Mowing with a Scythe: First Cuts

This chapter covers the first practical steps with a scythe. We assume that your scythe already fits you, is properly adjusted, and is sharp. Now it is important to choose a suitable area, adopt a good posture, and practice the mowing swing calmly.

Suitable Area for Initial Attempts

For your first mowing attempts, choose an area that makes the work easier:

  • a meadow with upright, not too dense grass,
  • level terrain as much as possible, without pronounced holes, bumps, or molehills,
  • ideally dew-moist grass in the early morning hours.

Dew-moist meadow plants are easier to cut. Dry, already wilting, or flattened grass makes the first attempts more difficult.

Basic Body Position

A stable, relaxed basic position is essential for a smooth mowing swing. It forms the starting point for every cut.

  • Position yourself so that you mow away from the standing vegetation.
  • Adopt a slightly spread stance with your legs (approximately 50–80 cm, depending on your height).
  • Your knees are slightly bent, your upper body is only slightly inclined forward.
  • Your right foot is positioned approximately one foot length ahead of the left.

Grip the handles as follows:

  • Your right hand grasps the middle grip, with your right arm hanging loosely at your side.
  • Your left hand grasps the upper grip, with your left elbow bent.

In the basic position, the scythe blade rests with its back horizontally on the ground. The tip of the blade is approximately level with your right foot. The cutting edge has a small clearance from the ground at its lowest point—due to the adjustment made.

The Mowing Motion – Cut and Return Stroke

The mowing motion consists of two phases:

  • the cutting motion – the blade swings smoothly from right to left through the grass,
  • the return motion – the blade swings smoothly from left to right back to the starting position.

Important: The motion arises primarily from a rotation of the upper body, not from hectic arm movements.

  • The upper body rotates from the hips from the right to the left side.
  • The right arm remains largely extended and guides the scythe past the side of the body.
  • The left elbow is bent and is guided backward through the rotational motion, close to the body.
  • Throughout the entire cutting motion, the scythe blade glides in an arc-shaped swing flat across the ground.

When swinging the scythe back, the blade should also glide along the ground as much as possible. This prevents you from starting too high on the next cut.

Footwork and Forward Movement

The legs support the mowing swing and ensure a steady working rhythm.

  • At the beginning of the mowing swing, the right leg is slightly bent, with body weight positioned somewhat over the right supporting leg.
  • During the rotational motion, the right leg is extended, the body straightens, and weight shifts over the left leg.
  • At the end of the mowing swing, the right leg is largely unloaded.

Forward movement occurs in small steps:

  • The right leg is always positioned approximately one foot length ahead of the left.
  • During the return swing of the scythe, you step forward first with your right foot, then with your left.
  • You work in a steady rhythm, moving forward with small steps.

Cutting Height and Swath Width

Cutting height is primarily determined by the adjustment of the scythe and the flat guidance of the blade.

  • Guide the blade as flat as possible over the ground without scraping the cutting edge in the soil to prevent snagging.
  • Avoid lifting the scythe at the beginning or end of the swing. The snath should not swing over the ground like a golf club.

Regarding swath width: At the beginning, take less material per swing.

  • If the tip penetrates too deeply into the vegetation at the start of the swing, you are taking too much at once—the swing is slowed down.
  • A steady, not too wide arc makes mowing easier and ensures smooth movements.

A good mowing motion is one where the tip enters the grass approximately at the level of the right foot and the swing ends approximately at the level of the left heel.

Practice Exercises Without or With Short Grass

Before tackling taller or denser vegetation, practice exercises are helpful:

  • Practice the rotational motion of the upper body first without a scythe.
  • Then take the scythe in hand and perform the motion on short-cut grass or without contact with the ground.
  • Make sure the motion comes primarily from the hips and torso, with the arms following the rotation smoothly.

Only when this motion feels secure and fluid should you proceed to the complete mowing motion on the meadow.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Some typical mistakes occur in almost all beginners. If you know them, you can consciously correct them.

  • Lifting the scythe at the beginning or end of the swing
    The scythe is guided like a golf club, with the snath running above the ground. Result: little cutting, much effort.
    Correction: Ensure that the back and cutting edge remain flat near the ground throughout the entire motion.
  • Pulling mowing motion in front of the body
    The scythe is pulled diagonally in front of the body like a rake. The stalks are knocked down rather than cut.
    Correction: Guide the blade to the side in an arc-shaped swing that runs from the right foot to the left heel.
  • Too much material per swing
    The scythe goes too deep into the standing vegetation, the swing falters or stops mid-motion.
    Correction: Initially take narrower swaths and gradually work your way up to larger swath widths.
  • Chopping or hacking motion
    If the scythe is “lifted and struck” with force, this often indicates insufficient sharpness.
    Correction: Whet the scythe regularly and peen if necessary. The mowing motion remains a flat, drawing cut.

Patience and Practice

No one becomes a master scyther overnight. It is normal for the scythe to occasionally make “air swings” or for the tip to dig into the ground at first. What matters is that you:

  • practice calmly,
  • maintain a relaxed, upright posture,
  • whet regularly,
  • and combine the mowing motion and step sequence into a steady rhythm.

With increasing practice, mowing with a scythe becomes a fluid, rhythmic activity in which the scythe runs easily through the grass and you can fully utilize the advantages of a properly adjusted, sharp scythe.

To conclude our scythe knowledge chapters, we have compiled the most important terms in a glossary, our Scythe ABC.