Hi Kenny,
The standard 6 blade reel is ideal for almost all domestic lawns. There are aftermarket 8 and 10 blade reels available for the 17" machine but in the majority of cases there will be no noticeable improvement on a home lawn. For broad leaf grasses like buffalo that require higher levels of cut, the extra blades can have an adverse effect.
In a nutshell, the number of blades are matched to the type and height of grass being cut, 6 blades will do a better job on some, 10 blades on others. More blades doesn't equal better, they're for different applications.
I keep my own lawn to a high standard at fairly low heights and have 10 blade and 6 blade 45's. I can't notice any difference myself in the overall aftercut appearance between the two, but I'm not checking with a magnifying glass or measuring ball speed across the surface. I'll admit that when I bought my 10 blade reel that I was almost expecting a PGA quality green after the first mow but it wasn't to be
I absolutely agree with Darryl that there's no point in committing to a new reel yet. The biggest factor in achieving a quality cut will come from a sharp reel and bedknife that is correctly set.
Look forward to seeing some pictures and your progress once you get underway
Cheers, Michael
