@offroute, thanks for the compliment.
In response to your questions:
1. Yes I set from the top down. For me there is no other way.
A route is about moves. the moves are being dictated by the orientation of the handholds, if the orientation is wrong the move is unpleasent. The footholds enable the moves. You come up with the moves first, then place the footholds.
So it is only natural to put the handholds first and then the foot. therefore setting top to bottom is not only easier and quicker but a lot more natural.
2.
Hmmm, maybe that remark should be taken with a bit of salt.
Ofcourse the route should be tweaked if needed to make it correct. Certainly if used for a comp or if you set for a specific age group. Changing a couple of things can make a failed route into a 3 star route. I am notorious for changing / demanding a change in a route that will make it more pleasant to climb. and i also have tweaked / reset the roof passage in this and that route for three days in a row until it was perfect. ofcourse every body does that and should do that sometimes.
However I never change a route if only the grade is wrong. I only do that when the route is used in a comp. And even then i would rather set a new route then trying to turn a nice 6c into a 7a+ (most of the time it will be a unpleasent 7a+ anyway).
Maybe what i wanted to say was: Try to make the route better if needed but be prepared to walk away from it. You can only improve a route by tweaking / turning by so much. If it is beyond repair scrap it. Either build the whole route again (or the section) or just let it sit on the wall. Repairing a route can be really time consuming.
There are several benefits in leaving it on the wall.
1. You yourselve can learn from it. Exactly why do the moves feel awkward. How would you fix it, how come you set this in the first place? For which climbers does this work? For which climbers does this not work?
If you take out the route or reset a portion you will not learn anything from it. Take time to analyse exactly what went wrong.
2. While you yourselve might not like the route others might. Give the route a proper name e.g. "the stretchout from hell" or "the finger killer" and chances are people will enjoy and appreciate it. if it doesn't work out reset the route after a month or so.
3. Business wise it might be much smarter to set another route and leave this one be. Repairing a broken route might take as much time as setting up a new one. I think customers are happier with 1 good route and 1 "strange" route. as with only one good route.
Obviously this is no option if you produce rubbish 50% of the time but if you produce a descent route 80% of the time and a 3 star gem 10% of the time and only 10% of the time rubbish it might be better to set another route.
4. (and the most important)
You as a serious setter should get used to the idea that you must set correct the first time. That should be in your head. Be efficient. Set correct the first time. Think long, act quick. Be determined. That should be the mindset. Envision the moves before you set them. make the moves in your head and the correct place of the holds and footholds will become clear. If it doesn't work this time, too bad. Try harder next time. From testing top to bottom and tweaking a litlle bit you will become a better setter.especially if you ask yourselve why am i changing this (see point 1) From testing each move, from changing a route too much you will become a worse setter.you will allow yourselve to deliver crap the first time and then have plenty of time to correct.
Practice setting without needing to change so much. If it fails practice again until you succeed. Get the correct mindset: do it correct the first time. set as if there is absolutely no tweaking. (And then tweak al that is needed. but forget about that the next time and set as if there is absolutely no tweaking).
Am I making sense??