Climbing Notes
Drills

Clip positions on top rope

On top rope, clip the quickdraws on the way up from different positions, so a missed clip has no consequence.

1 min read 5 sections

Goal

Quick, clean clips from good holds at waist-to-chest height.

How

  1. Only with a qualified instructor or an experienced partner checking: climb on top rope, trailing a second rope to clip.
  2. Clip each quickdraw from the best nearby hold, quickdraw at waist-to-chest height.
  3. Repeat some clips from full reach and notice the extra rope pulled up and the time on one hand.
  4. Practise with both hands and both gate directions.

What to measure

  • Seconds per clip (a partner can time it).
  • Fumbles per route.
  • Any wrongly clipped quickdraws, checked by your partner.

Write it down on the log sheet.

Dose

1–2 routes per session.

The evidence

  • Coaching practice This drill and its dose are common coaching practice; no study in the research pack tested them.
  • See Clipping for the background and the measured numbers behind it.
Important

Climb within your experience, with a qualified instructor or experienced partner for anything roped. Young climbers: no campus board or added-weight versions of any drill, and stop at any finger pain.