You'll never get as good a cut as a Flymo (Oh I miss my old one!)
Try alternating the direction you cut in each time so what is missed on one cut you can get the next - north-to-south one week, east-to-west the next - and if you really want to get on top of it then alternating diagonal cuts. You'll also get more even grass growth and it's one of the best zero-hassle methods of controlling lawn weeds.
Re: Stripes - You need a machine with a roller attachment on the back to get the striped effect (and not just the tramline effect from the wheels). Alternative would be to attach something on the back of the machine that will brush stripes in as you go.
Marion
May 2009