Reference Guide

USING THE TurfEvaluator
™
Many turf discrepancies are
subtle and require closer
examination. In these instances,
the TurfEvaluator
™
grass viewing
tool is helpful. It can assist turf
managers in determining causes
for poor reel mower performance
and comparing the effective
height-of-cut of one mowed
surface to another.
The TurfEvaluator
™
provides two
horizontal viewpoints at the turf’s
maintained height.
Begin by placing the tool on the
turf with slight down force on
both sides.
While kneeling, look into the
mirror in a manner that places
your line of sight flat across the
mowed surface into the grid lines.
This close-up view highlights
effective height-of-cut, crispness
of cut, or imperfections such as
mismatch, stragglers and other
machine marks.
Note: You would normally center
the TurfEvaluator
™
over streak and
mismatch type discrepancies.
Invert the tool and slightly move
your line of sight up the mirror
surface and see a large, expanded
view of the turf. This view reveals
stragglers and crispness of cut.
Variations in the mowed surface are normally most visible immediately after
mowing. Using the grid lines as a reference, place the TurfEvaluator
™
in two
locations across the cut path. This should indicate that the cut edges are at the
same height at both locations. Placing the tool in adjoining cut paths should
indicate the same results.
VIEWPOINT ONE: Close-up grid line view
VIEWPOINT TWO: Large, expanded view
9
EVALUATING
4
CUTTING UNIT SET-UP AND ADJUSTMENT
Reel mower performance depends on proper set-up and adjustment procedures.
An error of .010 of an inch, in height end-to-end, or from one cutting unit to
another, is visible as a mismatch (see Page 11) on many golf course greens.
Although there are
design variations in
cutting units, most
require the same
basic procedures.
A surface plate,
accurate height-
of-cut tools and
proper instruction
are essential for
setting up a
cutting unit.
HEIGHT-OF-CUT
Prior to setting up a cutting unit,
the term “height-of-cut” and how
it relates to performance must be
understood.
Bench Set Height-of-Cut
In the maintenance shop, a setting
is done measuring height-of-cut
from a hard, level surface to the
cutting edge. This height is
normally chosen through
experience. It factors in turf
conditions, seasonal changes and
playability requirements.
Keep in mind that two similar
cutting units of the same or
different manufacturers can be
bench set the same but may cut at
different effective heights due to a
configuration difference (i.e.,
weight, rollers, attitude etc.)