How to Choose the Best Commercial Walk-Behind Mowers for Turfcare

Are commercial walk-behind mowers right for you?

While ride-on mowers often dominate large-scale commercial turfcare, walk-behind mowers remain essential in complex environments where their compact design is needed to steer and mow with ease. In many cases, walk-behind mowers can also outperform bulkier ride-ons in precision and finish, when conditions call for finesse rather than power and speed.

So, is a walk-behind mower the right choice for your team? Here are a couple of factors to consider.

The size of your mowing area

Intuitively, ride-on mowers are a must when it comes to maintaining large, open spaces such as golf fairways, estates or parks – where a higher mowing speed is needed to save time.

However, walk-behind mowers can be a better choice in smaller areas where cut precision and minimising turf stress are a priority. Thanks to their lighter weight, walk-behind mowers reduce soil compaction and grass damage compared to heavier machines. They can also be the perfect addition to a mixed fleet, helping mow tighter zones within a large site that ride-on machines might not easily reach.

Terrain type and obstacles

The type of terrain and landscape you’re working with plays a critical role in the selection of your mower. For open, sloped areas, a ride-on mower with four-wheel drive may boost productivity by handling gradients with ease.

On the other hand, sites with tight layouts or numerous obstacles – such as trees, buildings or other architectural elements – call for the agility and manoeuvrability of a walk-behind mower, which offers better control and safer handling in confined spaces.

Grass and cut requirements

Different grass types and turfcare applications call for different cutting solutions. For instance, thanks to more powerful engines, ride-on mowers are the preferred choice to mow through patches of coarse or tall grass while walk-behind mowers are mostly used to deliver a clean, manicured cut.

Some models also come with additional functionalities, such as integrated grass collection accessories to leave surfaces free of clippings with a single pass or a special roller design that helps consistently obtain a crisp striping finish.

Types of commercial walk-behind mowers

Rotary mowers

Rotary mowers use one or more blades that rotate horizontally, cutting grass on contact. While they generally don’t match the precision of cylinder mowers, they still deliver a clean, even finish across a wide range of grass lengths and conditions.

The spinning action of these blades has an additional benefit: it generates an upward draft that lifts tall grass to promote a clean trim, making these mowers well-suited for medium to high cutting heights.

Modern rotary mowers, however, can be designed for precision and short cuts as well. Take the Toro ProStripe 560, for example: its two-piece rear roller and zero-turn capability help deliver a beautiful, striped finish, while the MatchCut technology makes it easy to align the cutting height with other mowers in your fleet. Special fins at the front also raise the grass blades to ensure a cleaner cut, while optimised airflow improves clipping collection and directs dust away from the operator.

The electric Toro eProStripe 560, on the other hand, provides the same remarkable performance as its petrol counterpart with all the added benefits of a battery-powered mower – including minimal noise levels, zero emissions and low vibrations for smoother operations.

Cylinder mowers

Cylinder mowers produce a close, scissor-like cut, making them ideal for precision turfcare in areas like sports pitches and golf greens. Their horizontally mounted cylinder blades pass over a fixed bottom blade to deliver a clean cut, reducing grass stress and encouraging quick turf recovery.

An excellent example is the Toro Greensmaster Flex 1021, which brings enhanced consistency to pedestrian mowing, thanks to innovative features designed to elevate the operator’s experience without compromising mowing precision. In particular, the patented Flex suspension allows the 21-inch cutting unit to easily follow the contours of the green, delivering a superior quality of cut.

Also in the lineup is the Toro Greensmaster 1026, offering a wider 26-inch cutting width for greater productivity. This model incorporates cutting-edge advancements such as the industry’s first telescoping handle and a swing axle design that allows quick conversion from greens to tee mowing. Together, these features deliver unmatched cut quality and consistent playing conditions across every green.

Key features to consider

1. Cutting width and operator comfort

While the cutting deck size of commercial walk-behind mowers doesn’t vary as much as with ride-on machines, this range still has an impact on operations. In general, a wider deck improves productivity by helping cover more ground in less time, while narrower decks provide greater manoeuvrability in tight or awkward spaces.

Comfort and ergonomics are also crucial factors to consider for operators who spend long hours mowing. The Toro Greensmaster lineup of pedestrian mowers, for example, features an industry-first telescoping handle to accommodate users of varying heights, as well as a design that improves balance and reduces fatigue when mowing on uneven surfaces.

2. A simple, cost-effective design

Compared to ride-on options, walk-behind mowers are easier to operate – requiring less training – and have a simple design engineered for longevity. All Toro models, for instance, have reinforced cutting decks and intuitive control panels to provide excellent long-term value from day one.

Last but not least, walk-behind mowers require a smaller upfront investment compared to ride-on options, delivering remarkable cutting results for the price when used in the right conditions.

3. Fuel type: petrol or electric mowers?

As battery technology matches the power and performance of traditional machines, electric mowers are becoming a more viable choice for commercial applications.

While petrol mowers remain popular for their lower upfront cost, intuitive design and easy access to fuel even in remote locations, battery-powered models offer clear advantages in terms of quiet operation, reduced emissions and flexibility.

The eProStripe 560, for instance, is powered by two 60V batteries that are part of Toro’s comprehensive Flex-Force range and are fully compatible with over 50 battery-powered Toro tools, enabling maintenance teams to quickly switch between equipment. This kind of compatibility helps streamline turfcare operations and achieve more with a limited budget.

4. Ease of maintenance

To minimise the risk of downtime and costly repairs, choose mowers with accessible cutting decks that are easy to clean and service.

The Toro Greensmaster 1021, for instance, is built to simplify maintenance and extend equipment lifespan – with a cutting unit that can be removed without tools to be easily serviced or exchanged with different attachments.

And when something goes wrong despite your best efforts, having a trusted partner that backs you up with robust support is essential. Working with Reesink Turfcare ensures you get timely access to genuine Toro parts, expert service and technical support – all of which contribute to maintaining peak mower performance season after season.

The Toro advantage

Choosing the right commercial walk-behind mower involves a careful assessment of your unique priorities. But when it comes to quality and reliability, Toro continues to lead the industry, always pushing the boundaries of innovation to meet the evolving demands of turfcare.

Equally important is considering the quality of post-purchase support. Partnering with a reputable dealer like Reesink Turfcare – the sole distributor of Toro products in the UK – ensures access to reliable after-sales help and expert servicing.​

To learn more about their offerings, visit www.reesinkturfcare.co.uk or call 01480 226800.