A sharp reel is very important to the turfgrass health. Similar to a surgical cut, if the end of the grass is jagged and uneven more surface area is availabe for a disease pathogen to infect the plant. So, for this reason, we focus on being able to cut paper with each reel before it is sent out on the golf course.
In order for a reel to cut paper it must be sharpened to a similar sharpness of scissors. As you can see in the pictures, the reel works very similar to a pair of scissors. The bedknife (the flat piece of metal) stays stationary as the reel spins. Each blade of the reel collects a few grass blades and cuts them as the two edges come together.
This work is very precise and critical to maintaining a high quality of cut. This is reflected not only in the ball roll on greens, but also in the aesthetics on the course. Paul, our equipment manager, does an excellent job of keeping the reels in top notch cutting condition throughout the year.
In order for a reel to cut paper it must be sharpened to a similar sharpness of scissors. As you can see in the pictures, the reel works very similar to a pair of scissors. The bedknife (the flat piece of metal) stays stationary as the reel spins. Each blade of the reel collects a few grass blades and cuts them as the two edges come together. 