IT’S IN THE PICK-UP!!! by David E. Jones  

Now don’t get the idea this is a commercial for a new truck. The pick-up we are going to talk about is picking up your heading loop so that you have a reasonable chance of catching a team roping steer. If you don’t know that it makes a difference, you might be pleasantly surprised to find out how important picking up the rope effects your swing and catching steers.   

There are many aspects of team roping that are much easier to learn and conquer if they are approached from science-based basics. Just because we live on Earth, we simply cannot escape dealing with the elements of science. Like it or not we have to deal with “Gravity”, “Bio-mechanics” and “The Laws of Motion”. They do effect the quality of our roping and if they are used effectively will make catching steers and learning to catch steers easier, less frustrating and much more enjoyable. (Please note that I am talking about roping live steers not roping a roping dummy or sawhorse. The basics of roping the dummy and sawhorse are very different than roping live steers). 

An old calf roper friend of mine (old roper not old calves) made the statement that good calf ropers pick their rope up to the right of the calf so that when the calf cuts back to the right their swing will still cover the calf. “Can’t catch a calf when your rope is to the left and the calf is to the right.” The statement also makes sense for team ropers. If you consider that gravity takes your loop down and the momentum of your swing moves your loop to the left, then it makes sense that if you want to catch, as easily as possible, your loop should be pointed higher and to the right of what you are trying to rope. When a header picks the loop up anywhere other than to the right of the steer’s right horn tip, the chances of catching the steer are severely handicapped. (see photo 1) The reason is simple. Because of momentum, the rope tries to return to the point where you first started the swing. The team roping swing develops a circular momentum that moves from right to left over the steer. A swing moves easily from right to left but is next to impossible to move from left to right.

If you swing to the left of a steer or if the steer moves right, leaving your swing to the left, the highest probability is that you will split the horns, wave off the loop or miss the steer completely. So the question now becomes, “How do you get the rope to the right of the steer?” Well, it is in the pick-up.  
     #1 It is very important that you understand that the loop pick-up is not part of your swing. Where you pick up the loop determines the path your swing will travel. The rope pick-up is the placement of the rope loop and tip into a catch path so that you can target your swing.  
     #2 Pick up your rope very slowly and pointed wide to the right of the steer’s right horn tip while turning the hondo side of the loop and your thumb down. Your forearm (fully extended), spoke of your rope (the part of the loop from your hand to your hondo) and rope tip (farthest point of the loop from your hand) should all be lined up, generally in a straight line that extends from your shoulder to a point approx. 12 to 16 inches to the right of the right horn tip. (see photo 2) 
     #3 Start your swing by lifting your elbow and pulling the loop back, towards your shoulder on the swing line you have just established. Keep your thumb down as you lift the loop with your elbow. Do not attempt to open your loop. (see photo 3) If you believe that it is necessary to open your heading or heeling loop when picking it up to begin your swing, then you do not have science-based basics. 
     #4 Keep your elbow elevated as you begin an aggressive swing above and to the right of the steer’s right horn tip. 
     #5 When you get your pick-up placed correctly and are able to maintain your swing, the delivery of your loop should be relaxed and effortless.   
     #6 Your pick-up should be slow, your swing should be fast, and your delivery should be slow. Slow-Fast-Slow  If you have roped very much at all, you have probably caught some steers and said to yourself, “that was easy, I wish I could do that every time!” Here is the good news. If you practice the information in this article correctly, you’ll be able to do just that. So, is there anything more basic than picking up your rope to swing? You bet there is. Maybe we’ll talk about that next time. Bye for now, David

A question: In the Nov '02 issue of Superlooper entitled "It's in In the Pick-Up", the terminology "pick-up the rope" isn't clear to me. Can you explain in more detail just what this action is? Thanks, Roger

Roger,
As you leave the roping box or as you approach the steer, the transition from "carrying" your rope, in a stationary position, to "swinging" your rope, to set up the catch, is the rope "pick-up". Your swing begins immediately after your rope "pick-up". 
From the article:  
#1  "It is very important that you understand that the loop pick-up is not part of your swing. Where you pick up the loop determines the path your swing will travel. The rope pick-up is the placement of the rope loop and tip into a catch path so that you can target your swing."
Hope this helps,
David