Overview

Rock climbing is a sport that involves ascending and descending steep or vertical rock formations. It can be practiced indoors or outdoors and can be done with or without ropes and other protective equipment.

The sport requires a combination of physical strength, mental focus, and technical skills. Climbers use their hands, feet, and body positioning to move up and down the rock face, and must also navigate around obstacles and overhangs.

Nine Hardest Holds in Rock Climbing

The hardest holds in rock climbing are typically small and require a lot of grip strength to hold onto. There are nine basic types of climbing handholds that climbers encounter when scaling a rock face or bouldering problem. Knowing how to grip and use each type of hold is essential for climbers to successfully navigate routes and problems of varying difficulty levels. Here are the nine basic types of climbing handholds:

  1. Jugs: Jugs are large, deep holds that are easy to grip with an open hand. They are typically found on beginner and intermediate routes.
  2. Slopers: Slopers are rounded, sloping holds that are difficult to grip because they lack any distinct edges or features. They require climbers to use friction and body positioning to maintain their grip.
  3. Crimps: Crimps are small, shallow holds that require a strong grip and a lot of finger strength to hold onto. They are typically used in more difficult routes and boulder problems.
  4. Edges: Edges are small, thin holds with a distinct edge or lip that climbers can grip with their fingertips. They require precise finger placement and good body positioning to maintain a grip.
  5. Pinches: Pinches require a strong grip and good thumb strength. They are typically shaped like a cone or a cylinder, and climbers must use their fingers and thumb to grip the hold.
  6. Pockets: Pockets are small, rounded holds that require climbers to insert their fingers into the hold and grip the edges. They can be difficult to grip because they are often smooth and require precise finger placement.
  7. Gastons: Gastons hold where the palm of the hand is facing away from the body and the fingers are hooked over the edge of the hold. They require a lot of finger strength and good body positioning to hold onto.
  8. Underclings: Underclings hold where the hand is underneath the hold and the fingers are gripping the edge from below. They require good body positioning and pulling strength to maintain a grip.
  9. Mantles: Mantles are ledges or features on top of a rock surface that require climbers to use their upper body strength to pull themselves up and onto the surface.

By understanding and practicing how to grip and use each of these nine basic types of climbing handholds, climbers can improve their technique and navigate routes and problems of varying difficulty levels with confidence.

3 basic ways to use Handholds

When rock climbing, there are three basic ways to use handholds to move upward on the rock face or boulder problem. These techniques involve different hand positions and movements to grip and use handholds effectively. Here are the three basic ways to use handholds:

  1. Crimping: Crimping is a technique where climbers grip small edges or holds with their fingertips and curl their fingers around the edge to create a strong grip. This technique requires a lot of finger strength and can be used on small edges or crimps.
  2. Open hand grip: The open hand grip involves using the entire hand to grip the hold, with fingers spread wide apart. This technique is typically used on larger holds or jugs and allows for a more relaxed grip on the hold.
  3. Gastoning: Gastoning is a technique where climbers grip the hold with their fingers hooked over the top of the hold and their palms facing away from their body. This technique requires a lot of upper body strength and is typically used on sloping or angled holds.

Takeaway

To improve grip strength for these challenging holds, climbers can use hand grip strengthener devices or fingerboards, which allow them to perform grip strength exercises and target specific muscle groups in their hands and fingers. Some of the most effective exercises for improving grip strength include hang board training, where climbers hang from a fingerboard or hang board using different grips and finger positions, and finger curls, where climbers use hand grip strengthener devices to perform repetitions of gripping and releasing.