Bobbing — An undesirable cutting unit movement that leaves an unacceptable
wave-like appearance. Bobbing refers to the machine movement not the aftercut
appearance. As a general rule, mowing slower should lessen the problem.
Overlap Marks (or Stripes) — An unacceptable after cut appearance of
stripes that occurs in the area of the cutting unit overlap.
Clumping — The discharge of clippings into unsightly lumps or rows.
Excessive clippings besides being unsightly may smother the grass or act as
incubators for disease.
Streak — A line of taller grass that has not been cut. Single streaks are the
result of a bent or nicked bedknife. Multiple streaks are more often the result of
rifling due to heavy contact between the reels and bedknife. Streaks may also
occur in the areas of overlap between cutting units or where a tire rolls down an
area before it is cut.
Mismatch — The difference in height of cut of two adjoining cutting units.
This may occur between units in a multiple cutting unit machine, or between
passes by a single machine. Mismatch is caused by dissimilar HOC settings or
rollers that are not parallel to the cutting units.