Max Ladder Question

[stpatty]

After Campus workout #1 of my power phase, I'm already pretty excited, last power phase I really struggled with baseline +0, +1 (B1, L3, R6, B6 and B1, R3, L6, B6) but I was able to complete it already on my first workout. Although, it is much harder to go L3 to R6 than R3 to L6, but I guess since I'm right hand dominant that's not too surprising, just confirms my left arm is a weakness to work on.

My question is, should I immediately go up to try baseline +1, +1: B1, L4, R7, B7 and again with opposite hand starting? Also, if failing at the top of these attempts am I losing any "latching" contact strength opportunity? Is it more important to gain the strength from initiating the final throw from L4/R4 to L7/R7 and missing or more important to gain the contact strength of barely hitting the top rung and matching? I guess this is where Metolius spacing is nice (the gym I go to only has Moon spacing). 

[Drew H]

Hey bud. I actually have the same question because I'm in the same boat (same progress between seasons, same distances and everything). I'm using the medium Metolius rungs. I decided to make my new baseline 1-4-6, since I can consistently stick that no problem, and work towards 1-4-7. But I'm definitely interested to hear everyone else's thoughts on this.

Edited to add: For the campus workouts I've done so far this season, after I feel worked from doing Max Ladders, I move on to the bumping drill, where I do B1 - L4 - R5 - R6 - R7 - R8 - B8  and then the same with the other hand. The idea behind this is that since I'm fairly new to campusing, I wanted to get the feeling of a longer span between rungs down, as well as working out the feeling of pressing down on the lower hand. Do you guys think this is too much of a workout or is it a good way to work out and increase power on the campus board?

[jessebruni]

My personal experience is limited, but I also campus at a gym with moon spacing and no half spacing and so there is that same progression issue. I'm painfully close to 1-4-7 on the large rungs, and can do 1-3-6 and 1-4-6 on the mediums. On the smalls I can do 1-3-5 and I'm close on 1-4-6. I find that latching is only an issue in the beginning of the phase. After two weeks I can usually latch anything on the small rungs if my hands get there. I think the only way to improve latching would be to move to smaller rungs which I don't have, although sometimes I can get this effect out of deadpointing to tiny holds when limit bouldering. So for the second half of the phase I focus less on latching and more on going big, I spend a lot more time on the large campus rungs trying to get 1-4-7 down, especially since generating power out of my arms has always been a weakness for me.

I would say if you can latch on the small rungs then focus more on big moves, if you can do the moves but can't latch on the small rungs spend more time on that.

[MarkAnderson]

Jun 28, 2015 9:31:21 GMT -7 stpatty said:

My question is, should I immediately go up to try baseline +1, +1: B1, L4, R7, B7 and again with opposite hand starting? Also, if failing at the top of these attempts am I losing any "latching" contact strength opportunity? Is it more important to gain the strength from initiating the final throw from L4/R4 to L7/R7 and missing or more important to gain the contact strength of barely hitting the top rung and matching?

That's a great question.  I don't have a definitive answer.  I could see an argument for sticking to ladders you can complete most of the time.  What I do is move on to harder and harder moves once I do a given move once (or twice on rare occasions).  I would guess I spend about half my workout failing to latch the last move of various Max Ladders.   Logically, I think if you are at least hitting the top surface of the rung (and trying hard to latch), you are getting a training benefit for the latching hand.  Actually the forces are probably higher and with greater stretching (in a plyometric sense) on the latching hand if you try hard and fail.  However, the closer you get to your limit, the less the chances of even touching the top surface of the rung.  I would try to limit the amount of time you spend on moves like that, because then the latching hand really is doing nothing.

Bottom line, I would move on to 1-4-7, at least for a few sets each session, but I would include 1-3-6 and 1-4-6 (leading left and right) in your "warmup"

Also, consider talking to the gym staff about adding half-steps to the Moon spacing. Maybe even offer to donate the materials and labor.

[MarkAnderson]

Jun 29, 2015 7:09:49 GMT -7 Drew H said:

For the campus workouts I've done so far this season, after I feel worked from doing Max Ladders, I move on to the bumping drill, where I do B1 - L4 - R5 - R6 - R7 - R8 - B8  and then the same with the other hand. The idea behind this is that since I'm fairly new to campusing, I wanted to get the feeling of a longer span between rungs down, as well as working out the feeling of pressing down on the lower hand. Do you guys think this is too much of a workout or is it a good way to work out and increase power on the campus board?

I don't think it's too much, but watch your elbows (in the low hand). The longer spans you make, the more the low elbow bends, and those really tight bends are really hard on the elbow.

I wouldn't say its a good way to "increase power", but it's a good way to build up to doing longer moves.  It shouldn't be your primary focus, but it's something you can do once you've exhausted your options for Max Ladders in a given session.

[Drew H]

Jun 29, 2015 11:05:31 GMT -7 MarkAnderson said:

Jun 29, 2015 7:09:49 GMT -7 Drew H said:

For the campus workouts I've done so far this season, after I feel worked from doing Max Ladders, I move on to the bumping drill, where I do B1 - L4 - R5 - R6 - R7 - R8 - B8  and then the same with the other hand. The idea behind this is that since I'm fairly new to campusing, I wanted to get the feeling of a longer span between rungs down, as well as working out the feeling of pressing down on the lower hand. Do you guys think this is too much of a workout or is it a good way to work out and increase power on the campus board?

I don't think it's too much, but watch your elbows (in the low hand). The longer spans you make, the more the low elbow bends, and those really tight bends are really hard on the elbow.

I wouldn't say its a good way to "increase power", but it's a good way to build up to doing longer moves.  It shouldn't be your primary focus, but it's something you can do once you've exhausted your options for Max Ladders in a given session.

Cool, thanks for the answer. I think your explanation was more appropriate, not building power but trying to build the muscles that can get me up there. 1-4-7 is going down this season.