How to grip different climbing holds Two techniques help you get the most out of any hold: Squeeze only as hard as you need to stay on a hold. You’ll only find dual-tex holds in indoor rock climbing facilities. Learning the names of holds and how to spot each one is fundamental to your progress as a climber. It is used by spreading your open hand along the handhold, and relying on the friction of your hand to hold you up while you pull yourself further up the climbing tower. What Are The Different Types of Climbing Holds? In addition to knowing how to handle them, it's also essential to be familiar with the different types of climbing holds. Usually, you stand on a hold with one foot and then hook the back of that same hold with the other foot. Gripping Edges May 31, 2024 · Explore the functionality of types of rock climbing holds to enhance your climbing experience. Crimps: Fit as many of your fingers on the hold as possible and pull Jun 23, 2018 · Most indoor climbing gyms set routes with a wide variety of manmade handholds, which allow you to learn and practice the different grips. Thi Sep 26, 2024 · Find a pull-up bar or a sturdy climbing hold. Here is an article all about sloper holds. In the long term, the open grip puts less strain on the joints and tendons than crimping. com/playlist?list=PLLALQuK1NDrjugIQA3Te01g3ksXghWCMR--Rockin’ Rock Climbing CommoditiesMomentum Climbing Harness: http://a May 10, 2022 · The half crimp is the grip with the broadest range of applications in climbing, yet many are uncertain exactly how to perform it. Understanding how to use them best will take some practice, though. This will distribute the effort evenly throughout your body and reduce the reliance on grip strength. Pro tip: Aim for 3 sets of 30 seconds each. An open grip on sloping holds works in a similar way to your shoe when smearing. Armed with the knowledge of how to hold crimps, practice, and finger-strength exercises, you'll be Feb 16, 2024 · Climbing gyms vary a lot the size of slopers to diversify the challenges. This is one of the hardest holds in climbing, however there Sep 25, 2023 · The cost of a climbing hold is directly related to the amount of resin it takes to cast the hold. All that matters is one foot is pulling while the other is pushing. 1. Adapting body orientation provides better hold access and optimizes grip by involving different muscle groups. youtube. Hang with your arms fully extended. The pinch grip should feel similar to the act of picking up a book by the spine. Whether you’re tackling routes with wooden climbing holds at home or navigating complex rock faces outdoors, a solid understanding of hold types will help you Mar 27, 2019 · Many novices are surprised and baffled by the sheer variety of holds that we encounter indoors, not to mention on rock, but fortunately, gripping techniques fall into a relatively small number of categories. I tried to avoid the tiny credit card sized holds when I first started climbing, but it’s actually possible to use crimping grips on other holds, like slopers and pinches. These are the smallest type of hold and are require you to use the tips of your fingers. The way you use the pinch will depend on how the hold is oriented. Below, you can see how each hold is used. May 17, 2024 · These holds are not just for your feet, they can be used as handholds too, giving you the freedom to choose your own path up the wall. Here are several insights to know about the grip on climbing holds to improve your next climb. A climbing hold is a shaped grip that is usually attached to a climbing wall so that climbers can grab or step on it. In this article, "Climbing Holds 101: Types of Climbing Holds," we delve into the intricacies of some fundamental hold types, shedding light on their characteristics, difficulty levels, and optimal uses. That’s why, as a rock climber, being able to manage a variety of crimp grips and deploy various crimping techniques is absolutely essential to . Climbing Hold Types Crimp A crimp is a tiny edge that is just big enough to hold with your finger tips. Learn about various hold shapes and how they challenge climbers. So after this the jargon of climbing may not actually seem so overwhelming after all. Whether you're a beginner looking to start your climbing journey or a seasoned climber interested in building your own wall, understanding the different types of climbing holds, their sizes, and Mar 12, 2025 · How to Use Different Climbing Holds Wooden wall with multicolored climbing holds in gym. May 24, 2023 · Climbing holds are the essential building blocks of any climbing wall, providing the necessary grip and challenge for climbers of all skill levels. Train Variety: Practice on different types of rock climbing holds to prepare for diverse routes. The Five Main Types of Rock Climbing Holds Jugs. In addition, you will be able to determine how to use certain types of holds based on their appearance. For instance, when using a gaston grip, rotating your body can help leverage your hold and reduce strain. For the purposes of this article, we are going to cover the basic holds, how you might identify them, and how they may be used in the gym or on your home wall. We introduce them to you so you can diversify your