By Todd Free | Owner of Uncarved Block since 2008, former dirtbag, decade-long van-dwelling climber since 1996 and builder of 3 home walls! (updated Jan 2026)

If you’ve ever told a non-climber you were ‘cranking on a left gaston to a slimper',  ‘deadpointing to a sick rail', ‘pinching a tufa to latch a thin flake' or ‘matched in a thin hands mail slot with crap sloping feet' you’ve seen the look of pure confusion. To anyone else, it’s a bunch of holds. To us, it’s a language. Here is a breakdown of what the hell we’re actually talking about—from the basics to the weird hybrids.

Core Hold Types

• Jug — A big, positive hold you can fully wrap your fingers around. Very secure and easy to pull on.
• Crimp — A small edge grabbed with the fingertips; requires strong finger tension.
• Pinch — A hold squeezed between thumb and fingers.
• Pocket — A hole you place one, two, or three fingers into.
• Sloper — A rounded, smooth hold that relies on friction rather than finger strength.
• Edge — A flat or slightly angled lip big enough for fingertips.
• Footer— Usually a small hold that is so small most climbers can only use as a foothold.
• Rail — A long, continuous edge you can match hands on.
• Flake — A thin “sheet” of rock/hold you pull outward on.
• Sidepull — A hold pulled sideways rather than downward.
• Gaston — A hold you push outward against, like opening elevator doors with your elbows.
• Undercling — A hold grabbed from underneath and pulled upward.
• Pinch Block — A blocky hold designed specifically to be squeezed from both sides.

Hybrid & Slang Hold Types

• Slimper — A sloping crimp: a thin ledge angled so it’s less positive.
• Slope-pinch — A sloping, less positive pinch.
• Juggy-pinch — A generous, easy-to-hold pinch with jug-like qualities.
• Slope-pocket — A shallow or angled pocket that’s harder to seat fingers in.
• Slotter — A thin slot used like a crimp, but deeper or longer.
• Crinch — A crimp–pinch hybrid requiring both finger pressure and a pinch grip.
• Slope-jug — A jug on an angle or sloping surface, less obvious to grab.
• Piano-edge — A long thin edge/rail you can move your hand along like piano keys.
• Elephant ear — A big flake-like hold you can grab around or under.
• Butter knife — A razor-thin edge requiring precise fingertip placement.
• Coin slot / Mail slot — A narrow horizontal slot for one or two fingers.
• Mini-jug — A smaller version of a jug: still positive, just scaled down.
• Mega-pinch / Mega-jug — Oversized pinches or jugs.
• Slicker — A very smooth sloper with low friction.
• Shark fin — A pointed, protruding edge or nub you grasp like a fin.
• Biter — A sharp or aggressive incut that “bites” your fingers.
• Brain — A lumpy hold with many bumps or dimples.
• Pebble — A tiny rounded bump with minimal grip.

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About the Author Todd Free is the owner and lead shaper at Uncarved Block. With over 18 years of experience in the climbing industry, Todd has designed a few holds and helped hundreds of climbers set up their dream home training spaces.   Have a question about your build? Contact Todd: 0444 522 631