Actually I think that's probabyl one of the better fitness inventions if you think about it. Jumping rope is awesome conditioning. Half the time you never have the space to do the real thing. And it really doesn't make a damn bit of difference whether or not the rope actually goes under your feet. It's the swinging of your arms, the jumping up and down the really is the core of the exercise. Bravo! The inventor probably made a killing from it.