Quick answer
The speed climbing route map is the fixed pattern of handholds, footholds, start area and finish pad on the 15-metre wall. Climbers memorize the route, but they do not all climb it with identical beta. Reach, strength, mobility and coaching affect the fastest reliable sequence.
Official figures
The official route has 20 hand holds and 11 foot holds in each lane on a 15.00 m wall with two 3.00 m lanes and a 5° overhang; the finish pad base sits at 14.80 m. Source: route plan §1.2.4 and §1.1 of the IFSC Speed Licence Rules – Speed Walls (dated 01/02/2022), last checked October 26, 2026. Full table: speed wall layout.
What a route map shows
A useful route map helps you understand where the athlete starts, how the main handholds and footholds climb through the lane, where the finish pad sits and why the route can be rehearsed. It is not a coaching prescription. Two athletes may use the same map but choose different contacts or rhythms.
Holds and footholds
Published research and governing descriptions commonly refer to 20 large handholds and 11 smaller footholds. The big holds define the recognizable path up the wall; the smaller footholds and the wall surface help athletes create acceleration, keep the hips moving and prepare the next hand contact.
Speed wall diagram
The schematic below is drawn from the figures in the specification table. It shows dimensions only; it does not plot the 31 hold positions and is not a construction drawing.
Use this diagram on your site
Clubs, coaches and schools may reproduce the diagram with attribution. Copy this code to embed it with a credit link:
<a href="https://speedclimbing.com/speed-wall/wall-layout/"><img src="https://speedclimbing.com/assets/images/ifsc-speed-wall-spec.svg" width="420" height="510" alt="IFSC speed wall specification: 15.00 m high, two 3.00 m lanes, 5° overhang, 20 hand and 11 foot holds, finish pad at 14.80 m"></a>
<p>Diagram: <a href="https://speedclimbing.com/speed-wall/wall-layout/">SpeedClimbing.com</a>, based on the IFSC Speed Licence Rules.</p>Direct file: ifsc-speed-wall-spec.svg.
Route map versus beta
The route map is the fixed environment. Beta is the athlete’s chosen movement plan through that environment. A beginner may use more contacts for control. An elite athlete may skip, cut feet, or take a more aggressive path if it saves time without making the run fragile.
How to use the map in practice
- Learn the start, first hand targets and first feet slowly.
- Break the wall into short sections instead of racing every attempt.
- Film the same section from the same angle and compare hip path, foot timing and finish position.
- Keep a beta only if it improves both speed and repeatability.
Common beginner mistakes
| Mistake | What it causes | Better cue |
|---|---|---|
| Learning only the hand path | Late feet and unstable hips | Pair each hand target with the foot that makes it possible |
| Changing beta every run | No reliable comparison | Test one change across several attempts |
| Racing before the sequence is stable | Slips and double movements | Build repeatable sections first |
| Copying elite beta blindly | Positions that do not fit your body | Adapt the map to your reach and strength |