By Mark Bradley

Route Setters are not machines. As much as our managers would like to think so, we cannot manufacture quality routes everyday without fail. We’re creative, inspired and needy craftsmen.

Some days we’re inspired just by the way the sun rose that day or more directly by an ancient sequence from a long ago route. And we need things like good hold choice and unencumbered walls.

But even when setters have the best day and get everything they want it still might not come together. As setters there are usually three issues that keep us from setting mega classics every day.

Setters Block: No matter what you can’t seem to create a problem.
Ruts: When all your problems and routes seem to be exactly the same.
Boredom: Another day setting on the same angles of the same walls with the same old holds.

The crew at Vertical Heaven climbing gym have devised a way to help fight those problems. They call it, THE GAME. Not only have they found THE GAME to be helpful in these situations but it has also helped to fine tune their skills as setters.

Here are the steps to THE GAME.

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