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What do I need to know about cutting ball diamonds?

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#21 ·
Sport turf isn't the same as residential or commercial turf.
Whole different approach, for those unfamiliar with the process I dare say the challenge would be daunting. Unless they have someone that already takes care of all but the cutting...?

For one sports turf experience extreme foot traffic.
We're talking frequent ferilizing, lots of watering, short and frequent cuts, aerating and seeding at least twice a year, the irrigation system will need maintenance as well.

They need someone who does sport fields for a living, in most cases it takes a crew and it eats up so much labor that most of these complexes have their very own "division" which are basically in-house employees whose job it is to take care of these fields.

Not sure why they called you, I've gotten a call or two in my time as well but unless you're looking to expand into another whole sideline of work I'd likely pass on this.
 
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#23 ·
TXSteve said:
My main concern rather than how I was going to cut would be ... WHEN I could cut. Nothing worse than showing up and finding a squad out there using the field.

I don't know how things run currently since I have been out of that loop for many years, but when I was coaching there was a "write it in" board at a central location where all of the coaches could write in practice session times for different fields. No certain pre-determined times, but more like a first-come-first-served write-in practice menu. I'm certain there is a more "modern" method in use there today.

If I were going to take this on, I would require a certain day of the week and time of day to cut and be assured that all of the coaches were aware that the field was not available during that time. This would be a firm requirement. Obviously, rain days would be a concern and would have to be worked around at times, so 2 such weekly windows might not be a bad idea. Other than that, I think you might be overthinking this. Just price it and cut it in such a manner that would be pleasing to your own personal standards.

Heck, when I was coaching (waaaaaay back in the mid 70's) they mowed 3 fields once a week with a well-worn Sears lawn tractor :LOL: and everyone did fine. Things have definitely changed.
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If he cuts during the week in the morning he should be good unless they are having a tournament
 
#24 ·
ebone capone said:
If he cuts during the week in the morning he should be good unless they are having a tournament
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Got to remember .... he said "younger kids and high school". During the summer months when school is out that could mean practice sessions in the early hours to get ahead of the heat. Little League runs most all summer long in some areas.
 
#25 ·
TXSteve said:
Got to remember .... he said "younger kids and high school". During the summer months when school is out that could mean practice sessions in the early hours to get ahead of the heat. Little League runs most all summer long in some areas.
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Yeah but most coaches are at work in the morning. Definitely less activity than the evening
 
#28 ·
Early mornings are best to be sure...I mean early, like daylight, dew on the grass early. I also agree that striping these fields makes a huge difference! I do one ball diamond, nothing exotic, but it is definitely striped! It is ALWAYS double cut and fresh diagonal lines...or small diamonds if you will. I use the 34" WB for the infield...or did until they took it out and it now has a complete dirt infield. You will need to put a little thought into this if your mower stipes at all...uniformity and "looks" matter!!

As for the fence...I take it that they do not have a warning track...too bad. Definitely trim, nobody wants to see a thin brown line around the fence. I'm not sure of the actual amount of grass you have to mow outside of the normal playing field and surrounding grass along the foul lines to the dugouts, but your price sounds high...but I'm only considering 4 diamonds. One of our local towns municipal parks with about 6 diamonds uses Scag TTII's with the Scag striping kit. My diamond likes it at 3.5" in the spring mowed twice a week. After the spring period is over with 3" once a week. If they're having a tournament, they have asked me if I could freshen it up...makes for an early morning as I will be there unloaded and ready to mow at first light.

If it was a professional park they would have a professional grounds maintenance crew. Those fields are very labor intensive and there's a reason they have grounds crew on staff. You cannot compete with that, but I sure like to try to and do the best I can within their parameters.

If you're striping, keep in mind when their games are being held and how the sun reflects off your stripes...with 4 diamonds, all will be different...or at least 2 of them. A diagonal (criss-cross diamond pattern) may look great on one or two diamonds that are north/south orientation, but straight lines front to rear may look better on others that are east/west orientation. If they're lighted diamonds and a lot of night games you can really get creative!! Simply following the curve of the infield carried all the way out can look very cool...and it looks the same from any angle at night. I always enjoy doing this curve followed up with a straight front to rear if you will...a unique look, but simple to do.
 
#30 ·
TXSteve said:
I hope this is the one with the dirt infield. I'd hate to play with a 3.5" infield. A batted ball would never make it out of the infield ........... :ROFLMAO:
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LOL!! Yes indeed! Infield was at 2.25" Yeah, there'd be a lot of kids hitting infield singles at 3.5"!!

"There's a hard hit grounder towards third, but wait! The ball stopped like a it was made of velcro...HOLY COW, he's stretching into an infield double!!" :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:

Believe it or not, it makes a difference on which stripe it hits...if it hits the lighter stripe with the grass bent over going with it, the ball will keep a little more zip.
 
