Message Board - Natural Turf: Twickenham Pitchcare Article
15 Jan 2009 by tonybolton
Part of my employment includes looking after rugby pitches, I read the Pitchcare article on pitch preparation at Twickenham for the All blacks game and was suprised to see the pitch being mowed with what appeared to be Honda rotary mowers. I've always been told that rotary mowers tear rather than cut the blade leaving it susceptible to disease etc. Are these machines used more to clean up and stand up the sward more than to cut it. Do other first class surfaces use rotary mowers and what are the benefits. By the way Twickenham looked and played very well pity about you know who.
A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother
16 Jan 2009 by Sumomosr
Played well enough for our boys anyway!!!! 
A rotary mower with a sharp blade will cut the grass. As will a reel mower with sharp blades set correctly.
A rotary mower with a blunt blade will tear the grass, yes. ..
...as will a reel mower with blunt blades, a reel mower with sharp blades set incorrectly or a reel mower with blades that are both blunt and set incorrectly.
I know of county cricket grounds that use a rotary to cut their squares in winter.
The ubiquitous Harrier 56 is being sold into USA for use on golf courses around greens and bunker edges.
GOGGA
16 Jan 2009 by Chris Thornton
Hi Tony,
I too noticed the rotaries being used after the games at Twickenham. I came to the conclusion that the mowers were not set any lower than the grass had been cut pre-game and were being used to lift all the lose debris left after the game.
Well thats what I think anyway so maybe someone from Twickenham can enlighten us.
Chris
"He not busy being born is busy dying"
16 Jan 2009 by Grassman2011
Top soccer does just the same. Rotary hoovers.
16 Jan 2009 by nut250
i have worked with the boys at twickenham , the rotary mowers are used to clean up the debrs more than cut the grass , working as a hoover ,
i think most top sporting venues use rotary mowers after games .
16 Jan 2009 by jlawrence
Rotary's are used on cricket squares during the winter for a couple of reasons:
1) they generally have a light footprint (compared to a cylinder) so can be used on softer ground.
2) they have a hoover effect which will help remove errant leaves and debris from the square.
Those are the main reason I use a rotary in the winter rather than one of my cylinders.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
16 Jan 2009 by Grassman2011
Hope you used it today then JL. Cut using my 36 incher today. Weather can do what it likes for a week now.
16 Jan 2009 by jlawrence
LOL. Managed to get a cut in yesterday before the rain came.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
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