Purpose:
To practice and enhance your ability to heel hook while climbing. Phase Three combines the pull and point concepts of heel hooking with looking at the ‘place’ concept
Where: on the floor
This drill needs an arete. You may find a door frame or outside edge of a wall both work if there is not one available at your climbing wall
When: during the Warm Up
Conduct this floor based drill before you start climbing
The Drill:
Find your arete and stand just to the side of it.
- Lift your leg and place your heel around the edge of the arete
- Engage the leg muscles such that you are leaning back on your heel (use your hands on something if you need something to keep you steady)
- You may need to move your standing foot forwards or back in order to fully lean back on your leg but be careful not to lean back too far and take an awkward fall
- Progressively move your foot up and down the areteto find the ideal spot to place your heel
- Repeat on the other leg
Variation: change the heel to a toe hook and repeat. Notice the differences between the two actions
The Outcome: How do you know when it’s working?
Over time, you should find that you develop the ability to place your heel in just the right spot on a hold, point the toe just the right way and pull to engage the right muscles in the leg