"Groomer" covers three different machines, so start with the job. For weekly brushing behind a utility vehicle, a static tow-behind brush like the GreensGroomer Synthetic Sports Turf Groomer (920SDE) is the simple option: 72 inches wide, 260 lb, 16 synthetic brushes and a 12-volt electric lift, per GreensGroomer. Its 926 adds two rows of spring tines for loosening compacted infill. For sweeping debris and returning infill, you need a powered cleaner. The Redexim Verti-Top (1.2 to 1.8 m wide, up to 26 mm deep, with a vacuum dust bag) and the Wiedenmann Terra Clean 160 (160 cm wide, up to 1.5 cm deep, with cyclone dust filters on the C models) both run off a tractor. For a district or park system with several fields, the self-propelled SMG SportChamp takes attachments for brushing, vacuuming, leaves, topdressing and winter work. Before buying any of them, get your field builder to confirm in writing that the equipment is allowed under your warranty. Disclosure: DreamFields USA cleans, grooms, repairs and inspects turf fields in NJ, NY and CT. We don't sell or rent any of these machines, and no manufacturer paid for placement.
Most New Jersey turf fields are infilled systems. Sand and rubber or organic infill sits between the fibers and does part of the cushioning work. Play kicks that infill out of goal mouths and center circles, mats the fibers down and works dirt, leaves, seeds and fine rubber dust into the surface. Maintenance equipment fights that in three different ways. The Synthetic Turf Council (STC) draws the same line in its maintenance guidelines. It recommends a static brush for general infill leveling and standing the fibers up. For removing surface debris, it points to a mechanical sweeper or other specialty synthetic turf cleaning equipment. Deep cleaning is a third tier: equipment that combines mechanical brushing, suction and an infill return system, run by trained crews.
So the right machine depends on which of those jobs you're trying to bring in-house. A facilities crew that only needs to keep a single high school field brushed between games needs very different equipment from a county parks department running six fields, or a club that wants to stop paying for debris removal. This page compares real equipment lines on what their makers publish. Our grooming and brushing schedule guide covers how often to groom. Our turf cleaning equipment guide covers the backyard and small-commercial toolkit. This page is for sports fields.
All specs below come from each manufacturer's own product pages, spec sheets or brochures, accessed October 30, 2026. We list no prices. These machines are sold through dealers who quote by configuration. We did not test them, and the order is not a ranking.
| Machine | Job | Working width | Depth / tines | Power / hookup | Dust handling | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GreensGroomer Synthetic Sports Turf Groomer (920SDE) | Static brushing: stands fibers, levels infill | 72 in | Brush only. Optional spring tine rake and extension wings | Drawbar tow; 12 V electric lift (1,000 lb capacity) | None (collects nothing) | 260 lb |
| GreensGroomer Integrated Sports Turf Groomer (926) | Static brushing plus compaction relief | 72 in | 2 rows of 14 spring tines (3/16 in, 40° tip bend), rotate up when not needed | Drawbar tow; 12 V electric lift | None | 375 lb |
| Redexim Verti-Top 1200 / 1800 | Powered brush + oscillating sieve: returns infill, collects debris, decompacts | 1.2 m (47.2 in) / 1.8 m (70.9 in) | 0–26 mm (0–1.02 in); tines can be lowered for more decompaction | Tractor, min. 25 hp, 3-point CAT 1 (1800: CAT 1-2), 540 rpm PTO | Integrated vacuum, washable dust bag | 360 kg (794 lb) / 440 kg (970 lb) |
| Redexim Verti-Top TB (tow behind) | Same principle, own engine | 1.45 m (59 in) | 0–26 mm | Towing hook; Briggs & Stratton 6.5 hp engine; min. 18 hp vehicle | Integrated vacuum | 320 kg (706 lb) |
| Wiedenmann Terra Clean 160 / 160 C / 160 TM / 160 CTM | Intensive cleaning: PTO brush onto two sieve levels, height-adjustable rake | 160 cm (outside width 185 cm) | Max. 1.5 cm | 160 and 160 C: 540 rpm PTO, rear 3-point Cat. I or drawn. TM and CTM: drawn, own combustion engine | C and CTM: three cyclone filters for fines down to 10 µm | Not on the flyer |
| SMG SportChamp SC2D / SC2BL / SC3D4HL | Self-propelled: rotary brush levels infill while vacuum lifts debris into a filter box; attachments for other jobs | Brush 900–1,600 mm depending on brush (SC3: 1,100 mm effective) | Attachments include decompaction for extreme compaction | Self-propelled, hydrostatic, up to 10 km/h; diesel 16.1 kW (SC2D, SC3) or petrol 16.9 kW (SC2BL) | Vacuum to filter box; filter cleaned automatically | 600 kg (SC2BL), 630 kg (SC2D), 805 kg (SC3D4HL) |
Figures as published by each manufacturer on October 30, 2026. Metric figures are the maker's own; imperial conversions are the maker's where shown.
