Backing up a swivel.

No. 

Well, your anchor shouldn't be twisting up if you're just doing laps on it.  My suggestion is to fix the anchor - make sure it's tied flat (no twists in any legs/loops) and you don't tangle the ropes as you go.

There's no way to back up a swivel that is constantly turning without getting it all tangled up.  If it's only twisting back and forth (aka no full turns), then you can just run a sling as a backup.

Trust me, you absolutely do not need to invent a new system to rig a toprope.

The trolls are getting more inventive these days... 3/10

That's a coil in the rope that won't be solved by incorporating a swivel. Also... NO. The reason nobody does this: It's a terrible idea.

My preference is to thread the rope directly through the swivel and use that as the masterpoint

Nolan Huther wrote:

My preference is to thread the rope directly through the swivel and use that as the masterpoint

Swivels can be placed as passive protection if you're crafty.

NegativeK wrote:

Swivels can be placed as passive protection if you're crafty.

I'm wondering if any of you people that like using swivels, or did at one point, ever thought of replacing them with Tricams instead?

try and say "swivel would swivel" fast 10 times

Twisting and swivels mean it’s time to pull the rope and TR gangbang another route 

Yea, even twists in the rope shouldn't make a difference.

If you're getting actual twists in the rope, then what's probably happening is that your climbers are climbing over and under the belay strand, thus adding twists to the entire system.  Otherwise, the "twist" of the system ought to be reset to correct every time someone reaches the anchor and lowers back down.

mario molina wrote:

I think the problem was that people weren't paying attention and making sure there were no twists in the rope.

This.

The problem is people are inattentive due to lack of knowledge. One cannot be attentive to the topic they have no knowledge on. The idea of fixing the incompetence through inventing yet another mechanical system sounds a bit off. The idea of fixing the incompetence through educating people sounds like a plan. Always strive to fix the root cause of the problem.

upd. Yet another thing. Educate people to always fix rope ends when climbing outside. With a bit of wind non-fixed rope ends could be blown away in a fraction of a second.

upd2. When climbing outside one has to be very patient, and very demanding, and even a bit nuisance. Push 'em to keep everything and anything in a perfect ordung (not "like perfect" - like perfect order means no order at all) - ropes ends are fixed, there are left and right strands of each rope, the left strand always goes to the left, the right strand always goes to the right. Everybody's belongings are nice organized and packed inside one's pack when not used. Nobody mixes theirs belongings with anybody's else. Etc, etc, etc. At first it seems to be dull and stupid although it makes a good habit to have everything sorted. Once it will save the day. And I mean it - will. There is no such a thing as too much discipline when climbing.

Thread drift: what are y'all using swivels for?

Nut Tool wrote:

Thread drift: what are y'all using swivels for?

Pig hauling.

Z-systems arrangement when lowering down cut trees tips and heavy branches (actually we use Rock Exotica Omni-Block double pulleys with integrated swivel).

Nathan Hui wrote:

Yea, even twists in the rope shouldn't make a difference.

If you're getting actual twists in the rope, then what's probably happening is that your climbers are climbing over and under the belay strand, thus adding twists to the entire system.  Otherwise, the "twist" of the system ought to be reset to correct every time someone reaches the anchor and lowers back down.

Scenario - the climb is steep at the bottom, much less so towards the top, and the belayer is standing back from the wall. Climber moves sideways low on the route, passing UNDER the belayer's strand because it's well out behind them. Near the top they move back the other way, this time passing OVER the belayer's strand since it's now lying against the face. They lower down, next climber repeats this same maneuver. Voila - several wraps of the climber's strand around the other.

Nut Tool wrote:

Thread drift: what are y'all using swivels for?

Haul bags

Nut Tool wrote:

Thread drift: what are y'all using swivels for?

Fishing