Let’s talk about rope length. Not in a vague, “whatever feels good” kind of way—but in the actual, functional, don’t-make-your-life-harder-than-it-needs-to-be way. Because when it comes to rope dart, getting the length right is the difference between a smooth flow and spending your entire session untangling yourself from a rope rebellion.
Here’s how to measure your rope dart leash the right way!
Why Rope Length Matters (A Lot)
When your rope is too long, it becomes a slacky mess. You’ll struggle with recovery from shots and moves where you shoot the full rope—like elbow shots—will feel sluggish and out of control. What it comes down to is slack management will be hard.
Too short? You’ll feel like your dart is strangling you. Your range becomes limited, and suddenly, core moves like the Overlord and even some neck wraps become way harder than they should be.
Moral of the story: don’t guess.
The Sacred Rope Dart Length Formula
Here it is—the gold standard:
Wingspan + Shoulder-to-Ground = Ideal Dart Length
This includes:
- The length of the rope
- The head (fire, LED, or daytime)
- Any swivels, quicklinks, or hardware
So if you’re measuring the rope by itself without the dart head attached, you’re gonna end up too long once the head is added.
So to recap:
- Wingspan – Stretch your arms out to the side like you’re about to take flight. The rope should be held between thumb and pointer finger like you’re grabbing it with the palms of your hand when measuring (reference picture above). That’s part one.
- Shoulder-to-Ground – Standing upright, measure from the top of your shoulder (not your neck) straight down to the floor. That’s part two.
- Add those together – That’s your magic number.
Most Darts Come Too Long — On Purpose
If you bought a dart off the shelf, it probably came longer than it needs to be. That’s not a mistake—it’s to give you options. Here’s how to shorten it:
For Most Rope Dart Leashes:
- For most darts, all you need to do is add some extra loops before putting it on your wrist to shorten the total length.
- For our darts you can still use the method above, but we purposefully tie a figure-8 on a bight knot that can be undone to shorten the rope to you perfect length. Once it’s retied, you can cut off most of the excess rope and re-tape it the way it was when you started.
Final Thoughts
Sizing your rope dart correctly isn’t just about comfort—it’s about unlocking the full range of what the dart can do. The right length makes your moves smoother, your recoveries cleaner, and your growth as a flow artist faster.
There are a few exceptions to this rule, but for most flowmies this is going to be the gold standard. If you are learning some super traditional martial arts from a specific school of training, they might have you go a little bit longer than what we spoke about. But also most people reading this wouldn’t fall into that category because your martial arts teacher probably would’ve explained to you how long they want your rope to be.
So take a minute, measure it right, and stop fighting your own rope.
