My front yard is about an acre and a half and is on a slight slope towards the road,so everyone going down the road gets a good look at it,so I try to keep it looking pretty good.We alternate mowing patterns every three or four cuts.We have Ky 31 Fescue in the yard,and it tends to get memory in it and will kinda lay down on you if you don't change your patterns.We leave our clippings on the yard...we knock it down and come back with the deck raising all the up and blow out the clippings.Works out great.Something else,both our mowers are set exactly the same height....not by my design,just happened....so we can cut side by side and you can't tell any difference.jc