The handle is the part of the rope you actually touch every set, and it's the part riders most often settle for. The difference between a worn, slippery grip and a well-designed handle shows up in the first deep water start of the day. Here's how to pick the right one.
Grip: the first thing to get right
Handles come with a few grip styles, and comfort is personal. EVA foam grips are soft and forgiving on the hands, which suits longer sessions and newer riders. Carbon and aluminium bar handles feel slimmer and firmer in the hand and are popular with experienced wakeboarders who want a consistent, precise grip. Rubber grips are durable and cheap to replace. Whatever the material, look for a handle with moulded or knurled sections that keep their grip when wet.
Width
Handle width changes how the line loads up. A wider handle spreads the pull across both hands and gives the rider more room to adjust their grip mid-air, which is why many open-water riders like a wider bar. A narrower handle keeps the hands closer together and suits riders who want a compact feel for wraps and handle passes. Most wakeboard handles fall between about 34 and 41 centimetres wide.
Second grips
Many ropes come with a second grip behind the main handle. This is worth having: it lets a second rider hold on at the same time, gives the boat crew something to hold when pulling the rope in, and gives newer riders a place to hang on during deep water starts. If you only ride solo and want a clean line, a single-handle setup works fine, but for families and boats with extra passengers, a second grip earns its place.
Handle ends and stiffness
Look at how the handle is built at the ends. Solid end caps keep the mainline running cleanly into the handle, while bridle-style ends let the handle flex. For kneeboarding, a handle with a notch is genuinely useful, because the rider can hook the handle to the board while getting settled on the water.
Matching the handle to the sport
- Wakeboarding: a no-stretch rope with a comfortable bar handle, and a second grip if more than one person rides.
- Water skiing: a low-stretch rope with a wide, durable handle that's easy to hold through the course.
- Kneeboarding: a stretchy rope with a long handle and a kneeboard notch.
- Tube riding: a heavy-duty rope, where the handle matters less than the line's rating, though a soft grip still helps.
When to replace a handle
Grips wear out faster than the line itself. If the handle has gone shiny and slippery, is cracked, or spins loosely on its core, replace it before the next set. Handles are inexpensive and easy to swap, and your hands will thank you at the end of a long day on the water.
Not sure which handle suits your riding? Get in touch with our team and we'll point you to the right setup.