I read you should irrigate "more deeply, less often" yet "if you put too much down your water runs off".

So I'm confused. Specifically my lawn...

Our clay doesn't absorb water that fast. I've determined in the past that if I apply an inch of water (using an oscillating sprinkler) I have to go no more than about a quarter-inch an hour max or it puddles/runs off depending on the topography of the area in question.

Can an inground system be designed for a lower flow rate like that? This way, I can get the whole inch at once without it running off.

I hate the idea of doing a quarter inch every couple days to do the inch-week required, since that is the very thing that encourages shallow, drought-susceptible roots, isn't it?