Starting with jump rope can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. At Swissskip, we've helped hundreds of thousands beginners discover the joy of skipping. Here's exactly how to begin your jump rope journey.

1. Pick the right rope & setup first.

Before you even start, you need to pick up the right rope and here you can find out how you can pick the best fit for you - Quick guide on How to pick up the best jump rope for you.

Pick up a place where it is suitable for you to jump rope. Before you even start, you need to check your jump rope length. This is a vital part, so you can jump rope without tripping all the time and getting frustrated. If the rope is too long, it’s crashing into the ground, rather than passing by fluently and it messes up your rhythm. If your rope is too short, you’ll probably hit yourself to the back of your head as your rope doesn’t have enough space to travel around your body as a whole, which is pretty painful as well. This is also what will cause you to trip more often. 

How you can measure it in three simple steps: 

1: Pick the rope. 
2: Step on it with two feet.
3: Pull the handles towards your body - they should reach your bottom chest, so you can jump without tripping. 

That's it.

We have a quick detailed guide on how to properly size your jump rope as well: Click here.
You can also follow this quick video guide on how to avoid tripping: How to avoid tripping.

2. Warm up properly (2–5 minutes)

Before your session even start, you need to warm up first. 

The warm up is pretty simple and you do not need to overcomplicate it. Here is what you need to do:

20 Ankle circles on each side. 
15-20 Calf rises.
30 Seconds jogging in place.

You can warm-up your wrists as well.

3. Learn the basic beginner technique

Once you warmed up, it is time to take your first steps into the jump rope world and learn how to do a Single Bounce, which is the most basic form of skipping.

Before you even touch a jump rope, you need to understand what your body is supposed to do. Stand with your feet together and start doing small hops in place. Just tiny bounces where your feet barely leave the ground. It is very important to land on the balls of your feet (that's the front part of your foot, right behind your toes), not your heels. Your heels should kiss the ground lightly or not touch it at all. Keep your knees slightly bent and soft. Don't lock them straight. Think of your legs like springs - they should absorb the impact, not fight against it. Simply do this for 30 seconds to feel the rhythm before picking up the rope.

Now it's time for action.

Hold the rope handles with a relaxed grip. Your hands should be at about hip height, maybe slightly forward. Your elbows should stay close to your body, not sticking out. The rotation comes from your wrists, not your entire arms. Imagine you're turning two tiny doorknobs back and forth - that's the kind of small, controlled movement you want.

Start swinging the rope. When it comes toward your feet, do one of those small hops you practiced earlier. The timing is: rope hits the ground, you jump. Rope hits, you jump. You'll probably trip. That's completely fine and 100% expected, but I'm sure you will get it pretty fast!

4. Your first simple beginner routine

You will start simple, we do not want to overcomplicate it. Just a 5 minute workout. 

Firstly, set your timer to 5 minutes. Then you start - you jump for 10 seconds and then rest for 10 seconds and repeat the same circle until the 5-minute timer is over. Just practice the single bounce as it is instructed above! 

Final Thoughts

Starting jump rope isn't about being perfect from day one. It's about showing up, feeling the rhythm, accepting that you'll trip over the rope many times, and building your endurance bit by bit. Follow these three steps, be patient with yourself, and remember: every expert jump roper was once a beginner who kept going despite all the trips and stumbles. You've got this, I'm sure!