Reel vs rotary mowers: which is right for your turf?

Reel and rotary are the two ways a mower cuts grass, and almost every decision about turf machinery comes back to which one a surface needs. A reel shears the grass cleanly for a fine, low cut. A rotary slices it with a fast-spinning blade for longer, tougher grass. Both have their place, and most courses run both, so the point is not to crown a winner but to know which cutting action belongs on which part of your course.

Parkland has supplied turf and golf equipment to New Zealand courses since 1988. If you would rather talk it through, call the team on 0800 807 333.

The two cutting actions

A reel mower traps grass between a spinning cylinder of blades and a fixed bedknife and shears it, like scissors, for a clean, precise cut at low heights. A rotary mower spins a blade at speed and slices the grass, which handles length and toughness well but leaves a slightly coarser finish. That is the whole difference, and everything else follows from it: the reel’s clean shear lets it hold very low heights on fine turf without tearing, while the rotary’s slicing action copes with the length, contours and debris that would jam or damage a reel. One is built for precision, the other for productivity in tough conditions.

Where reel mowers win

On fine turf kept short, reel is the only real answer. Greens, tees and fairways need the clean, low, even cut a reel machine like the Toro Greensmaster delivers, holding heights down to a few millimetres while keeping the plant healthy. The finish is finer, the turf is healthier under a low cut, and the presentation is what golfers judge a course on. For more on how that cut works, see reel mowers explained.

Where rotary mowers win

On rough, surrounds and longer or coarser grass, rotary is the machine. A mower like the Toro Groundsmaster copes with length, contours and the occasional stick or stone, cuts across a productive width, and covers big areas where a fine finish is not the goal. Asking a reel to do this work would be slow and damaging; asking a rotary to present a green would be a disaster. Each is built for its half of the course.

Which is right for your turf

The rule is straightforward: fine, short surfaces go to reel, and rough and longer grass go to rotary. It is less a choice than a matter of matching each machine to the surface, which is exactly why courses keep both rather than compromising on one.

If you are building a fleet, map your surfaces and their heights first, then put a reel where the cut needs to be fine and a rotary where it needs to be tough. Tell us your layout and we will help you get the mix right, or read how to choose a reel mower. See the range on the golf mowers page or call 0800 807 333.