Purpose:
To encourage you to see more detail in how you grasp handholds or use footholds
Where: wherever you like
This drill is incredibly difficult to do on roped climbs (although it is possible by resting on a top rope, for example) and thus, is recommended to be done on boulders.
When: during the Learning Window
Climbs should be easy enough to allow thought process but not so easy as the drill feels contrived.
The Drill:
There are two variations of this drill:
- On your climb, find the EXACT place where your hand will go on the first handhold. Now, with a small block of chalk, place a tick mark on the hold
- You can also incorporate foot marks by placing a small tick mark EXACTLY where you wish to place your foot
- On the first variation, you may test each hold by pulling/standing on each hold
- On the second variation, you must predict where you are going to want once you start climbing by placing tick marks before you attempt to climb the problem
NOTE: In order not to annoy wall staff, remember to brush off all your tick marks at the end of the drill
The Outcome: How do you know when it’s working?
Over time, you should find that you begin to look closer at hand and foot holds to find more detail with how you interact with them.