Zero Turn Lawn Mowers or Z-Turn Mowers are so-named for their exceptionally short turning radius. They were originally developed in 1949 by Max Swisher, and marketed under the brand name “Ride King”. Z-Turn Mowers can make a 180 degree or even a 360 degree (in some cases) pivot in place. This means neater corners, better edging, and easier maneuvering around obstacles than is commonly possible with your ordinary lawn mower – riding or walk-behind.

Typically, the companies currently manufacturing Z-Turn Mowers also have them set up to run faster and to cut more efficiently than more ordinary mowers. All of this adds up to a mower that get the job done more quickly and efficiently, which is advantageous if you are mowing lawns commercially or if you have a large landscape area for which you are responsible. The two biggest downsides to these mowers are safety on slopes and the cost.

There is a wide range of products available on the market today, and below I have reviewed 5 of the very best options.

**Below, you will find more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices and read customer reviews on Amazon.

A Brief History of the Z-Mower

Max Swisher, from Warrensburg, Missouri, first developed a “zero turn” mower. It was marketed as the “Ride King.” Ride King mowers had three wheels – one in front, two in back. The motor drove the wheels in one direction only. To reverse or back up, the machine had to be turned around.

A similar machine was independently developed by John Regier, an employee of Hesston Corporation. Regier based his design on the counter-rotation pulleys used by commercial cutting machines called swathers. It didn’t take off right away. However, Hesston bought his design, and developed it.

Hesston became Excel after a time, and eventually marketed these Z-Turns as “Hustlers.” Grasshopper Mowers was the next to get in the act, in 1969. Their mower was a commercial success. Dixon ZT followed up on that, developing the term Zero-Turn or ZT. That got the genie out of the bottle, and ZT or Zero-Turn Mowers became a market staple for commercial companies that mow lawns.

Advantages of a Z-Mower

Zero Turn Mowers are a huge advantage for commercial lawn mowing or landscaping companies, or even for a home-owner with large green spaces. Because many of these machines feature other technological advantages, such as fuel injection for better fuel efficiency and increased mowing speed, they can reduce the amount of time needed to mow a large green space, as well as enabling better edging and corner trimming.

This efficiency not only reduces the amount of time spent on the large areas, it cuts down on the amount of time that a man on foot might have to spend using a weed-eater or similar tool in tight corner niches. In addition, most of these mowers are set up for additional add-on accessories such as leaf blowers or vacuums, snow plows or sprayers. Recent developments have made the ZT’s even more efficient. For example, Ferris recently introduced a compact model that can fit through a 36-inch gate opening.

Disadvantages of Z-Mower

Despite their efficiency, speed and versatility, there are some downsides to ZTs. One big show-stopper for home mowing is the cost. One of the least expensive models is the Z-Beast, with Roll-bar, with a Briggs and Stratton motor, at $$$$. Prices begin to top out at around $$$$$ for a Swisher 66” Commercial Pro Ztr, also with a roll-bar.

Why roll bars? Because ZTs, with their higher speeds and their greater maneuverability are easier to turn over than your standard riding lawn-mower.In fact, the user manuals for these machines direct that they should not be used on wet turf, and not on grades steeper than ten percent. That means that a ZT is great for that massive expanse of golf course green – on a sunny day, but not so great for that expanse of slope leading down to wet-lands swale.

Also, ZTs are heavy, and can damage turf if driven over it on a wet day. With their higher speeds and fuel injection, ZTs tend to be gas guzzlers, and the electric models show a poor trade-off between battery weight and mowing time.

Brands and Types of Z-Mower

Brands that produce ZTs include Swisher, Stanley, John Deere, Timecutter, Beast, Snapper, and Husqvarna – just to name a few. There are hundreds of companies producing these – including well-known brand names such as Troy-bilt, and Ariens. ZTs tend to have four types of steering.

The most common is two levers that each control a front wheel on four-wheeled models. Next most common is a simple steering wheel, with foot pedals as added controls. There is also a joy-stick model, that works in the same way that joysticks are used to control video games, and finally there is the standup model – which is commonly found only on commercial machines.

Deck placement is in front or in the middle of the machine. Front deck placement sticks out in front and is believed to give the best cut; mid-deck places the cutting deck under the machine, in a more traditional mower position.

Use and Safety Tips for the Z-Mower

ZTs are excellent machines if used as intended. They are not designed for extreme slopes, wet areas or pastureland. They are lawn mowers, designed to mow grass that is six to eight inches tall. If a ZT is run on wet ground, there is a risk that one wheel will lose traction while another is still pulling. This can cause the ZT to tip over. A ZT should never be used to mow a steep slope (remember that ten percent slope max) that has a pond or stream at the bottom, particularly in wet conditions. A ZT can lose traction and slide right into that body of water at the bottom.

On the other hand, if you have a large space of lawn, interspersed with formal flower beds, the ZT is your machine. It goes fast, it turns on a dime, and you can hustle across that big lawn and have it done in plenty of time for an event or to make space for the kids to play. Better yet, you can have time to play with the kids instead of trudging after a walk-behind mower. As with many mechanical products, the key is picking the right machine for the job.

Product Reviews – The Best Zero Turn Mower

Choosing the Best Zero Turn Mower for Your Yard and Garden

Selecting the best machine off the list is not difficult. Hands down, the Swisher is the best machine. It is the most durable and the most flexible to use. However, Swishers are also the most expensive. Moving on down the list, a Timecutter or a Zoom will do a decent job, are durable, and are less expensive than Swisher. They come in both commercial and residential grades – and in commercial and residential prices. The John Deere and Husqvarna models are essentially residential grade machines. Of the two, John Deere seems to have the better staying power, and fewer reports of problems.