Shorten Your Stretch Cord
Cord a little long for your pool? You can trim any Swim Tether EPDM cord to a shorter length at home in about five minutes.
Every cord end is three parts: the hook, the ball, and the threaded collar. To shorten the cord you only take apart one end.
Pick your new length
Decide how much shorter you want the cord — you'll remove that much from one end only. Cut conservatively: you can always shorten more, but you can't add length back.
Unscrew the hook
On one end, twist the hook counter-clockwise out of the collar until it separates. Set the hook aside.
Remove the collar and ball
Slide the collar off the cord, then pull the ball out of the end of the tubing. You'll now have four pieces: the hook, the ball, the collar, and the cord.
Cut the cord
Measure from the end, mark your removal length, and cut the EPDM tubing cleanly and squarely with scissors or a sharp knife.
Re-insert the ball
Push the ball all the way into the freshly cut end, leaving about ¼ inch of tubing past the ball. That ¼ inch is what locks the end in place — don't skip it.
Seat it in the collar
Feed the cord up through the bottom of the collar, then pull the cord and ball back down until the ball is seated fully inside the collar.
Screw the hook back on
Thread the hook back into the collar and tighten it down fully by hand.
Tug-test before you swim
Give the finished end a firm pull to confirm it's locked. That's it — you're ready to swim.
Before you cut
- Cut squarely so the ball seats evenly.
- Keep ¼ inch of tubing past the ball — that's the lock.
- Shortening is permanent. You can't add length back, so measure twice.
- Only one end needs to come apart.
Need a different length instead?
Not sure what fits your pool? Run the numbers — or grab a fresh cord in the exact size you need.
Questions? Contact us