The Science of Traction: How a Refinished Floor Impacts Player Safety

A gym floor does far more than look good. The way it responds underfoot affects every sprint, jump, pivot and landing that happens in your facility. When the surface starts to lose its proper grip, athletes begin to feel it — and so do you, in terms of liability, performance, and cost.

Why Traction Matters

Traction is the ability of a player’s shoes to engage with the floor surface, is a critical element for both performance and safety. Too much grip can stop movement abruptly and strain joints; too little grip and athletes risk slipping or losing control. In other words, you want a surface that provides a consistent “just right” grip, not one that forces your players to adapt.

Now, imagine skipping annual refinishing. Over time, the microscopic texture that allows for the “just right” grip begins to wear down. That is when traction starts to degrade.

What Causes a Floor to Lose Its Grip

Several factors contribute to reduced traction:

• Finish wear: The topcoat gradually erodes under heavy traffic, equipment, drop loads, and the repeated stress of athletic movement. As the coating thins or becomes glazed, the surface can turn smoother than it should be.
• Contaminants: Dust, body oils, cleaning chemicals, sweat, and footwear residue build up and fill the microscopic texture of the floor. Even if the floor looks fine, the micro-grip may have been compromised.
• Improper cleaning/maintenance: Using high-alkali cleaners, over-waxing (on synthetic surfaces), or not properly dust-mopping can accelerate grip loss.
• Environmental changes: Changes in humidity and temperature (especially in older buildings without ideal HVAC control) can lead to expansion/contraction of wood floors, causing subtle shifts in surface texture and coating performance.

How Refinishing Restores Safety and Performance

Refinishing is not just a cosmetic update; it restores performance. Here’s how:

1. Re-establishing micro-texture: A fresh high-grade finish recreates the micro-roughness that enables proper shoe-surface interaction.

2. Uniform coefficient of friction (COF): Industry standards such as ASTM F2772 include a “Surface Finish Effect (friction)” parameter: “Surface finish effect describes a surface’s response to a sliding foot, typically under dry conditions … testing must achieve a value between 80–110 units” (tarkettsportsindoor.com). Maintaining this balance ensures proper traction.

3. Consistency across the floor: Proper refinishing restores even traction across the entire surface.

4. Using advanced finishes: Products like AquaChoice Sport B Mach One offer improved clarity, low VOCs, and coatings engineered for consistent performance.

Resistance and Traction Testing: What You Should Know

If you want to check performance objectively:

• Coefficient of Friction (COF): The friction coefficient between the shoe sole and the floor surface. Although the NBA doesn’t publicly publish a standard COF, manufacturers and professionals aim for balance — not too slippery, not too sticky.
• ASTM F2772 – Sports Flooring Specification: Outlines force reduction, vertical deformation, ball rebound, and surface finish effect (friction).
• Testing equipment: Tribometers or pendulum testers measure a standardized “foot” sliding over the surface.
• Granular thresholds: Some literature gives a “sliding friction coefficient” optimal zone of 80–110 units, with anything below being too slippery and anything above too rough.
• – Importance of uniformity: ASTM F2772 requires that test points remain within a tight variance across the court to ensure consistency.

Practical Implications for Your Facility

• Schedule refinishing proactively before traction issues arise.
• Include traction condition in your annual inspection.
• Choose the right finish designed for gym floors.
• Maintain the environment and cleaning standards to prevent residue buildup.
• Communicate with staff about how refinishing enhances safety and performance.

A Safer Playing Experience — And Better Return on Investment

When traction is right, your athletes move naturally and with confidence. They don’t hesitate on cuts or over-compensate on stops. By investing in professional gym floor refinishing, you’re not only renewing the performance but also enhancing the reliability. It’s part of a complete safety and athlete-experience strategy.

Contact AG Sports Surfaces to schedule your next gym floor refinishing and keep your court game-ready year-round.