routes and bring originality to your climbs. These holds are perfect for climbers to grab onto and pull themselves up with minimal effort. May 8, 2023 · Learning the different types of holds and how to use them is critical as you’re getting started climbing. They can also be placed on Apr 13, 2025 · When I first started rock climbing, I thought that holding on to a crimp would be an impossible task. Crimp: Use an open-hand grip (fingers slightly bent) for larger holds to protect your fingers, and save the crimp (bent knuckles) for smaller, more demanding holds. Oct 21, 2024 · The ability to effectively hold onto climbing surfaces makes or breaks a climber’s ascent. Jun 23, 2024 · Jugs are large, easy-to-grip holds that are commonly found in beginner climbing routes. It shows off your climbing expertise and improves communication as well. Apr 13, 2025 · This thumb lock secures you in a closed grip; Crimping while rock climbing comes more easily than you might expect. To help memorize the different classes of indoor rock climbing holds Jul 7, 2022 · Focus on keeping your wrist stiff. When talking about grip positions, “crimp” is actually an umbrella term. Now that you have a solid understanding of climbing holds, talk to other climbers about climbing problems using the appropriate terminology. Aug 16, 2013 · Full Playlist: https://www. The rock climbing holds set on walls (by incredibly talented route setters) are made to challenge you similarly to outdoor climbing. This is particularly important on steep problems, when you’re likely to cut loose, as pinching will help you hold the swing. Feb 5, 2025 · Learn to use your feet effectively by practicing good footwork. ” “Match on the crimp…” Aug 15, 2017 · The best grip on a climbing hold is always going to be the grip that maximizes contact with the hold. Macro climbing holds are massive climbing holds that come in Feb 1, 2025 · Thankfully, the main holds that you find on a route from start to finish are categorized into 7 different kinds of holds. 2 days ago · When your grip gives out, the rest of your body is forced to follow. Bouldering, for Jan 31, 2023 · Climbing holds enable you to develop skills you can transfer when you explore more extreme climbing conditions. Jugs: Jugs are large, deep climbing holds that provide an easy, secure grip for the entire hand. Crimps are small climbing holds and there are a few different types of crimp grip: open crimp, half crimp, and full crimp. Always call holds by their proper names, such as edges, crimps, jugs, slopers, pinches, and Oct 23, 2015 · A rock climbing handhold that is smooth and sloped… is referred to as a sloper. These types of holds require strong finger strength and precise technique. Smearing. Sep 21, 2021 · Grip pinches with your thumb and fingers. For this reason, having more surface contact gives you more grip. The use of the thumb will make your grip more secure. Those are the most common climbing holds in the wild and at the climbing gym. Jul 13, 2021 · By the way, there are different types of crimp grips and gripping techniques for different holds, and we’ll dive into it more below. To get you up to speed, here's a quick overview of their most common types: 1. Plan to clean your holds at least once every few months. Jan 31, 2023 · To master that latest project or maybe stick to the wall longer than two moves, it’s essential to know how to use different types of rock climbing holds. Old school climbing holds used to be made from rock, resin and even wood but a lot of these materials were either difficult to build with or wore down easily. Understanding Climbing Holds. May 17, 2023 · These are called bouldering holds or climbing holds. Jug. Grip the bar or hold with both hands. Sep 28, 2023 · It will take you through a number of different holds, what they are called and how to use them. Each climbing hold design tests different aspects of a climber’s skill set. In this article, we’ll touch on five categories of climbing holds, go over how to identify them, and offer some general guidelines for using proper technique on each. Aug 15, 2016 · Understanding what different climbing holds are called and being able to recognize them is helpful, but knowing how to use them is most important of all. +32 483 64 42 74 +32 483 64 42 74 Nov 14, 2024 · Deferent Types of Climbing Holds Types of Climbing Holds are . But not all grip strength is the same. For lifters, grip strength enhances pulling movements, barbell control, and endurance under load. Climbing holds come in various shapes and sizes. Clean Regularly. If you frequent a bouldering wall, you can touch tons of holds from the ground and work on what it takes to use them. How you set your thumb makes all the difference on a sloper. Types of Crimp Grips. Hold this position for as long as you can. And more friction = feeling more secure on the hold. The easiest rock climbing hold for beginners to use is the jug. More specifically, crimping in climbing is one of many gripping techniques climbers use to hold especially small crimps. Instead of pulling with your fingers, you must rely on an open-hand grip and the friction between your skin and the hold. Oct 3, 2024 · Looking to master bouldering grip techniques? This conversational