What Outdoor Surface is Best for Hunnyball - Sand, Grass, or Turf?

When it comes to outdoor games, the playing surface can make all the difference in your experience. Whether you're planning a casual game of soccer, volleyball, or ultimate frisbee, choosing the right surface — grass, turf, or sand — can impact everything from performance to enjoyment.

Hunnyball is a fantastic new addition to the beach and backyard games ecosystem, and can be enjoyed on all three surfaces.  Let’s break down the pros and cons of each.

Sand: The Fan Favorite
Pros:

• Soft Landing: There’s nothing better than diving to make a game saving catch in Hunnyball – all our best highlight reels prove it. Since sand offers a soft surface that’s easy on the body, your heroic moves won’t cost it much in wear and tear.
• Rain Delays No More: Sand drains quickly, making it a good option for playing after rain. The park can get muddy, but your Hunnyball set is coated with a water resistant oil so set it up on wet set and it’s “game on.”

Cons:

• Energy Drain: The softness of sand requires more energy for movement, which can be tiring over long periods.  So just take a few breaks in between rounds if you need to.
• Messy: Sand tends to stick to everything, so be prepared for a bit of cleanup afterward.  You can wipe the board off with a towel, but – if you played with enough gusto – you may need to jump in the water when you wrap up a game.

Grass: The Classic Choice
Pros:

• The OG Testing Ground:  Hunnyball was first battle tested on the grass in our backyard, well before we took it to the beach.  So we know it’s the perfect place to set up your board.  Just make sure you have enough space for those diving catches.
• Temperature Control: Grass stays cooler than synthetic surfaces, like turf, and is definitely cooler than the beach – especially when the sun it out and wind is nowhere to be seen.  Move your game under the shade if you can to make it even cooler.

Cons:

• Wear and Tear: OK, we get it.  Just like when you play soccer or football or lacrosse in the backyard, your parents (or spouse) may get a little annoyed that the grass gets a little beat up.  But don’t worry, it’s grass…it will grow back!
• Weather Sensitivity: Grass can become muddy or slippery after rain, potentially Hunnyball a little more dicey to play.  We recommend waiting until the grass is dry before challenging your friends, because – when you play it right – there’s a little bit of body contact that’s hard to avoid.

Turf: The Reliable Surface
Pros:

• Durability: Most of us don’t put turf in our backyards, but a lot of us have a local park or school nearby where the town got tired of trying to maintain grass. Turf is designed to withstand heavy use without significant wear and tear, so find a patch nearby and set up Hunnyball.
• Sure Footing: We haven’t seen anyone go so far as to put on cleats to play Hunnyball yet, but we do know playing any sport on turf’s uniform surface enhances gameplay, especially for sports like soccer, field hockey, and even Hunnyball.

Cons:

• It’s Hot Out There: We all know turf can get extremely hot in direct sunlight, so make sure you have a water bottle nearby or play in the morning or evening when it’s a little cooler.  You’ll be happy you did.
• Injury Risk: While turf has a lot of benefits over grass and sand, the harder surface can be tougher on joints when you make a diving catch, or even give you a little turf burn when you fall. Maybe play at 90% if you don’t want that to happen to you.

Conclusion
The bottom line is that you can play Hunnyball anywhere.  We didn’t even talk about how physical education teachers around the country are using Hunnyball indoors with all ages. So it’s less about choosing between grass, turf, and sand when you go to get your game one – it’s more about getting your squad together just to have a great time.  If you do have a choice of where to play, remember these basics – sand is the softest for when you want to make a highlight reel, grass is where Hunnyball got its start, and turf is perfect for the local park or school setting. Now just go and get playing!