Reel Mowers vs. Rotary Mowers: What's the Difference?
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Choosing the right mower is essential for maintaining a healthy, attractive golf course. Two of the most common types of commercial turf equipment are reel mowers and rotary mowers. While both are designed to cut grass, they operate differently and are best suited for different areas of a golf course.
Understanding the differences can help golf course superintendents select the right equipment, improve turf quality, and manage maintenance costs.
How Does a Reel Mower Work?
A reel mower uses a series of rotating blades that cut grass against a stationary bedknife, much like a pair of scissors. This produces a clean, precise cut that is especially important for maintaining closely mowed turf.
Reel mowers are commonly used for:
- Golf course greens
- Fairways
- Tees
- Other finely maintained turf areas
Advantages of Reel Mowers
- Produce a clean, professional-quality cut
- Allow for very low cutting heights
- Help maintain smooth, consistent playing surfaces
- Are ideal for high-quality golf course turf
Reel mowers do require regular maintenance, including proper reel-to-bedknife adjustment, sharpening, and occasional grinding to maintain cutting performance.
How Does a Rotary Mower Work?
A rotary mower uses one or more horizontally spinning blades to cut grass. Unlike reel mowers, rotary blades cut through grass using high-speed impact.
Rotary mowers are designed to handle taller, thicker, and less frequently maintained turf.
Rotary mowers are commonly used for:
- Golf course roughs
- Surrounding landscapes
- Parks and sports fields
- Larger general-maintenance areas
Advantages of Rotary Mowers
- Handle taller and thicker grass more effectively
- Work well on uneven terrain
- Are generally less sensitive to cutting adjustments
- Provide efficient mowing for large rough areas
Rotary mowers still require regular blade sharpening and maintenance. Dull blades can tear grass rather than cut it cleanly, potentially affecting turf appearance and health.
Which Mower Is Better for a Golf Course?
The answer depends on the area being maintained.
For greens, tees, and fairways, reel mowers are generally preferred because they deliver the precise, consistent cutting quality needed for closely maintained turf.
For roughs and surrounding areas, rotary mowers are often the better choice because they can efficiently handle taller grass and varying terrain.
Most golf courses use a combination of both mower types to maintain different playing surfaces efficiently.
Choosing the Right Used Golf Course Mower
Purchasing used turf equipment can be an excellent way to reduce costs without sacrificing performance. Whether you're considering a reel mower or rotary mower, it's important to evaluate the machine's condition, maintenance history, operating hours, and overall cutting performance.
Popular reel mower models include the Toro Greensmaster, Toro Reelmaster, and John Deere PrecisionCut series. Common rotary mower options include the Toro Groundsmaster and John Deere TerrainCut series.
At Statewide Turf Equipment, we have been selling quality used golf course and turf maintenance equipment for over 30 years. We offer a wide selection of used reel mowers, rotary mowers, and other commercial turf equipment to help golf courses maintain their properties while staying within budget.
Looking for a used reel mower or rotary mower?