Can you tell why the zero turn mowers you tried were "not for you?"

I ask because...

I mow a few days a week now (not nearly as much experience mowing as some other folks here on the forum have--some have done it professionally for many years I'm new)...I mow everything from three acre rural yards to small residential lots.  The three acre yard is the biggest one I have so far, but I would not mind taking on a larger lot.

My deck is only 52" but I mow two acres in 40 minutes, including unloading and loading (not counting trimming).  Three acres in under an hour (not as many obstacles in the three-acre lot.)  It would be faster with a wider deck.  If I take on a lot of bigger properties, I would want a 60"

I use an Exmark and I love it so much, it makes me want to dance in little circles.

I almost bought a scag, but did not like it (though they are wonderful mowers).  I didn't like the Kubota zero turns at all.

The other contender would be a John Deere but I couldn't afford those.

I will second the idea that if what you really want to do is mow, a zero turn is your fastest, most economical way to do that, and you won't tear up your yard as much when it's wet. Yes, it'll be heavy, but not as heavy as a tractor.

It will also mow a lot faster than your tractor, and when you have acreage, time spent on the mower once a week (or twice, depending on weather and where you live)becomes an issue.   It will also leave you with a LOT less trimming than will a tractor-mounted mower.  You can get up against stuff with ease.

So if you didn't like the mowers you looked at, it's worth looking at others.   Many brands out there, and they have subtle differences that make a big difference in the mowing experience.

A seat upgrade to an air-cushion seat will save you some hate on a rough property.

It is true that if you want a beautiful, even cut, it will require two passes.  I've never had it require more than that, but I'm also not talking about hip-high grass.

Grass up to a foot tall?

My mower eats it for lunch.  If it's wet, I go slow and make two passes to scatter the clippings better and even up the cut.

If it's basically hay, I need three passes.

So you bagged the clippings and used that for mulch?

I think it's because of several things you've stated.

Mostly though....we can get very close to stuff.  So the work you did with your SP walk behind mower can be done with a zero turn in a tiny fraction of a time.  (Unless you're using a commercial walk behind with some kind of ride-on device behind it.)  And we can get right up against obstacles.

But the main reason is that it's so much faster overall, for a good result.  If I have an entire afternoon to mow, I can do it with a tractor style mower.

But I don't ever have that much time free.

So what I can do in an afternoon with a tractor style mower (or tractor WITH a mower) I can do in less than two hours with the zero turn, and that's taking time to not tear up the turf.

Each to his/her own, but each machine does something better than anything else will do, generally, from what I've seen.

What zero turns do best, is cut grass, cut it well (a pretty cut), and cut it fast.   (A pretty cut and a fast cut are usually mutually exclusive,.  With a zero turn, they're both possible, in most circumstances.)

A reel mower is the only thing I've seen do a better job.

I agree, but can't afford to own all of it (and don't have a roof to put it under, which is a significant component of owning all that).

So....a lot of us fail at life I guess.

That's awesome!

I hope you will post pics and updates as you get acquainted with your new toy!