GreensGroomer's Synthetic Sports Turf Groomer is a drag brush, not a sweeper. GreensGroomer says it redesigned the unit in 2014 around its brush dimensions and angles, which move infill in four directions so one pass stands fibers up and levels low spots left after play. The spec sheet lists a 72-inch-wide, 48-inch-long frame (84 inches including the drawbar). It weighs 260 lb and carries 16 "Blue Super Duty" synthetic brushes with flat bristles. It rides on two pneumatic tires and uses a 12-volt electric linear actuator rated at 1,000 lb to lift the brushes for transport. Options include a spring tine rake, extension wings and a remote-control lift.
The 926 Integrated Sports Turf Groomer, launched in March 2015, builds the rake in. It is 64 inches long (106 inches overall with the drawbar), the same 72 inches wide, and 375 lb. Behind the brushes are two rows of 14 spring tines, each 3/16 inch in diameter with a 40-degree tip bend at 7/8-inch spacing. GreensGroomer says you can rotate the tines up out of the way with setting marks when you don't need them. That lets a crew loosen compacted infill without changing equipment.
Where it fits: a school or town that already has a utility vehicle and mainly needs regular brushing between uses. It is the lightest and simplest machine on this list. It also collects nothing, so leaves, seeds, tape and fine dust stay on the field until something else picks them up. Note that GreensGroomer also sells its Original GreensGroomer (920E) for natural-grass greens topdressing. For a turf field, the synthetic models are the ones to spec.
The Verti-Top is a cleaner. Redexim describes it as a complete cleaning system for synthetic turf. A powered brush sweeps into the surface and lifts infill and debris onto an oscillating sieve. The sieve returns the infill to the field and drops larger debris into rear hoppers that lift off individually for emptying. An integrated vacuum pulls dust and fine particles such as hair into a washable bag. Redexim says the tines can be lowered for more intensive decompaction, and it offers sieves from 3.2 to 6 mm for different surfaces (the standard sieve on the product pages is 5 × 5 mm).
The two PTO models differ mainly in width. The Verti-Top 1200 covers 1.2 m (47.2 in), weighs 360 kg and lists a maximum capacity of 6,000 m² per hour. The Verti-Top 1800 covers 1.8 m (70.9 in), weighs 440 kg and lists 9,000 m² per hour. Both work 0–26 mm deep at up to 5 km/h. Both need at least a 25 hp tractor with a three-point hitch and a 540 rpm PTO. For scale, a full-size 105 × 68 m soccer pitch is about 7,140 m², so even Redexim's maximum figures mean roughly an hour or more per field before turns and emptying. The Verti-Top TB is a tow-behind version with its own 6.5 hp Briggs & Stratton engine, so it needs no PTO. It is 1.45 m wide, weighs 320 kg, and Redexim says it can be pulled by any vehicle of at least 18 hp, at up to 12 km/h.
Where it fits: an owner with a compact tractor who wants to remove debris and fines in-house and keep infill on the field. If you don't have a PTO tractor, the TB is the version to ask your dealer about.
Wiedenmann positions the Terra Clean 160 for intensive cleaning of filled artificial turf, "even with dew moisture." A PTO-driven sweeping brush with four brush rails lifts debris and infill onto a spring-mounted screen with two interchangeable sieve levels. Reusable infill goes back to the field and debris goes into two baskets of about 50 liters each. A height-adjustable rake loosens the infill ahead of the brush. The working width is 160 cm (185 cm outside), the maximum working depth is 1.5 cm, and the working speed is 3–5 km/h.
The model letters matter. The 160 and 160 C mount on a rear three-point Category I hitch or are drawn, and run off a 540 rpm tractor PTO. The TM and CTM are drawn and powered by their own combustion engine. The "C" models add three cyclone filters, which Wiedenmann says clean the process air of dust down to a particle size of 10 µm. It also says that, unlike paper or textile filters, they don't clog, which is why it rates the C models for damp conditions. The models without cyclones handle coarse debris only.
Where it fits: a field where fine dust and rubber particulate are part of the problem, or where crews often have to work in the morning with dew on the surface. Wiedenmann's flyer doesn't list a machine weight, so ask the dealer for it if you need to check your tractor's lift capacity.
The SportChamp is a self-propelled ride-on machine, so it needs no tractor at all. SMG says its rotary brush levels the infill of filled surfaces while removing contamination in the same pass. A vacuum system pulls loose fibers and fine dirt into a large filter box. The filter cleans automatically and empties hydraulically from the driver's seat. The SC2D (diesel, 16.1 kW, 630 kg) and SC2BL (petrol, 16.9 kW, 600 kg) take brushes from 900 to 1,600 mm wide. The newer SC3D4HL (diesel, 805 kg) lists an effective working width of 1,100 mm. All three have hydrostatic drive up to 10 km/h.
The attachments are the main reason to choose one. SMG lists attachments for winter service, topdressing infill, leaf removal, loosening extreme compaction and spraying care products. It also offers attachments for non-infilled turf, other synthetic sports surfaces and sidewalks. SMG also says the machine can do the annual basic and deep cleaning on top of weekly work.
