Climbing Smoother: Learning to Switch Feet
Ask any beginner climber (including past me):
Swapping feet should be easy—until you’re stuck mid-wall, heel dragging, toe fumbling, balance tipping.
There are a dozen foot-switch techniques out there—hop-switch, smear-in, flag assist, cut-and-place. But flashy names don’t mean clean execution.
After months of falling off simple transitions, I’ve learned three quiet rules that changed how I move:
1️⃣ Don’t switch if you don’t need to.
Every foot swap adds risk. Ask yourself: can I flag or cross instead? Fewer moves = more stability.
2️⃣ Clear your line of sight.
Step back slightly from the wall as you switch. It helps form a soft bow in the body and removes visual clutter between your eyes and the foothold.
3️⃣ Heel up, toe in.
Lead with your toe, not your sole. Lift the heel to create space, slide the new foot in before removing the old one. No stepping on your own foot. No crowding the hold.
It’s not just about balance—it’s about respect for timing and space.
And sometimes, the smallest, cleanest foot swap is what keeps the whole climb flowing.
What climbing move took you way too long to get right?
#sport #climbing #techniquefirst
