Spotting at the Gym

How exactly is a spot going to save someone's knee or ankle in a gym with good, seamless padding? The climber is still going to hit the ground, even with a spot. You're not preventing them from going off the pad like you would outside, but you are changing their natural trajectory. What's the benefit? I've seen multiple leg injuries in the gym from bouldering falls, both with and without a spotter. Shit happens, even in the bouldering gym.

If I'd been there I would have yelled at the guy. Spotting wouldn't have done anything, but being near and watching out does. Some people have no idea about being polite in the gym. It's cute when they are five, not forty five. And 160 pounds.

Uh dude, its definitely her fault. No excuse for being under a boulderer while he's on the wall. He probably thought she was spotting him. Ive actually had a small girl in her 20s come and sit in a cave while I was in the gym mid-climb. Im 190 lbs and any gym time is spent projecting overhangs and roofs well beyond my limit. Wake up folks...if you sit in the bouldering area, keep your wits about you

I just did this to my ankle the other day at the gym. Definitely would have appreciated a spotter. It's one of those things you never think will happen to you... until it does.

I also know a girl who fell awkwardly while bouldering and fractured several vertebrae. I'm sure she would have appreciated a spotter as well.

Your cankles look mad weak brah. Just sayin

Yup - Back in the day I knew a girl who fell indoors. Totally innocuous fall yet and she landed on her butt but still she ended up breaking her back. Spotting totally necessary...

boulderbum wrote:Your cankles look mad weak brah. Just sayin

I have a good friend who severely dislocated his elbow when he landed awkwardly in a gym. A spotter would have prevented that.

Just because there's a bunch of foam on the ground doesn't mean people should be careless.

My buddy fell topping out bouldering in the gym and broke his back. One of his vertebrae splintered and was millimeters from his spine. The doctors were surprised when he was not paralyzed. A spotter would have helped.

Just cause you wrecked yourself and a spotter wasn't present doesn't mean a spotter would have saved you. There's a time and place for spotters and only "good" spotting will help. Unsolicited spotting is the worse because you never know where that meathead is gonna push you.
Only is certain situations where a hard hazard exists, like a retaining wall under an insecure move, would I ask for a spot (which shouldn't exist in the first place if the route-setters are on top of their game).

Learning to control your falling is key and most of the time a spotter is more of a hazard in the gym.

@fascist
You're wrong. But you know that...

boulderbum wrote:Uh dude, its definitely her fault. No excuse for being under a boulderer while he's on the wall. He probably thought she was spotting him. Ive actually had a small girl in her 20s come and sit in a cave while I was in the gym mid-climb. Im 190 lbs and any gym time is spent projecting overhangs and roofs well beyond my limit. Wake up folks...if you sit in the bouldering area, keep your wits about you

In my experience spotting is helpful for climbers who are just beginning to learn how to fall safely. After bouldering for a few months climbers typically get to the point where spotting is only needed in certain circumstances. Still, I prefer seeing a spotter to hearing 'TAKE!' screeched at full volume. :-)

Noah Doherty wrote:If I'd been there I would have yelled at the guy. Spotting wouldn't have done anything, but being near and watching out does. Some people have no idea about being polite in the gym. It's cute when they are five, not forty five. And 160 pounds.

Noah Doherty wrote: She was climbing, dropped, then he dropped immediately after. She would have had less than a second to get out of the way. Not much sitting was being done as it was during a team practice. Anyone with any knowledge about gym etiquette knows not to sit under climbers.

I always wear a helmet while leading indoors. Inverted falls kill, whether you hit your head on plywood or rock! Safety first!

Mike McKinnon wrote: I wear full body armor, carry my whole rack on me, and drink my own urine (because its sterile and I like the taste of it) while climbing indoors.

MegaGaper2000 wrote: But do you wear an athletic support cup?

Please god, if I ever break my ankle in a gym, please let it not be on the day I decide to experiment with my new short/shirts combo.