We need our loop to stay open a little longer through our delivery and the poly blend will allow the body of the rope to assist you with that. On older steers or steers with larger horns I would suggest a nylon/poly blend. Usually a straight nylon works best since your loop will close faster and is very forgiving. On fresh steers or steers with smaller horns I like a rope that is fast, light, and generally a softer lay. Are they fresh steers or older steers? What is the variation in horn size? Etc. These lays are generally the hard medium (HM) or medium hard (MH).Īt every event I attend, the first thing I do is evaluate the steers. If the steers have been roped more and are slower hopping I would want to use a rope with a lot more body and a little bit stiffer in lay. Just like heading, we want our loop to close up fast around the feet and a softer rope will allow that to happen. As a heeler I would recommend a medium soft (MS) or medium (M) lay on small fresh steers that have a lot of action. I primarily use and extra soft (XS) but will occasionally use a soft (S) depending on the type of steers I am roping. When I’m heading I want a rope that is going to close fast around the horns, yet still allow me to keep my loop open. I have used the full spectrum of rope lays throughout my career as both as a heeler and header. One benefit to me for smaller diameter ropes is that they allow me to ensure I can have a comfortable grip on my reins while also holding the coils in my left hand. I usually choose ropes that are in the small to medium range. In colder temperatures poly blends can provide a little more consistent feel.Īnother factor I consider when deciding which rope to use is the diameter. Straight nylon ropes are usually more consistent in their feel especially it warmer temperatures.Īdding poly blends to ropes provide “body” and weight to a rope that is helpful in situations like roping steers with large horns where you want your loop a little more open Poly is not as forgiving when it comes to its elastic properties. Have you ever stretched a piece of nylon cord and watched it shrink back to its original size? This is because nylon has an elastic property and reverts back to what is was before it was stretched. Ropes develop a “memory” when they are manufactured. Currently I use the C4 which is a 100% nylon rope and the Xplosion which is a nylon/poly blend. I use Cactus Ropes and have for over 15 years now exclusively. The first is a straight nylon and the other is a nylon/poly blend. I carry two types of ropes in my rope bag. Knowing rope composition is a large factor for me when selecting the rope I want to use on any specific day. Today I’d like to share a few ideas to consider for selecting a rope that will work best for you. The rope industry had made some big strides with new technology over the past few years, but it still comes down to what works for you. There are numerous factors that can contribute to the way our ropes feel. Maybe you’re like me, and will drag every one out of your rope bag to swing and evaluate for a certain feel. How often have you been in the practice pen or at competition and gone through every rope in your entire bag, and still couldn’t find the perfect one? Listen to this article in audio form! It’s #2 in the Team Roping Tips Podcast.įor the latest episodes subscribe on iTunes or your favorite podcast app.
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