Where it fits: a district, county or large club running several turf fields (and maybe tracks or courts) that wants one operator-friendly machine rather than a tractor plus several implements. It is the heaviest machine here. Confirm with your field builder that its weight and tires are acceptable on your system.
The machine matters less than how it's used. The STC guidelines give practical rules that apply to every unit above:
Public owners in New Jersey usually can't just pick a dealer. Equipment purchases above the bid threshold go through a public bid or a cooperative purchasing contract. Our public bid vs. cooperative purchasing guide covers how that works for turf projects. Write the specification around the job and the requirements rather than one brand: working width, working depth range, sieve options, dust handling, power source compatible with your existing vehicle, builder approval and dealer training. That lets more than one machine qualify. And budget for the full cost of owning one: storage, an operator's time, brush and filter replacement, and dealer service.
Many owners mix the two approaches. They own a simple static groomer for weekly brushing and contract out the deep cleaning, decompaction and testing once or twice a year. The STC describes comprehensive maintenance as semi-annual to annual work using specialty equipment and trained professionals. If you're weighing that split, our in-house vs. contractor maintenance guide walks through the trade-offs.
Rather not buy a machine?
DreamFields grooms, deep cleans, decompacts and tests synthetic turf fields across NJ, NY and CT, on a schedule or as a one-time reset. Tell us the field, the turf age and what you're seeing.
Request a turf maintenance quoteIt depends on the job and the vehicle you already own. For weekly brushing behind a utility vehicle, a static tow-behind brush like the GreensGroomer Synthetic Sports Turf Groomer (72 inches wide, 260 lb, 16 synthetic brushes, per GreensGroomer) is the simplest option. For sweeping debris and returning infill, a powered cleaner like the Redexim Verti-Top or Wiedenmann Terra Clean 160 does a different job: a rotating brush lifts material onto a sieve that drops infill back and keeps debris. If you maintain several fields and want one machine for brushing, vacuuming, leaf removal and winter work, a self-propelled SMG SportChamp is the multi-tool option. Ask your field builder which equipment its warranty allows before you buy anything.
No. A static groomer is a drag brush: it stands fibers up and levels infill but collects nothing. A sweeper or cleaner (Verti-Top, Terra Clean, SportChamp) uses a powered brush to lift infill and debris onto a sieve, returns the infill to the field and holds the debris in a hopper or basket, and some models also vacuum fine dust. The Synthetic Turf Council guidelines describe the same split: a static brush for general leveling, and a mechanical sweeper or specialty cleaning equipment to remove surface debris.
There is no universal interval. The Synthetic Turf Council tells owners to ask the field builder for the recommended grooming frequency, says frequency generally follows how hard the field is used, and warns that excessive brushing can damage fibers. Its guidelines also suggest budgeting about 1 hour of inspection and maintenance for every 10 hours of play. Our grooming schedule guide covers frequency by usage level.
It can if the equipment or method isn't approved. The Synthetic Turf Council says to use only equipment and vehicles approved by the field builder, to use synthetic bristles of the recommended stiffness and never metal or wire bristles, and to get the builder's written confirmation that your maintenance program, provider and equipment comply with the warranty. Keep a maintenance log, which many warranties require.
Check each maker's spec. GreensGroomer's synthetic groomers are towed by drawbar and use a 12-volt electric lift. Redexim lists a minimum 25 hp tractor with a Category 1 three-point hitch and a 540 rpm PTO for the Verti-Top 1200 and 1800, and 18 hp for the engine-driven Verti-Top TB. Wiedenmann's Terra Clean 160 runs off a 540 rpm PTO (or its own engine on the TM versions). SMG's SportChamp is self-propelled. The STC also says not to use 6-wheel vehicles on the field and to use pneumatic tires for snow work.
DreamFields does not publish equipment prices, and these manufacturers sell through dealers who quote by configuration (brush type, sieve, attachments). Public schools and towns in New Jersey also buy through bids or cooperative contracts, which changes the number. If you would rather not buy a machine, we quote scheduled grooming and deep cleaning in writing after we see the field.
Related: grooming and brushing schedule · turf cleaning equipment · sports field maintenance · infill topdressing · best shock pads · turf cleaning services
Sources (accessed October 30, 2026): GreensGroomer Synthetic Sports Turf Groomer 920SDE brochure (PDF); GreensGroomer Integrated Synthetic Sports Turf Groomer (926); Redexim Verti-Top 1200; Redexim Verti-Top 1800; Redexim Verti-Top TB; Redexim synthetic turf brochure, Dec 2024 (PDF); Wiedenmann Terra Clean 160 product flyer (PDF); SMG SportChamp SC3D4HL; SMG SportChamp SC2D; SMG SportChamp SC2BL; Synthetic Turf Council maintenance guidelines, as published by SportsField Management. Specs are manufacturer-published and may change, so confirm them with the dealer.