There are plenty of different surfaces that you can jump rope on — and as you may have already assumed, some are better than others. If you ask anyone who dabbles in this sort of exercise, you’ll find that concrete is the best possible surface. Firstly, it gives you a solid base from which you can push yourself off — while simultaneously the rough texture gives enough abrasion to prevent any kind of slipping. If you’re interested in having the best possible performance, you’ll find that concrete gives you the ability to rebound the fastest. That being said, concrete is not ideal in terms of shock absorption. When you land, the risk of shin splints is greater — asphalt is a bit better in this regard, though it’s still not soft on your joints.