How to Straighten a PVC Jump Rope Cord

Disclaimer: This solution only works with PVC cord jump ropes. This will not fix kinks in steel cable ropes.

It’s a common problem: kinks or memory coils in your PVC jump rope cord. This most frequently happens when you get your jump rope brand new and pull it out of the package.

Because the rope has never been used and has spent most of its life coiled inside a package it maintains quite a bit of coiled memory.

We also see this problem frequently if a jump rope has lived in a gym bag without being used for a couple of months.

Have kinks? No problem! This may sound extreme, but trust us: boil your rope.

The process is simple.

Bring a pot of water to boil.
Remove the PVC/licorice cord of your jump rope from the handles. This is important in case your rope handles have any components that could be damaged by the water or heat. Most PVC ropes have handy snap-lock systems for resizing or removing the cord (for example Boxer Ropes and Pro Freestyle ropes).
Drop your PVC/licorice cord in the pot for 2-3 minutes (we suggest using tongs as in the image below to keep the rope submerged).
Pull the rope out and lay it out on a flat surface.
If the rope still has some kinks: While the cord is still warm, pull it around a pole or other rounded surface and stretch. This should straighten it out the last bit.

If you’re still having trouble with your cord, you can always just replace it with a new one. Replacement PVC cords are only $2, and much cheaper than replacing the whole rope (handles and all).

About the Author

Matt Hopkins is a former competitive speed jumper and jump rope coach. Matt has won numerous national championships in speed jumping, and his athletes have won several national speed and freestyle titles and have broken world and national speed records. He also taught middle and elementary school PE in Leavenworth WA for 23 years.

How to Straighten a PVC Jump Rope Cord