Blog / Technology

Cylinder mower or rotary mower: which robot suits your turf?

By VerdaMachina · Last updated 16 Sep 2026 · 2 min read

Anyone choosing a robotic mower for professional turf soon faces a basic choice: a cylinder mower or a rotary mower. Both cut grass, but in very different ways, and that determines the finish you get and the ground where the machine belongs.

How a cylinder mower works

A cylinder mower, also called a reel mower, has a rotating cylinder with spiral blades that shear past a fixed bottom blade. The grass is cut as if with scissors. That cut is very clean: the grass blade frays less, so the grass stays healthier and looks evenly green. Because a cylinder mower can cut very short and evenly, it is the standard on greens, fairways and many stadium pitches. The roller behind the cylinder also lays the grass in one direction, which creates the familiar light and dark stripes.

How a rotary mower works

A rotary mower has blades that spin horizontally and cut the grass by impact at speed. That is less refined than shearing, but far more versatile. A rotary mower handles longer grass, is less sensitive to twigs or small objects and works well on large areas with changing conditions. That is why it is the usual choice for training pitches, school grounds, parks and municipal green spaces.

The differences at a glance

Feature	Reel mower	Rotary mower
Cut	Shearing, very clean	Impact, slightly rougher
Cutting height	Short, from a few millimetres	Medium to high
Finish	Even, with clear stripes	Neat, less pronounced stripes
Ground	Greens, fairways, top pitches	Sports fields, parks, large areas
Sensitivity	To branches, stones and long grass	Robust in changing conditions
Mowing frequency	Often, so the grass stays short	More flexible

Robotic cylinder mowers

The FJD RCM01 is made for fairways and premium turf. It mows with an 8-blade cylinder from 7 to 44 mm, follows the contours of the ground with a floating cutting head and covers up to 30,000 m² per charge. With factory settings the noise stays below 75 dB at 3 metres, so it can also mow outside playing hours.

Robotic rotary mowers

The FJD Titan mows 730 mm wide with three cutting discs and an adjustable cutting height of 10 to 100 mm. The FJD FRX is a compact robot that handles slopes up to 25°, and the FJD Rough Ranger mows from 20 to 120 mm and also collects clippings with the GC01 kit.

Which one do you choose?

Greens and fairways: a cylinder mower, such as the FJD RCM01.
Main pitch or stadium with high standards: a cylinder mower, often complemented by a rotary mower for the training pitches.
Training pitches, schools and clubs: a rotary mower, such as the FJD FRX, or the Rough Ranger with the collection kit.
Parks, verges and municipal green spaces: a rotary mower with high daily capacity, such as the FJD Titan.

Many sites combine both. Want to know what suits your turf? Request a free field audit.

Frequently asked questions

Is a cylinder mower better than a rotary mower? +

Not better, but different. A cylinder mower gives the cleanest cut on short grass. A rotary mower is more versatile with longer grass and changing conditions.

How short can a robotic cylinder mower cut? +

The FJD RCM01 mows from 7 mm.

Does a cylinder mower need to mow more often? +

Yes. A cylinder mower works best when the grass is kept short. A robot suits that well, because it can mow daily without extra staff.