The infield skin on a baseball or softball infield is the area where dirt is used, such as the areas around the bases, base paths, home plate, pitcher’s mound and any other part of the infield not covered with grass. A good infield mix should contain approximately 65% sand, 25% clay and 10% silt. Using a mix such as this will provide a firm, yet safe playing surface, and will allow play after periods of rain.

Commercial infield mixes vary from one region to the next. Particle size and composition should be considered when making your decision. You should choose an infield mix that meets your budget and one that matches the amount of maintenance you intend to put into it. At M.A.S.A., we sell a number of different dirt mixes (Mar-Co Clay, MASAMix, Red Top) that meet the needs of little leagues all the way up to the professional groundskeeper.

Clay and silt are the materials in a dirt mix that provide the density and help to retain moisture. If you live in an area with a lot of rain or your field has infrequent maintenance, you would want to go with a mix that has a higher sand content. However, if you are at a high school or university facility, you will most likely want to use a material with higher amounts of clay and silt, which will provide a more firm and stable playing surface. On most playing surfaces you will want to incorporate a conditioner like calcined clay. You can nail drag it in to the top inch of the material or top dress the surface at 1/4”. This type of amendment will help bind the clay, stabilize the surface and help retain moisture in the skin. Pro's Choice conditioner is the top choice of youth leagues, high schools, universities and professional fields everywhere.

Once you have decided on which infield mix you will use, the next step is to determine how much material you will need. For new infield skin construction, 5” is the standard depth. Your budget will determine how much material you purchase for the project. We recommend 3” at a minimum. You can install the mix directly on top of your existing material or on top of a sand base; however, you will need to shoot the grade with a laser level to insure the proper height of the skin. In many cases dirt will need to be removed prior to installation and grading.

Installation of the material and grading are the next step. You want to install your material in layers, grading each and compacting with a heavy roller. We suggest using a one ton roller. It is recommended that a .5 to 1” slope be constructed beginning at the edge of the pitcher’s mound out to the infield arc. This will help move water off the surface of the mix. It is imperative that you have a consistent slope across the entire surface. Using laser grading equipment will help to achieve the desired grade. If you don’t have access to this type of equipment you can use string lines to gauge your depth at various points across the skin. Run a string line from grass edge to grass edge on the skin using a tape measure to ensure a level area. You will want to measure every few feet. Where the material is high or low you will use a shovel and rake to level out the mix.

Once your material has been graded, you will want to top dress the surface with a Pro's Choice calcined clay conditioner. Use of these products will provide a barrier between player’s cleats and soil while helping to keep moisture in your infield mix. Lay bags of conditioner in a checker board pattern across the entire surface of the skin. Open each bag and spread out evenly in a circle. Once the material is down you want to spread it out evenly using rakes, brooms, drags or a machine such as a Bannerman Infield Groomer. Your desired depth of conditioner is .25”. After the material is spread out you want to soak the entire skin. This will allow the infield mix and conditioner to settle bonding together.

Renovating your infield skin can be a smooth process if you have the right tools and guidance to do the job.  We here at M.A.S.A. are dedicated to helping you every step of the way. Whether it is deciding what infield mix to use, how much material you need, what tools to use or determining the steps you need to take, we are here to help answer any questions you may have.  

Mar-Co Clay
Infield Mixes

MASAMIX
Infield Mix

RedTop
Infield Mix

Pro's Choice
Conditioners

Big League
Nail Drags

Tape
Measures

Field
Rakes

Finishing
Brooms

Finish
Drags

Bannerman
Field Groomers