Climbing Notes
Drills

Reverse three moves

Climb up, then reverse the last three moves, on easy terrain.

1 min read 5 sections

Goal

Make reversing a calm, practised option instead of a panic move.

How

  1. On an easy route, climb a few moves.
  2. Reverse the last three moves exactly, then climb them again.
  3. Repeat at two or three points on the route.

What to measure

  • Moves you couldn't reverse cleanly.
  • How pumped reversing made you, 0–10.

Write it down on the log sheet.

Dose

1–2 easy 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 Misread sequence scenario 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.