Dialing in Your Frequency of Clip

This live demonstration will cover how Superintendents can use frequency-of-clip (FOC) mower settings to better manage turfgrass. You’ll get to see how a quick FOC adjustments can significantly increase ball speed without lowering height of cut. You’ll also see how you can actually raise your height of cut while maintaining current ball speed.

Turf Science Live is an exciting event showcasing the latest research and technological innovations in turf agronomy. Turf Science Live is a practical hands-on opportunity to interact with leading specialists in many aspects of turf management that will demonstrate techniques that can be used to improve conditions at your course.

Transcription

Today at turf science live we covered a couple of different points, we were focusing on our greens mower the eclipse series technology that has adjustable frequency of clip. The frequency of clip station consisted of two main sections, the first one was looking at a video that helps us define what FOC really is and makes sure that superintendent has a good understanding of what FOC is. It’s a measure of distance from when one reel blade passes over the bed knife and when a second one does and then what are the three inputs into FOC and how they affect it. The three inputs are going to be your walk speed, your reel speed and the number of blades on your reel. So making sure superintendents have a good understanding how those three impact their FOC and how changing those will impact their FOC. Then we went over to a section of the green where we actually mowed two different sections of the green at varying FOC’s with the same height and demonstrated the actual on the green effect of FOC, so you could see the difference in ball roll. I think here is an opportunity to come out to meet with your peers and not just my section but the other sections you will be going through the rotations, to really learn about some of the newer techniques that are becoming available. How other superintendents are utilizing those techniques to improve turf conditions and turf health at their courses. It’s also listening to the other superintendents who attended the program, some of those of seeing the benefits of this. I think that sometimes there still is a bit skepticism or doubt about what they could do for you or how it can be used. So understanding the limits and range of where you can adjust your FOC to help you achieve the playing conditions you’re trying to achieve as a superintendent.