#31 ·
Prestigious1 said:
Believe it or not, it makes a difference on which stripe it hits...if it hits the lighter stripe with the grass bent over going with it, the ball will keep a little more zip.
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Yep. I knew that. There have been some groundskeepers for MLB teams chewed out by the outfielders because of that.

David Mellor wrote a great book about this very thing and how it was done. He did it for years at Fenway. I have it and have read it several times.

www.amazon.com

The Lawn Bible: How to Keep It Green, Groomed, and Growing Every Season of the Year: David R. Mellor: 9780786888429: Amazon.com: Books

The Lawn Bible: How to Keep It Green, Groomed, and Growing Every Season of the Year [David R. Mellor] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Lawn Bible: How to Keep It Green, Groomed, and Growing Every Season of the Year
www.amazon.com
 
#32 ·
Derwood said:
Agreed. But ….. they don’t have advertisements in the outfield I do think our “run of the mill” cut and trim will be a lot better than what’s been going on - perhaps my bias opinion. I’ll chart my course from there l guess

For those who cut diamonds, what else presents issues for you besides multiple team practices, and games ??
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The weather obviously but it’s a little different than your standard residential lawn. You do not want to leave muddy tire tracks on the field. Gets a little tricky in spring when you’re forecasted for 3 days of rain, daily evening practice and 2 day games in a week. I usually cut/treat ball fields early in the morning(when school starts).

Get the practice/game schedules and watch the forecast like a hawk - adjust accordingly.
Other than that it’ll be a cake walk. If you were talking about a quality field like a college or some high school fields, then it’d be a little more difficult. Usually have an AD, coaches and a “groundskeeper” that like to call and/or text you on a regular basis about something.
 
#33 ·
Prestigious1 said:
LOL!! Yes indeed! Infield was at 2.25" Yeah, there'd be a lot of kids hitting infield singles at 3.5"!!

"There's a hard hit grounder towards third, but wait! The ball stopped like a it was made of velcro...HOLY COW, he's stretching into an infield double!!" :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:

Believe it or not, it makes a difference on which stripe it hits...if it hits the lighter stripe with the grass bent over going with it, the ball will keep a little more zip.
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You can also prep the infield dirt to play faster or slower based on the amount of water you put on it. Lots of tricks in the bigs - home field advantage is real. I never made it to the bigs but our minor league groundskeeper was a pro and he’d cater the field to our liking. I liked to play deep in the hole at short so keeping the ground drier made the ball play a little faster, which enabled me to still make a play on a soft hit ball even if the guy was quick.
 
Discussion starter · #34 · (Edited)
Lot’s of good discussion folks, and I appreciate all of it !!

Some of you know me better than others, and may recall that I am part time. There’s no way I can mow in the am while coaches are at work (although that is a great idea) because I TOO am at work. Also, my ONLY responsibilities are to mow and trim - no fertilizer, no aerating, no nothing else. Just mow and trim - which is why I’m entertaining the idea. I’ll say, if I gotta clip it 2x a week, I definitely will charge by the cut. Not sure if $600/cut is too much for the average LCO - it very well may be. But it’s definitely where I PERSONALLY would need to be in order to hit my marks. So perhaps they’ll move on to someone more economically pleasing to them (and that’s fine too). I was just curious what y’all thought about it.

I hear you all on the stripes and making it look awesome - but I don’t see how I will have time for creativity. Short. Sweet. Simple ….. yet Beautiful. That’s my sweet spot. I’m honestly feeling like I might pass on it. I also failed to mention it is about 25 min away.
 
#35 ·
Derwood said:
Lot’s of good discussion folks, and I appreciate all of it !!

Some of you know me better than others, and may recall that I am part time. There’s no way I can mow in the am while coaches are at work (although that is a great idea) because I TOO am at work. Also, my ONLY responsibilities are to mow and trim - no fertilizer, no aerating, no nothing else. Just mow and trim - which is why I’m entertaining the idea. I’ll say, if I gotta clip it 2x a week, I definitely will charge by the cut. Not sure if $600/cut is too much for the average LCO - it very well may be. But it’s definitely where I PERSONALLY would need to be in order to hit my marks. So perhaps they’ll move on to someone more economically pleasing to them (and that’s fine too). I was just curious what y’all thought about it.

I hear you all on the stripes and making it look awesome - but I don’t see how I will have time for creativity. Short. Sweet. Simple ….. yet Beautiful. That’s my sweet spot. I’m honestly feeling like I might pass on it. I also failed to mention it is about 25 min away.
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When would you be able to cut it then if you did take it?
 
#38 ·
Derwood said:
I could do it anytime on Saturday or Sunday, and/or after work on wk days. Soonest I could get on it would be 4pm, but realistically more like 430 during the week.
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You know most evenings and weekends are when those fields are being used during the season. Which is why the morning mowing was suggested. I don't think you'll be able to do it with your time frame. I'm in your shoes too btw. Work till 4pm. Mow evenings.
 
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