Professional Quality Bullropes

Hello to you the competing bull rider. I'm Raymond Branch, custom braider and have been braiding bullropes for over thirty years. It all started when I was twelve years old and could not afford a rope to ride steers. With the help of my father who had served in the Navy in World War II, we broke down an an old manilla/grass bull rope and I came up with something that resembled a rope! Ever since, I have been intrigued with fine braiding of all types and have studied bullropes and have learned techniques through the years , through trial and error and from other braiders.

I say I have been serving the competing bullrider since 1976 because I feel that is when I actually started in the business making my living braiding. Though I have done other things from free lance writing, riding colts and working cow outfits from Nevada to Old Mexico, one thing remained constant, I have still braided bullropes. I feel I have been making my living braiding since 1982 when I put myself through college at Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas. That was when the rodeo team had such stellar members. Upon graduation I kept braiding, unto this day I continue to do so. In 1993 a very sharp and shrewd, but very unscrupulous and dishonest individual had me help him put a crew of braiders together in Mexico and start mass productions of bullropes. When I had the crew making a quality product, and he learned some marketing strategy, he pulled some very underhanded things and got me out of that end of the business. He then started a rumor that I was no longer braiding, and that his product was the same thing, if not better than mine.

I want to put that rumor to rest: It is and always has been, if you order a rope from me, PROFESSIONAL QUALITY BULLROPES, by Raymond Branch Custom-Braider, you get a rope hand made, Strictly Custom-braided to your specifications by me, Raymond Branch. I NEVER QUIT and still am making my living by serving you the Competing Bullrider, braiding the highest quality bullropes possible.

Take your time, browse through my web site and if you have any questions or feel I can serve your needs, please feel free to contact me. In the meantime, Ride Tough and Always to Win, and I'll see you at the Top!

MY MISSION STATEMENT:

TO BRAID/BUILD A HIGH QUALITY BULLROPE

THAT IS SAFE AND FEELS RIGHT WITH WHICH

THE COMPETING BULLRIDER CAN HOLD

ON TO AND WIN WITH

I must stress the importance of Quality in a Bullrope. Many people are always looking for a "good" deal when they get a bullrope, forsaking quality. Well, my opinion of that is: You receive what you pay for. I want you to think and and ask yourself a few questions; Does a skydiver go to the second hand store to obtain his equipment? Do military paratroopers get outfitted with cut rate deals? Do Olympic shooters, Pro golf players, who play on the P.G.A. Tour, go to the local sporting goods store to buy their rifles, ammunition and golf clubs? Or do top tennis players do the same to compete for their championships? I think you know they have their chosen custom maker of their equipment. Why should it be any different for a bullrider? Bullriding is every bit as dangerous (maybe more so) as skydiving and aren't your championships just as important? I must stress, I am strictly a Custom-braider, and I take my full time and attention to the detail with the making of your bullrope. I look at myself as an artist and craftsman and when you receive a rope from me, you also get my personal guarantee with each and everyone of my ropes, within reasonable time and circumstances. You are not receiving a rope from an Equipment House that is made in Mexico or a foreign country that is mass produced by someone working piece-meal or for a wage. Before you order your next bullrope, whether from another braider or myself, give those ideas some thought.

Any of these measurements can be changed within reason to fit your personal needs. Though these are the measurements most common to the ropes that most N.F.R. and P.B.R. qualifiers are using.

7 Foot Loop - 7 Foot Tail (flat or cupped) 3 Nylon Slider Knots (assorted Colors)

Heavy Appliqué Block - Snug 3 Finger Slack - 17 inch Double Nylon Braided Wear Strip

There are generally three types of handles in bullropes regardless of plait.

Half-leather laced, Full-Half skip leather laced and Full-leather laced handles.

From the Half-laced to the Full-leather laced it doesn't matter, the handles should be firm-to-hard depending on one's preference, so as not to turn or roll over. Full-leather laced is not necessarily the hardest handle, in that respect the advantage of Full and Full-half-skip handles are that they eliminate a lot of lateral side-to-side motion. When you order, I will ask you how hard you want your handles. Hard, real Hard, Super-Hard, medium Hard, Firm. I WILL NOT braid cable or make what is called a cable handle. Why? Because during a bullride something has to give and if it doesn't give minutely in the rope where is it going to give? In one's wrist, elbow, shoulder, and yes, knees and groins. I know super hard full-leather laced cable handles have been popular these past few years, but if you are having challenges with any of the above, I suggest you take a good self-assessment of the handle of your rope. I've also observed not one World Championship has been won with a cable rope an how many of these types of ropes have qualified for the NFR and/or PBR? In the last couple of years I've also observed the trend going back to half-lace and Full half-skip laced handles. This, I believe, is to relieve the strain on various body parts mentioned, also along with easing the power absorbed directly from the bull itself during a ride.

