How long should I hold a sloper hang?

Beginners should aim for 5 to 10 seconds per set, while advanced athletes can target 20 to 30 seconds to build endurance.

Is skin friction more important than finger strength for slopers?

Both are vital, but sloper hanging relies heavily on the surface area of your palm and the friction created by body positioning.

Standard pull-up bars do not provide the sloped surface necessary; you generally need a hangboard or specific sloper attachments.

Learn how to perform sloper hangs correctly. Master open-hand grip strength with our expert guide for climbers and athletes.

Place both hands onto a set of sloper holds on a hangboard or climbing wall, ensuring your palms make maximum contact with the surface.
Engage your shoulders by pulling them down and back into a packed position while keeping a slight bend in your elbows to protect the joints.
Slowly lift your feet off the ground to transfer your full body weight onto your hands while maintaining an open-hand grip style.
Keep your core tight and your body still to prevent swinging, which can break the friction between your skin and the hold.
Hold the position for a predetermined amount of time, focusing on even pressure through all fingertips.
Lower your feet back to the ground in a controlled manner before your grip reaches total failure.

Over-gripping with the thumbs which disrupts the open-hand mechanics
Allowing the shoulders to shrug up toward the ears during the hang
Using excessive chalk which can sometimes reduce friction on certain sloper textures
Holding the breath instead of maintaining steady intra-abdominal pressure

Forearms · Strength