I've had the same problem. Ordered a Buddy Lee jump rope about half a year ago. Best I've ever had, costs $50 though. Worth it in most opinions.
If you got a soft cotton type one - in my experience they are ****. I currently got a plastic adidas one - where the rope is not "rope" but plastic these ropes move more gracefully and do not wear out like the softer rope.
The ones with counters stink. Just get a thin plastic rope, that will swing as fast as possible, with handles that allow free movement for the rope. Mine cost about 3 euro's, and I replaced the rope with the thing you hang laundry on (don't know "le mot juste").
Have a couple but use a light one and a heavy one at differant occasions. PVC is better than leather I believe. ps funny thread!
I agree, I got one about 2 months ago and it is the best rope ever. Well worth the money, it makes me want to skip more and faster because it's just so much fun to use.
I've owned jump ropes made out of leather, rope, and plastic, of them all, I like the plastic the best.