The three basic plaits (braids) are the 5 plait, 7 plait and 9 plait. People often ask or tell me that the plaits are the relation to the width. The three types of plaits constitute the FEEL. The 9 plait is the thinnest with a harder FEEL, the 7 plait is a middle of a road thickness, but leaning toward a medium-soft FEEL. The 5 plait is thicker with a softer FEEL.

Now as I mentioned earlier I can add or subtract strands. So when it comes to braiding tails, I can make just about any tail you need or prefer in any plait, big and wider, soft and mushy, hard and thin, or wide and hard, or vice-versa.

There are two ways to braid a 7 plait. One is the 7 plait, braided like a 9 plait, which is my standard 7 plait. The other is an old time wide 7 plait which is almost obsolete. It has been nine years since I have made an old time 7 plait for an NFR/PBR competitor. The 7 plait made like a 9 plait, sometimes referred to as a cheater 7 plait, is the standard 7 plait.

When a competitor wants a combination plait rope, the first number is the handle, the second is the tail. For example: 9/5 plait, that is a 9 plait hard handle with a 5 plait tail. So a harder feeling handle with a softer feeling tail.

Though the prices on my ropes are not the highest, they are certainly not the least expensive either. I would rather quote PRICE to you now, than explain COST later on. Following are the prices and terms on my custom bullropes. I do not give discounts or donations. Do you work for an hourly wage or a set salary? You expect your full compensation come payday. If you are a bullrider making your living riding bulls and you score 90 points, do you expect the full check for you efforts? Well, this is how I make my living, by braiding, and I expect my full compensation also.

I accept VISA, MasterCard, Money Orders, Cashiers Checks and Personal Checks, though they must clear before a rope is sent out. I require a $75.00 deposit (payable by any of the above) to schedule your rope to be made.

I AM GENERALLY BOOKED 3-4 WEEKS IN ADVANCE AND GO IN THE ORDER OF DEPOSIT RECEIVED. That is the only way I can treat everyone fairly. (Although many times I have ropes ready and available, so give me a call and see what I have.) Any item with a balance can be sent to you C.O.D. via U.P.S. or FEDEX. Ground - Money Orders or Cashiers Checks only. I do not C.O.D. to Post Office Boxes. Any balance on ropes or products to a P.O. Box must be paid in full before shipment.

I personally custom braid all my junior bull ropes, working them right in with my full size custom orders.

get in a hurry to put these or any of my orders out. So please be patient, do not expect to receive these ropes sooner than a regular rope. Jr. Bullriders and Parents, please be patient when your order is in the making. THOUGH PLEASE CHECK, FOR AT TIMES I DO HAVE SOME ROPES READY AND AVAILABLE.

Since I've been braiding for over thirty years, the users of my ropes have accomplished much success in the world of bullriding. Through the years, past and present, the bullriders using my ropes reads like a "Who's Who" of the NFR and PBR. I do not use names because of the big endorsement fees in today's sports world. Though the 2000 PRCA World Bullriding Champion, Cody Hancock, who has been using my ropes for years, has graciously consented to lend me use of his name, quote and photo on my web site!

In 1986 the PRCA World Champion set the record for the most money won in a single year using my ropes. This record stood for six years until the 1992 World Champion broke the record using my ropes, he also set the record for the highest marked ride (at that time) for the NFR in the Las Vegas Arena, scoring 94 points at the 1991 NFR.

"I got my first steer rope when I was 11 years old, I've been using them ever since and I've loved every one of them."

Cody Hancock, Record 96 points on Diamond G's Mr. USA, NFR 2001 (Photo by Dan Hubbell)

1986 PRCA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - SETTING MOST MONEY WON IN A SINGLE SEASON (AT THAT TIME)

I do not take custom orders via E-mail. Being a custom braider, I prefer to talk to the competitor to keep our common goal straight. Through the years I have developed a line of questions to get the feel and intuition to know what a competitor needs. This way we keep our communication on a one-to-one personal basis and I can braid a rope to your specifications. Again, I require a $75.00 deposit. Please pay by cash, Cashiers Check, Money Order, Credit Card (VISA or MasterCard) or Personal Check. I schedule my ropes in order of deposits received. This is the only way I can treat everyone fairly.

To maintain my high-quality standards of braiding, I only braid 2 ropes a week. I DO NOT get in a hurry to put out a rope. Again please be patient - the sooner you order - the sooner you will receive your bullrope. Deposit applies to Bullrope ONLY. Cancellation of rope order will result in loss of all funds submitted.

I am a Custom-Braider, standing behind my work in reasonable time and circumstances. To maintain my excellent standards, at times it may not be possible to stay on schedule. Remember one receives the quality which is paid for. Again, I would rather quote "price" one time than explain "cost" later. I DO NOT get in a hurry to "just put out a rope". I generally am booked 2-4 weeks in advance. Please be patient when you order.

GO FOR IT AND RIDE TO WIN!

Your friend, Raymond Branch, Custom-Braider