How to Do the Jump Rope Crossovers

Jump rope crossovers add an arm cross as the rope comes over your head, so you jump through a loop made by your crossed arms. It builds coordination and shoulder and forearm endurance on top of regular jump rope fitness. It suits intermediate jumpers with a steady basic bounce.

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Muscles worked

Primary

  • Calves
  • Shoulders

Secondary

  • Abs
  • Forearms

How to do the Jump Rope Crossovers

  1. 1

    Start with a steady basic bounce, keeping your jumps low.

  2. 2

    As the rope comes over your head, cross your arms in front of your hips.

  3. 3

    Jump through the loop created by the crossed rope.

  4. 4

    Uncross your arms on the next rotation.

  5. 5

    Keep your elbows close and your wrists doing the turning.

  6. 6

    Alternate crossing and uncrossing for your reps.

  7. 7

    Rest and repeat for your rounds.

Form cues to remember

  • Cross low, near your hips
  • Keep jumps small
  • Turn with your wrists
  • Stay relaxed

Common mistakes

Crossing too high

Cross your arms low, near your hips, so the loop is large enough.

Tripping on the rope

Slow down and practice the crossover without jumping first.

Jumping too high

Keep jumps low to stay in rhythm.

Stiff shoulders

Relax your shoulders and let your wrists do the work.

Sets and reps

Conditioning6–8 rounds of 20–40 seconds with 30 seconds rest
Endurance3–4 sets of 30–50 crossovers, with 30–60 seconds rest

Make sure you are comfortable with the basic bounce first, because tripping can cause falls. Use a soft surface and a rope that is the right length.

Superlift for iPhone

Track your Jump Rope Crossovers and watch it go up

Superlift shows what you lifted last time, times your rest, and charts your strength week by week, so you always know what to beat. Every exercise in this library is built in, with the same demos and tutorials.

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Logging sets, reps and weight in SuperliftStrength progression chart in SuperliftExercise instructions and video tutorials in Superlift

Jump Rope Crossovers FAQ

Are jump rope crossovers hard?

They take practice because you have to time your arms and jump together. Most people need a few sessions before they feel smooth.

How do I learn the jump rope crossover?

Practice the arm cross without jumping, then add it to a slow jump. Gradually speed up as it feels natural.

Do crossovers burn more than regular jump rope?

They are a little more demanding for your shoulders and coordination, but the difference in energy use is small. They mostly add skill and variety.

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