Beginner Mistakes We All Make in Climbing

If you’re making mistakes while you climb, you’re doing it right.

Learning to climb asks your body to move in unfamiliar ways on vertical terrain while gravity does its thing. Feeling clunky, pumped, confused, or like everyone else got a secret instruction manual is completely normal. If that sounds familiar, welcome—you’re officially a climber.

This article walks through some of the most common beginner mistakes we all make. The goal isn’t to shame them or “fix” you. It’s to normalize what you’re experiencing and give you a few tools that make learning more fun and a lot less frustrating.

Because learning to climb isn’t about avoiding mistakes. It’s about noticing them, making small adjustments, and trying again.

Climbing is Like Learning a New Language

Learning to climb is a lot like learning a new language.

You can absolutely learn through immersion. You can just show up, climb a ton, and let your body slowly figure things out. That approach works, and plenty of climbers use it.

But immersion can also feel overwhelming—like being dropped into a country where you don’t speak the language, everyone is talking fast, and you’re just nodding along, hoping for the best.

Having someone who “speaks the language” walk you through basic structure, common patterns, and helpful cues doesn’t take away the magic. It gives you a foundation. The skills in this article do the same thing. They help you understand the “why” behind movement, so learning feels more accessible, less exhausting, and way more enjoyable.

Now, let’s talk about some greatest hits of beginner mistakes.

Overgripping and the Famous T. rex Arms

If you’ve climbed with bent arms, white knuckles, and a death grip to keep from falling, you’ve experienced overgripping.

This usually shows up as T-Rex arms: elbows bent, shoulders creeping toward your ears, and forearms on fire halfway up the wall.

Why does this happen? Because gripping feels like control. When something feels insecure, our instinct is to hold tighter. The problem is that your forearms are small muscles that fatigue quickly. Your skeleton, on the other hand, is excellent at holding weight when you let it.

Straight arms are your friend. Hanging on your bones instead of constantly pulling with your biceps saves energy and keeps you climbing longer. Think relaxed shoulders, long arms, and just enough grip to stay on.

You don’t need to squeeze the life out of every hold. Most of the time, the wall isn’t going anywhere.

Trying to Do Everything With Your Upper Body

This one sneaks up on almost everyone, especially climbers who come in strong from other sports.

Pulling feels powerful. It feels productive. It also makes you tired very fast.

Your legs are significantly stronger than your arms, but many beginners forget to use them. Or they use their legs just enough to get by while still trying to muscle their way up the wall with their upper body.

Try thinking of climbing less like a pull-up and more like climbing a ladder. Your arms help with balance and direction, but your legs do most of the work. Push with your feet. Stand up instead of pulling up.

If you feel completely wrecked after just a few moves, check in with yourself: how much are your legs actually helping? The answer is usually “less than they could be.”

Not Using Your Toes

Let’s talk about feet.

A super common beginner habit is putting your entire foot on every hold—flat foot, whole sole, maximum surface area. It feels stable, so it feels right.

The catch is that climbing shoes are designed to be used on your toes. Using the very tips of your toes gives you precision, balance, and room to move. When you stand flat-footed on your midsole, you limit how much you can rotate your hips and shift your weight.

Try this instead: aim to place the tiptoe of your shoe exactly where you want it. “Quiet feet” are a great cue. If your foot lands softly and intentionally, you’re probably using it well.

Your feet aren’t just there to keep you from falling. They’re active tools that help you move efficiently and engage your whole body.

Rushing Moves Because You Just Want to Be Done

Rushing is sneaky. It often comes from excitement, nerves, or just wanting the climb to be over before you get tired.

The problem is that rushing usually leads to worse body positioning, more overgripping, and messier technique. You skip the good foot. You misread the beta. You move when you could have paused and breathed.

Climbing rewards patience. Taking an extra second to look at your feet, adjust your hips, or shake out can completely change how a climb feels.

You’re allowed to pause. Climbing is not a race. Moving slowly and intentionally is a skill, not a weakness.

Letting Your Hips Drift Far From the Wall

Once you start straightening your arms, it’s common for your hips to drift away from the wall to “make room” for the length of your arms.

Unfortunately, this creates a lever that makes everything harder. The farther your hips are from the wall, the more weight your arms have to hold.

Opening your hips and bringing them closer to the wall keeps your center of gravity over your feet. That takes pressure off your hands and makes footholds feel far more usable.

A simple cue: think “belly button toward the wall.” It might feel strange at first, but it’s usually more stable than you expect.

Forgetting About Your Glutes and Back Body

Your glutes are powerful. Your back is powerful. And they’re often half-asleep while you climb.

Engaging your glutes helps you stand up through your legs instead of pulling through your arms. Engaging your back supports your shoulders and core, so your arms don’t have to do all the work.

Try thinking about gently squeezing your glutes as you push through your feet. Or imagine drawing your shoulder blades slightly down and back instead of shrugging up toward your ears.

When your back is working, your arms get a much-needed break—and they’ll thank you.

The Big Picture

Here’s the most important thing to remember: every climber you admire has made all of these mistakes. Repeatedly. For years.

These habits aren’t proof that you’re bad at climbing. They’re proof that you’re learning a new language. Over time, the movements start to make sense. Your body begins to recognize patterns. You stop translating every move and start “speaking” more fluently.

Coaching, classes, and intentional practice don’t take away from the journey. They simply give you a map so the journey feels less confusing and more fun.

Be patient with yourself. Laugh when things feel awkward. Celebrate the small wins.

You’re not behind. You’re learning. And that’s exactly where you’re supposed to be.