Overhanging Routes To climb efficiently on overhanging rock , you need to keep your hips close to the rock and your arms straight whenever possible . Bent arms will tire out much faster .
One way to do this is to use the dropknee . Place the outside edge of your shoe on a hold and twist your knee downward . Be careful though , dropknees put a lot of tension on the ligaments in your knee .
As with other angles of rock , it is more efficient to pull yourself into the rock with your arms and push yourself up with your legs .
This is much more physically demanding on steep routes , but even the poorest footholds will help ease the strain on your arms and give you something to push from .
Climb : Jason Piper on Into the Blue , Mt Ettalong , Australia . Photographer : Chris Fox ( see more here )