The Mechanics of a Proper Swing

[TreeLogic]

I know we've all taken a swing before. Most of my swings have been intentional, with a few that were unintentional here and there. Many times it is the fastest and most efficient method to relocate from point "A" to point "B". But I've never really seen talk of proper form.

I've noticed some great climbers don't even appear to be swinging, but they seem more like they've just made a long jump, resting softly at their intended landing point. Others, and I include myself in this category, just try to guess the height at the end of their arc, and like a rope swing over the river, they time their drop to their landing point, sometimes more aggressively than planned.

So I thought it'd be helpful to describe how you prepare, and what goes through your head when you take that perfect swing

 

[BRT]

A few thoughts:

My distance from TIP--scope. Potential obstacles in that triangle: me-TIP-target lz-back to me. Check my harness, gear, tag lines, etc. for potential snags during swing. Hazards such as impaling snags near & at target, as well as surrounding my current position--in case I miss or cannot hold target and return. Correct approx. adjustment of lanyard. Something solid to grab upon arrival. Nothing real technical for me in judging the arc. Maybe some others have some input on that dimension.

Oh, and feet first

 

[islandarb]

We were all kids once, swinging is in our makeup, SWING say SWING....lol

 

[TreeLogic]

We were all kids once, swinging is in our makeup, SWING say SWING....lol

C'mon paul, "Swing" is in your screen name for crying out loud! You gotta do better than that!

 

[TreeLogic]

A few thoughts:

My distance from TIP--scope. Potential obstacles in that triangle: me-TIP-target lz-back to me. Check my harness, gear, tag lines, etc. for potential snags during swing. Hazards such as impaling snags near & at target, as well as surrounding my current position--in case I miss or cannot hold target and return. Correct approx. adjustment of lanyard. Something solid to grab upon arrival. Nothing real technical for me in judging the arc. Maybe some others have some input on that dimension.

Oh, and feet first

Thanks BRT! Good stuff.

 

[RANDY10]

I always wondered what mental formula Beddes uses? His swings through the tree are the best i've ever seen!

 

[tomthetreeman]

The more you do it, the more instinctual it becomes. I can't say there's a formula, just a comfort level to reach that comes with experience. When I have been out of trees for a while (like now), it takes some getting back to!

-Tom

 

[jon427]

TIP, distance, landing zone, hazards and gear check and gut check , missed one today but landed it on the second pass, I had some pine pitch on my climbing line so it didn't run as expected.

 

[Adkpk]

For me a swing is a go thing. Gear is the most of my thoughts. The landing is second. But the swing itself is just do it. The miss is really the second thing.

 

[RopeShield]

I like to wrap on the stem. Helps with momentum. Like tether ball

 

[TreeLogic]

I always wondered what mental formula Beddes uses? His swings through the tree are the best i've ever seen!

I'm sure he's one of the greats I was thinking about who make it look effortless.

BRT, you mentioned "feet first" which is what I do, but I swear some of the guys seem to lean forward.

 

[TreeLogic]

I like to wrap on the stem. Helps with momentum. Like tether ball

Originally I thought you meant on landing, but you mean at the beginning of the swing, or prior to it. Right?

 

[Steve Connally]

I just try not to repeat the swing that resulted in a bunch of stitches in my heel from a gaff. Put that bugger trough a leather boot and it kept sinking. The problem was I wanted to place both feet on a small stem. Bad choice.

 

[RopeShield]

Prior to take off capn. This

 

[RopeShield]

I just try not to repeat the swing that resulted in a bunch of stitches in my heel from a gaff. Put that bugger trough a leather boot and it kept sinking. The problem was I wanted to place both feet on a small stem. Bad choice.

Fuckinmeowch
Punctured my hand. knot once but twice on separate occasions. Crucified cept with wooden nails.

 

[BRT]

I'm sure he's one of the greats I was thinking about who make it look effortless.

BRT, you mentioned "feet first" which is what I do, but I swear some of the guys seem to lean forward.

On longer swings. Gotta feel real comfortable that you have room/time during swing to pivot on your center of gravity (where climb line attaches to saddle). Maybe I should have said feet have to be in front of you by time of arrival.

Good distinction.

 

[monkeylove]

I wish I would have read that first, lol. Actually the swing was perfect, okay almost perfect. I slipped on the grip and headed back towards the trunk. You no that moment when you brain says "This is going hurt", I've had a few of those from other high risk activities. Not enough to really hurt and I was just practicing a few feet off the ground but I still have bark tracks ha ha.

 

[TreeLogic]

Some of my most painful swings were close to the ground.

 

[treehumper]

Relative position of the TIP to the landing, Is it feet or hands I'm going to land with. What sort of drop to the landing will I be needing. and whats on the return swing if I miss. Is there any impediment to the pendulum that would change the swing? Will I be rising to the landing or coming down to it?

 

[KevinS]

I usually take my swings more like dives. Hands out to grab what you're shooting for and I kinda squat horizontally then burst or dive out, more push power in your legs.

A couple things I've learned you must be far enough down from your TIP so that you have a pendulum to swing on, the other is make sure you loosen your spurs out of the tree I usually go on the balls of my feet to dive off. There's nothing worse then giving it a big leap to have 1 spur stuck in and you just spin around the trunk like a goof.

As far as formulas go the main rule I go by is the same as rigging or anything else, you/ your piece will drop half the distance that it is over. So say you want to swing to a crotch that is 15' across from you that means you should be 30' from your TIP.
Now of course I'm sure there is some variation on than accounting for thrust, the height of your reach, etc but generally that's what I think I know.

Hope that helps.