Zero turn lawn mowers are used for cutting and trimming grass. Zero turn mowers were originally manufactured for industrial uses but, due to their flexible movement, they were also used by landscape contractors and golf course maintainers. The operator can actually ride these lawn movers and make them turn 180 degrees, within the body length of the machines. The mowers are so flexible that they can also turn full circle.

Zero turn lawn movers generally operate along the same principle as bull dozers or tanks, which use treads for movement. Similarly, these mowers work by using their rear wheels; changing the direction and force applied to each wheel helps control the machine. Thus, to make a180 degree turn, only one wheel needs to be turned backward while the others move forward. Zero turn lawn movers generally have two rear wheels linked to 'hydrostatic transmission'. This results in the power of the engine being converted to hydraulic pressure which, in turn, moves and controls the direction of the mower. The engine's pump exerts pressure on the hydraulic fluid that enables the wheels to move.

In earlier versions of these lawn movers, the operator could control the speed and direction with just the help of a pair of levers. However, the current versions use a joystick and handle bars similar to the ones found on motorbikes. Some of them even have a steering wheel for enabling greater control. Equipped with such features, the zero turn lawn mower can give good performance for a long time '” provided its engine is properly maintained and the mower deck is kept clean.