guide will teach you different grips, tips to improve strength and endurance, and techniques used by professionals. To learn even more and get personalised guidance, book one of our group coached sessions , free with your entry cost or membership! Sep 9, 2020 · “Grip,” on the other hand, refers to the way in which the climber holds the hold. Crushing a hand gripper, hanging from a pull-up bar, and pinching a weight plate each train different types of muscular and neural adaptations. Understanding the various types of climbing holds can directly impact a climber’s performance and technique. So, it is best to store your climbing holds in a dry place when you are not using them. Indoor climbing involves mastering a diverse array of holds, each presenting its own set of challenges and demands. This article provides that overview and, more importantly, explains how to use each hold. Any of the basic holds can be a dual-tex hold. The most common kind of hold is the jug, a large, easy-to-grip hold that is often used for beginners. While some holds might look obvious, other ones not so much. What It Is: Smearing involves pressing the rubber of your climbing shoes directly against the rock or wall for friction. If this feels overwhelming, don’t worry. In competitive climbing, where every move counts and precision is key, the ability to grasp holds securely can mean the difference between a successful ascent and an agonizing fall. There are various different kinds of holds, each with its own shape, size, texture, and function. The index, middle and ring fingers are bent at 90 degrees and the pinky will be straight, simply because it’s shorter. In this 2-part series, we will look first at how to grip edges before moving on to other types of hold in the second part. There are several primary categories of holds, each with unique characteristics that Dec 15, 2024 · Safety: Ensuring that the climbing holds provide a secure grip and minimize the risk of accidents. We’ve compiled a list below with descriptions of each to help you identify and use different holds when climbing. Mar 20, 2025 · Climbing holds are essential components of both indoor and outdoor climbing, serving as the points of contact for climbers to grip and maneuver. Open Hand vs. Different types of climbing—such as bouldering, sport climbing, or trad climbing—require different techniques and strategies. The frictionless material gives them a shiny appearance. Knowing how to tackle each one helps you predict what the routesetters had in mind for a particular problem, making it easier to solve instead of scratching your head in confusion. Practice side pulls, underclings, and gastons to understand how body positioning affects your grip. On most walls, climbing holds are arranged in paths called routes, by specially trained route setters. Challenge: Creating holds that push climbers to their limits and encourage progression. What Are Various Types of Climbing Holds? Discover the different types of indoor climbing holds so you can practice various grips. Commonly found on beginner routes, these holds are ideal for resting or when extra strength and stability are required Jake and Kyle go in depth to discuss different grip techniques in climbing. They both focus on putting all your force on your Aug 21, 2024 · Climbing holds are the protruding plastic that is screwed onto a climbing wall. Jan 2, 2024 · Using Proper Climbing Hold Terminology. Even in hand cracks, my fingers have felt tired from If the hold isn’t incut, you will rely on friction between your hands and the rock to hold on. These holds often resemble half-spheres or rounded protrusions from the wall. Climbing holds come in a large array of sizes and shapes to provide different levels of challenge to a climber. There are at least six types of climbing holds. Modern climbing holds are usually made from polyurethane which is the same stuff you use to make skateboard wheels. Learn everything you need to know about climbing holds in this comprehensive guide! We look at all the different types of holds, how to hold the hard ones li Sep 21, 2022 · That said, all of the lower body strength in the world won’t help if you don’t know the main rock climbing grips and finger holds. Short for dual-texture, these holds contain a combo of friction and frictionless material. To grasp a pinch, the hand is positioned as if pinching the grip between the thumb on one side and the other fingers on the Jan 4, 2024 · A lot of the time, you have to pull hard on narrow edges and other tiny holds that are crappy excuses for climbing holds. Jan 5, 2023 · Rock climbing holds are an essential part of the sport of rock climbing, and there are many different types of holds that climbers can use. Or, the larger a hold is, the more expensive it is. However, none of these are as widely used anymore leaving way to more modern materials such as polyurethane resin and fiberglass. In other words, the more resin a climbing hold requires, the more costly the hold will be. Push and Pull: Think of climbing as pushing against holds with your feet and pulling yourself into the wall with your hands. This rule applies to all types of climbing holds: jugs, crimps, pockets, pinches, and slopers. PE (Polyester) Holds