Turn Plastic Waste Into Climbing Skill: A 5-Minute Dynamic Vision Drill

At-Home Vision and Movement Drill for Dynamic Climbing Using Plastic Packaging

If real-life demands are taking you away from the crag or gym, then this drill is for you.

Plastic packaging isn’t ideal—but if you've just picked up essentials like kitchen roll, you can put that light, floaty wrapper to good use before tossing it in the recycling bin. Here’s a simple 5-minute drill to help you wire your brain for dynamic movement, precision, and balance—essential qualities for climbing.

What You Need:

• The clear plastic packaging from a roll of kitchen or toilet paper

• A safe, open space—your kitchen or living room will do

The Drill: “Kitchen Roll Robot” (5 mins)

1. Find Your Base
   Stand in a balanced, relaxed position. Choose a foot stance that allows you to move freely.

2. Engage Your Focus
   Hold the plastic packaging in one hand. Read a word or phrase on it out loud—whatever catches your eye.

3. Track the Flight
   Toss the packaging in the direction of your opposite hand. As it floats, track a specific word, letter, or shape with your eyes. Stay locked onto it as best you can.

4. Freeze the Catch
   Catch it with your other hand—and freeze in position. No wiggling, no rebalancing.

5. Re-Center and Observe
   From this new position, read another word or phrase out loud. Take a beat to notice your body: what’s your balance like? Where are your feet?

6. Repeat with Variation
   Keep going. Change the trajectory and intensity of your throws—sideways spins, behind the back, overhead lobs. Vary your stance: try standing on one leg, a wide stance, or tiptoes. The more unpredictable the throw, the better.

7. Optional Add-on: Peripheral Awareness
   Each time you freeze, try to spot your feet in your peripheral vision. This helps train spatial awareness and reinforces your base of support—just like when you catch a hold dynamically and need to immediately stabilize.

This playful, lightweight drill sharpens hand-eye coordination, dynamic control, peripheral awareness, and mental focus—all in your kitchen, all with a piece of plastic you were about to throw away. Most notably, practicing clear and focused tracking of floating letters with slightly unpredictable trajectory - trains the dynamic visual acuity and processing that is required for you to maintain awareness as your eyes move, head moves, or both. This is a staple for moving comfortably and naturally - with momentum.