Probably a dumb question...

[jonlong724]

Is there any reason why you shouldn't clip a quickdraw to the rope first, then clip it to the bolt? Seems like you could save yourself an extra reach.

[DHB]

It's not that you "shouldn't", its just that most people don't. Sure, it's theoretically a time/ energy saver (and may keep you from backclipping), but some people (me, at least) will use the time it takes to hang a bare draw to determine if they are in a good stance or have the energy to clip the rope before they tell the belayer to pay out extra slack. Or, if you try to reach the bolt but just can't make it, you can just but the bare draw in your teeth until you get to a new position. I'd argue that doing this with a pre-roped draw would be mildly dangerous in the event you took a fall, and would probably make climbing to a new stance harder. Plus, the higher you get on the route, the more friction you'd get running over a pre-roped draw as you tried to pull it up to clip (due to the weight of the rope below you), especially if you're in an awkward body position. It's hard enough to pull up rope sometimes even with your entire hand wrapped around it (especially if your belayer is short-roping you). If you're having these same difficulties while you have a somewhat-precarious grasp on a pre-roped draw, the chances of it slipping out of your hand are greater. Plus your buddy may be hanging draws on every other route you climb, so why not practice your clipping technique even when it's your turn to hang 'em?

And that's not the way they do it in teh movies, so it must be bad style.

[Andrew]

Because the draws are already hanging on the route.

[businessprofessional]

It seems like clipping this way would up the chances of getting smacked in the balls by the draw if you take a whip while trying to clip.

[climb2core]

1.) Way harder to pull the rope up like that.
2.) What the hell do you grab when you can't make the clip?

[bcombs]

Because the draws are already hanging on the route.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!

[shear]

Is there any reason why you shouldn't clip a quickdraw to the rope first, then clip it to the bolt? Seems like you could save yourself an extra reach.

yes. b/c it's dumb...

[lena_chita]

Is there any reason why you shouldn't clip a quickdraw to the rope first, then clip it to the bolt? Seems like you could save yourself an extra reach.

yes. b/c it's dumb...

...yet the same dumb question comes up over and over on various boards with dumb regularity.

[climb2core]

I think the bolt is more likely to pull out if you clip like that...

[pigsteak]

it is considered cheating. only draws hanging and wearing jeans are considered appropriate for a legit send.