Your greens don’t announce stress — they just show it. By the time you can see it, you’re already chasing hand-watering across 18 holes in the midday heat. A TDR moisture meter changes that. Probe the green in seconds, read volumetric water content on the spot, and make the right call before the turf pays for a bad one.
Par West carries the full line of Spectrum FieldScout TDR moisture meters — the TDR 150, TDR 250, and TDR 350 — trusted by golf course superintendents, sports turf managers, and irrigation professionals across the country. Free shipping available.
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Hand/Spot Watering Products, Irrigation Tools, Turf Specialty Products
FieldScout TDR Rods – Spectrum
Price range: $76.00 through $93.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Hand/Spot Watering Products, Irrigation Tools, Turf Specialty Products
TDR 350 FieldScout Moisture Meter – Spectrum
$1,635.00 Add to cart -
Irrigation Tools, Turf and Agronomic Products, Turf Specialty Equipment, Turf Specialty Products
Spectrum TDR 250 Economy Moisture Meter
$1,245.00 Add to cart -
Turf Specialty Equipment, Turf Specialty Products
Fieldscout TDR 150 Moisture Meter
$1,145.00 Add to cart -
Irrigation Tools, Turf Specialty Equipment, Turf Specialty Products
Infrared Temperature Sensor for TDR 350
$183.00 Add to cart
Spectrum TDR 150: All-In-One Turf Data
The TDR 150 is built for superintendents who want every data point from one tool. Accurate VWC, EC, and surface temperature in a single probe — with optional GPS, Bluetooth, and a carrying case for field portability. If you’re building a data-driven moisture management program from scratch, this is your starting point.
Best for: Comprehensive turf data collection · irrigation scheduling · research programs
Key specs: Volumetric water content · EC · surface temp · GPS (optional) · Bluetooth (optional) · carrying case
Spectrum TDR 250: Accurate Moisture at the Right Price ⭐ BEST VALUE
The TDR 250 does one thing exceptionally well: accurate volumetric water content readings, fast, at a price that makes sense across a full crew. No frills, no unnecessary complexity — just reliable soil moisture data wherever you need it. The right call when you need more meters across more holes without the premium price tag.
Best for: Budget-conscious operations · multiple crews · entry-level data programs
Key specs: Volumetric water content · backlit display · interchangeable soil probes · T-handle
Spectrum TDR 350 FieldScout: The Professional Standard 🏆 BEST SELLER
The TDR 350 is the moisture meter most golf course superintendents reach for — and Par West’s single best-selling product year after year. It combines accurate VWC with EC and surface temperature, a telescoping handle for ergonomic green-side use, an optional infrared temperature sensor, and SPEC Connect compatibility for data logging and analysis. One probe. Every reading your greens need.
Best for: Professional golf course management · heat stress monitoring · irrigation optimization · full agronomic programs
Key specs: Volumetric water content · EC · surface temp · telescoping handle · optional infrared sensor · carrying case · SPEC Connect compatible
Who Uses TDR Moisture Meters?
Golf Course Superintendents Monitor VWC across greens, tees, and fairways before and after irrigation cycles. Identify dry spots before they become visible stress. Calibrate hand-watering decisions by data, not feel.
Sports Turf Managers Maintain consistent playing surfaces on natural grass athletic fields. Monitor moisture uniformity across high-traffic zones and minimize compaction-related stress.
Irrigation Managers Use field VWC readings to validate controller schedules, identify system inefficiencies, and reduce overwatering without sacrificing turf health.
Assistant Superintendents & Crew Fast, easy-to-read field tool that any trained crew member can operate. No calibration required between readings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a TDR moisture meter used for? A TDR (Time Domain Reflectometry) moisture meter measures the volumetric water content (VWC) of soil in real time. Golf course superintendents and turf managers use them to make accurate hand-watering and irrigation scheduling decisions, identify stress before it becomes visible, and monitor turf health during heat events.
Q: What’s the difference between the TDR 150, TDR 250, and TDR 350? All three Spectrum FieldScout TDR meters measure volumetric water content accurately in the field. The TDR 150 adds EC, surface temperature, GPS, and Bluetooth. The TDR 250 is a streamlined, budget-friendly moisture-only option. The TDR 350 is the professional standard — adding a telescoping handle, EC, surface temp, optional infrared sensor, and SPEC Connect compatibility for data logging.
Q: How accurate are TDR soil moisture meters? Spectrum FieldScout TDR meters are calibrated for a range of mineral soil types and are widely used in university turfgrass research and USGA-affiliated programs. TDR technology is considered more accurate and more consistent than capacitance or resistance-based sensors, particularly in high-salinity or variable-temperature soil conditions common in managed turf environments.
Q: How do I use a TDR moisture meter on golf greens? Insert the TDR probes into the soil at the target location and depth, and the meter displays a VWC percentage within seconds. Most superintendents establish a baseline VWC range for their specific turf species and soil profile, then use the meter to identify readings that fall outside that window as triggers for hand-watering or irrigation adjustments.