“What Makes a Jump Rope Just Right?”
John Obrecht, Ph.D.
Vice President – JumpNRope, Ltd.

In this three-part series Dr. Obrecht explains what makes a jump rope just right from the scientific perspective of a Ph.D. Physicist.  In Part 1 of 3: The Cord, we learn about the variety of jump rope cords, and how careful selection can lead us to a better jumping experience.  In Part 2 of 3: The Size, we learn about how to become efficient in jumping by choosing the proper cord size.  Finally, in Part 3 of 3: The Handle, we learn about the most important part of the jump rope, namely the handle technology that makes your rope turn efficiently.

• Dr. Obrecht did his Ph.D. work in Atomic Physics at the University of Colorado at Boulder with Nobel Laureatte Eric Cornell.  He is currently the Vice President of JumpNRope, Ltd.

Part 3 of 3: The Handle

Until this point, I've only mentioned the properties of the jump rope cord that one should consider when selecting the just right jump rope.  However, just as important as the jump rope cord is the jump rope's handle technology.  The handle is not just a means of holding the cord to your hands; the geometry of the handle greatly affects the efficiency with which you jump, and ultimately results in faster, more-competitive jumping skill.

The most efficient handle system created to date has come from the mind of 5-Time World Jump Rope Champion, and JumpNRope founder, Molly Metz.  With her decades of experience in the competitive jump rope world (28 years), Molly discovered a need for faster, more-efficient jump rope handles, and subsequently invented (and patented) a jump rope handle technology that revolutionized the sport.  She not only added the dual-bearing shaft technology concept to the jump rope handle— a critical component, she also added one of the most important features of a competitive jump rope’s design: the pivoting-ball element, which gives the jump rope cord the ability to pivot at a variable angle from the handle's rotating central shaft.

The dual-bearing shaft technology allows for a fluid, near-frictionless turn of the rope's cord as you drive the rope with your hands and wrists.  In fact, JumpNRope has posted a video clip where we show our handle system spinning for 10 seconds from a single, applied spin  The main point of the handle’s bearing technology is that it is fast & smooth and allows the user to put their efforts elsewhere in jumping-- not losses to friction in the handle.

The pivoting-ball element also helps a jumper maintain an efficient form due to the fact that it allows the jump rope’s cord to be decoupled from the angle that the hands hold the jump rope’s handles.  This means that a jumper who holds their hands at strange angles (up, down, or both!) can jump a cord that has the same shape as a jumper who holds their hands at normal angles!  The pivoting ball accommodates for this and self-corrects for the jumper’s goofy form!

• This handle technology has proven so successful over the years that not only is it used by Jump Rope Champions around the world, but Molly has recently been awarded two U.S. Patents for this jump rope technology!  If you see jump ropes with bearings and a pivoting-ball element—this is Molly’s patented invention!

Lastly, it should be stated that the size of the jump rope’s handles can really make a difference with regards to one’s performance in jumping rope.  Elite athletes will tend to like the short, light-weight handles, as the smaller handles not only weigh less, they also allow for a closer, tighter grip— almost contouring to the shape of your hand, providing control and access to greater speeds.  Others, however, will like the length of a longer handle, as the extra length can allow for increased leverage, providing an advantageous boost to the flicking action of the wrists.

• JumpNRope features both handle lengths in all ropes— the R1: Speed Rope, the R2: Trainer Rope, the R3: Beaded Rope, and our Speed Ball training device.

To put this all together, one should realize that a lot of thought can be put into the choices that you make when choosing a jump rope.  At JumpNRope, we’ve spent years designing (and patenting) high-performance jump ropes that cater to all athletic levels: from elite Jump Rope Champions, to beginning jumpers and kids!  We have a full range of rope types that will allow you to progress your skills in jump rope.

• Dr. Obrecht did his Ph.D. work in Atomic Physics at the University of Colorado at Boulder with Nobel Laureatte Eric Cornell.  He is currently the Vice President of JumpNRope, Ltd.