Polyester is a thermosetting resin widely used in climbing hold manufacturing. Climbers use a combination of these holds to navigate from the start of a bouldering problem all the way to the top (finish). There are two main types of crimping in rock climbing: the full-crimp grip and half-crimp. Then you watch and listen to experienced climbers in the gym and hear them saying things to each other like… “Dyno to the jug…. Regular cleaning of climbing holds can help to maintain their grip and prolong their lifespan. Nov 4, 2022 · Once you know how to recognize and respond to different holds, you will be prepared for many different types of climbing, including sport climbing, bouldering, and top rock climbing, indoors and out. Squeezing as hard as you can exhausts forearms Jan 12, 2022 · Bicycles can come in a few different forms. Rock Climbing Grip Technique for Slopers Holds. 2. Jugs are often used to build confidence in new climbers and provide a stable grip for more experienced climbers. Crimp holds are small, sharp holds that require a lot of finger strength to grip onto. The thumb either rests next to the index finger or nestles into the side of the hold, if possible. Sep 18, 2023 · In challenging holds or positions, pivot and rotate your body. Mastering the types of climbing holds takes practice, patience, and proper technique. Try Different Climbing Styles. There are 3 basic ways to grab a climbing hold: You can either pull up, down or to the side depending on the situation. Sometimes there is no available surface to grip with your hand. Whether you're a novice or an Jan 6, 2016 · Climbing Hold Materials. How to Practice: Try traversing a climbing wall while intentionally using holds in different directions. Using a sloper climbing hold can be one of the more difficult techniques in rock climbing. Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE for weekly climbing content!Climbing Holds 101:https://w Jan 4, 2024 · Crimping refers to the hand position, you deploy with your hands and fingers to grip a climbing hold. Variety: Incorporating a diverse range of holds that cater to different climbing techniques and preferences. Usually the setter will indicate a 2 handed start by putting the grade or tape directly below the hold. 4. You can just as often find yourself standing on one hold and hooking a different hold and it’s still a bicycle. They come in various shapes and sizes, and it takes some practice to grab them efficiently. In this article, we explore the different materials used in the manufacturing of climbing holds and their unique properties, providing a range of options to meet your climbing needs. Unfortunately, slopers are made in a way that is so different from each other that one solution doesn’t fit all. Crimps. Practice using every type of handhold to gain the best hand techniques and to build hand and forearm strength. This is especially true as you inevitably get stronger and try harder climbs. What Kind of Climbing Holds Are There? There are a multitude of types of climbing holds. As you can see each hold is completely different, some pinch holds will require two hands to get a good enough grip. More contact = more friction. Jan 10, 2022 · In this video, Dave discusses some strategies for moving your body to get the most grip out of any kind of climbing hold. How to Do a Crimp While Climbing Different Climbing Crimp Positions. The first time you see a climbing wall, it just looks like an odd collection of different sized and coloured climbing holds that have been placed at random. Plastic holds have different textures and features. Dec 21, 2023 · Storing climbing holds in a damp or humid environment can lead to mold and mildew buildup. The Comp 5 Macro. Jugs are the easiest and most Dec 5, 2024 · When it comes to rock climbing, grip strength is not just a nice-to-have; it’s an absolute necessity. Feb 17, 2025 · Slopers are climbing holds that lack any defined edge or lip for gripping. Rockovers for Elevation Learn how best to use different climbing holds and get to grips (completely unintentional pun) with the terminology thanks to coach Emily and route setter Ellie from our TCH Swansea team. Use the thumb to pinch and consider different positions for the thumb, such as below and to the side of the hold. Pinches are wide, often symmetrical grips that rely primarily on the grip strength of the fingers and forearms to maintain a firm hold. Palming or Open Hand Grips. As you improve, try varying your grip (overhand, underhand, pinches) to target different muscle groups. They are characterized by their narrow width and typically have a small edge or lip that climbers can grasp with their fingertips. PINCHES. One climbing hold may have several different ways to grip it. Knowing what type a hold you’re reaching for enables you to move and position yourself in a way that’ll support your climb, instead of challenging it. Coincidently, climbing holds have only gotten larger over the years. This material makes climbing holds both What are climbing holds made of? Climbing holds used to be made from rock, wood and polyester resin. To use a pinch, squeeze the hold on both sides with your fingers and thumb. bdzrc udmo kknxbk ebqadto pelupl zklnnie jwji upndf hwgmg hxoj