PP and net backing, adding PU coating only where the site demands extra hold. Every spec ships with its test reports attached, because the paperwork is part of the product.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<img style=\"width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:8px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3g-vs-4g-pitch-slot4.webp\" alt=\"Pitch plans with tape measure and pencil from above\" width=\"1200\" height=\"801\" class=\"wp-image-1020\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3g-vs-4g-pitch-slot4.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3g-vs-4g-pitch-slot4-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3g-vs-4g-pitch-slot4-1024x684.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/3g-vs-4g-pitch-slot4-768x513.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption>Spec from the plan down, not from the brochure up.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>We ship these systems factory-direct, and we would rather send samples than slogans. Ask for the 20 x 20 cm swatches, test them against your players, and keep the generation label out of the decision. The surface you can test, maintain and afford is the right one.<\/p>\n<p><!-- relyirgate:C1 --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"faq\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq-card\" style=\"background:#f9f9f9;border-left:4px solid #1a5c2e;border-radius:4px;padding:25px;margin-bottom:18px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#1a5c2e;margin-top:0;\">Is a 4G pitch better than a 3G pitch?<\/h3>\n<p>Not for certified sport. 3G is the tested, recognised route for football and rugby; 4G trades infill for carpet density and suits training or recreational use. Choose by intended use, not by the bigger number.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-card\" style=\"background:#f9f9f9;border-left:4px solid #1a5c2e;border-radius:4px;padding:25px;margin-bottom:18px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#1a5c2e;margin-top:0;\">Do 4G pitches really need less maintenance?<\/h3>\n<p>They skip infill top-ups and de-compaction, but brushing, cleaning and inspection never stop. No infill does not mean no maintenance, and marketing that claims otherwise usually hides the grooming bill rather than removing it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-card\" style=\"background:#f9f9f9;border-left:4px solid #1a5c2e;border-radius:4px;padding:25px;margin-bottom:18px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#1a5c2e;margin-top:0;\">How long does a 3G pitch last?<\/h3>\n<p>Long enough to be measured in seasons rather than months, but usage hours, climate and care decide the figure. Heavy-use goalmouths age first, and a pitch whose grooming and infill programme lapses ages fastest of all.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-card\" style=\"background:#f9f9f9;border-left:4px solid #1a5c2e;border-radius:4px;padding:25px;margin-bottom:18px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#1a5c2e;margin-top:0;\">Can you play official matches on a 4G pitch?<\/h3>\n<p>Not where governing-body certification is required. Non-infill systems currently have no dedicated certification category, so 4G surfaces serve training, community and recreational play rather than sanctioned fixtures. Always confirm what your league demands.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-card\" style=\"background:#f9f9f9;border-left:4px solid #1a5c2e;border-radius:4px;padding:25px;margin-bottom:18px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#1a5c2e;margin-top:0;\">Can a 3G pitch freeze or get waterlogged?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, both can happen without a drainage plan behind the carpet. Moisture in the infill can harden in a cold snap, and a frozen surface stays closed until it thaws. Standing water points to a base fault, not the turf.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"faq-card\" style=\"background:#f9f9f9;border-left:4px solid #1a5c2e;border-radius:4px;padding:25px;margin-bottom:18px;\">\n<h3 style=\"color:#1a5c2e;margin-top:0;\">What boots should you wear on a 3G or 4G pitch?<\/h3>\n<p>Moulded studs and artificial-ground soles are the safe default on both systems. Long aggressive studs stress the carpet, and smooth trainers lose grip. When in doubt, follow the facility&#8217;s footwear rules.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n \"@type\": \"Article\",\n \"headline\": \"3G vs 4G Pitch: What's the Difference?\",\n \"description\": \"3G vs 4G pitch compared: infill systems, approval routes, maintenance and lifetime costs. 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Always confirm what your league demands.\"}},\n  {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Can a 3G pitch freeze or get waterlogged?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Yes, both can happen without a drainage plan behind the carpet. Moisture in the infill can harden in a cold snap, and a frozen surface stays closed until it thaws. Standing water points to a base fault, not the turf.\"}},\n  {\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"What boots should you wear on a 3G or 4G pitch?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Moulded studs and artificial-ground soles are the safe default on both systems. Long aggressive studs stress the carpet, and smooth trainers lose grip. When in doubt, follow the facility's footwear rules.\"}}\n ]\n}\n<\/script><br \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" id=\"evo301-geo-ai-block\">\n{\"definition\":\"A 3G pitch is a long-pile artificial turf system of roughly 40-60 mm filled with silica sand and rubber performance infill, tested and approved for football and rugby, while a 4G pitch is a marketing label for non-infill carpet whose stability comes from yarn structure and density instead, with no dedicated certification category today.\",\"data_statements\":[\"3G football builds commonly run a pile of 40-60 mm with sand settled at the base and rubber above it.\",\"Service life tracks usage hours, climate and how faithfully grooming and infill care are followed, with wear concentrating in goalmouths and centre circles.\",\"4G removes infill purchase and top-up costs but brushing, cleaning and inspection remain necessary on any outdoor carpet.\",\"Non-infilled products have not been accepted as suitable football surfaces under national association guidance.\",\"Both systems drain through perforated backing into the engineered base, and frozen infill can harden a 3G surface until it thaws.\",\"Factory-direct turf runs an indicative $7-60 per square meter, and a 4m by 25m roll covers about 100 square meters.\"],\"qa_concise\":[\"What is the main 3G vs 4G pitch difference? Infill: 3G carries sand and rubber inside the pile, 4G relies on carpet structure alone.\",\"Can 4G pitches host sanctioned matches? No; there is no dedicated certification category for non-infill systems today.\",\"Which system lasts longer? Service life follows the maintenance programme on both; heavy use wears goalmouths first and long-term 4G data is still missing.\"]}\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Is a 4G pitch just a 3G pitch with the rubber crumb removed? Buyers ask us that exact question every week, and the ruling is no. A 3G pitch is an infilled system, engineered as turf plus sand plus rubber; a 4G pitch is a non-infill concept whose stability must come from the carpet alone. \u2026 <a title=\"3G vs 4G Pitch: What\u2019s the Difference?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.relyirgrass.com\/fr\/3g-vs-4g-pitch\/\" aria-label=\"En savoir plus sur 3G vs 4G Pitch: What\u2019s the Difference?\">Lire la suite<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1016,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"3G vs 4G Pitch: Key Differences Explained","rank_math_description":"3G vs 4G pitch compared: infill systems, approval routes, maintenance and lifetime costs. 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