Minor details in technique that make the difference

As is often the case in many disciplines it is the minor details that make all the difference in executing a technique with success. For instance on a reachy overhanging deadpoint it often helps me to push through my toes (consciously) longer than perhaps needed to make that grab in order to not cut loose.

What are some details that increase the success rate of a particular move for you?

Good balance. Slow, controlled moves.

If hot chicks are watching I will stick it. If they are not watching I will yell a couple times to make sure they are looking and then I will stick it.

JasonJNSmith wrote:If hot chicks are watching I will stick it. If they are not watching I will yell a couple times to make sure they are looking and then I will stick it.

Gary N wrote:Good balance. Slow, controlled moves.

works well for some things, not for others though. i think a lot of people misuse and abuse this skill and it stunts their growth.

one thing that i have been working on is trying to throw my hips, usually to the side, in order to pop a foot up (instead of weighting my arms and lifting the foot). i have found this to really save my arms, and i have improved my ability to get my foot onto the next hold accurately and quickly.

Its all about the thumbs. Sidepulls, gastons, crimps, slopers, etc. Especially useful on vertical terrain when you can underclingthumbcatchforlife!!!

slim wrote: works well for some things, not for others though. i think a lot of people misuse and abuse this skill and it stunts their growth.

+1

Knowing when to be slow and controlled and knowing when to be explosive and accurate is a valuable skill. Switching between the two in an instant is also something I strive for. I think it was rock warrior's way that said to be cat like. Cats are graceful and balanced one moment and then in the blink of an eye they jump distances many times greater than their body length. They never seem to miss calculate either, always using exactly the right amount of force without waste.

The terror of climbing waayyyy above shitty gear always seems to help me focus just a little bit more.

Good points about getting the thumbs involved and using the hips. I am conscious of throwing the hips inward at times when making an upward hand movement but will try and pay more attention and do what your talking about to see how it works for me.

Good stuff...Keep it coming.

JasonJNSmith wrote: +1 Knowing when to be slow and controlled and knowing when to be explosive and accurate is a valuable skill. Switching between the two in an instant is also something I strive for. I think it was rock warrior's way that said to be cat like. Cats are graceful and balanced one moment and then in the blink of an eye they jump distances many times greater than their body length. They never seem to miss calculate either, always using exactly the right amount of force without waste.

Clearly you have not met my cat.

Brent Apgar wrote:The terror of climbing waayyyy above shitty gear always seems to help me focus just a little bit more.

Amazing how true this is. If only I could place a marginal brass offset below some of my boulder projects...

Actively remembering to point through your toes and turning your hips almost to an exaggerated degree will do wonders for gently overhanging routes. It's too easy to stand flat-footed and square-hipped, then bitch about not having done enough campus board training to stick a tough move.

As we like to say in the model making shop.

Don't fuck up