ArizonaRealCountry.com 27 February 2019 Reprinted from @CraigSmithTeamRoping on InstaGram Ropes Have you ever pulled a new rope out of your rope bag that has been there a while - only to find out it doesn’t feel like it did when you bought it? One reason new ropes don’t feel the same over time is because they are tied based on the time of year and sometimes their final geographic location. Weather conditions can affect how your rope feels and reacts in your hand. Nylon and poly blend ropes respond differently to heat and cold. For example, if a rope is tied to be used in the summer months and isn’t used until late winter, the extreme cold can cause it to twist, or wad up in your hand. Some ways to make sure you always have ropes that feel good and “fresh” are: 1. Always buy ropes from a dealer with high rope turnover 2. Use your ropes within a couple months after purchase 3. Buy the right rope for the time of year (nylon vs. poly blend) 4. Buy ropes in smaller quantities and reorder more often Always having a rope in your hand that feels good will give you more confidence in your roping and increase your odds of being successful. I understand how difficult it can be to retire a rope that still feels good. This decision is usually based on kinked coils that are full of burnt rubber to the point that there are slick spots in our coils. I agree safety is a good reason to retire our favorite rope, but it isn’t the only reason. When ropes fray due to heavy use, it creates a lot of drag on our rope. This slows down the time it takes to feed our rope and also to get our slack out of our loop, which can result in lower catch percentages and fewer wins. Newer ropes allow us to keep our throws sharp and more consistent. Gloves There are a lot of different varieties of roping gloves available these days. But what should we look for in order decide what is best for us? Two factors to consider when evaluating are: 1. Overall fit 2. Material type We want to make sure our glove fits our hand just right. Too much excess length in the fingers or extra material in the palm can make it difficult to handle or feel our rope, and can also be dangerous – putting us at risk of injuring our hand. Have high standards when it comes to fit. Several material types are available as well. Some of the most common are pure cotton, cotton/blend, suede, or leather. Although everyone has their own preference, different materials can influence our rope as well. Cotton and cotton/blend gloves are generally pretty thin and allow you to really feel your rope, although they may not last as long and can seem a little slippery to use sometimes. Suede and leather gloves are usually a little thicker and more durable. They create a little more drag on our rope because these materials have more friction between the glove and the rope. In the end, it is really up to each individual to decide what material feels right, provides the protection, and helps us rope our best. ROPING TIPS: EQUIPMENT