If you're using the grigri properly, and your rope isn't twisted to shit, then you shouldn't be having jerky issues.

Isn't a Grigri supposed to be foolproof? How exactly does one use a Grigri improperly? With no rope twist, pulling the lever slowly and firmly, I get some jerking when belaying heavy climbers. I've only used my Grigri, not anyone elses, so I don't know if my own Grigri might be the issue.

It's not a radical jerking, but noticeable. I don't have any issues using other belay devices. I don't have problems with lighter climbers either.

free stuff is never wrong, brother.

I believe it's been brought up that jerky lowering on a gri gri comes more from the quality of the rope than the person being lowered.

Less than a year old Beal and an almost new Maxim, same basic problem. The problem isn't apparent with lighter climbers. Again, it's not a big deal, just a bit annoying.

use a biner to redirect the rope through your leg loop and open the grigri more- you're basically jumping between locked off and open because you dont want to lower the climber any faster due to their weight. the additional friction provided by the biner will give you enough play in the grigri to open it past the 'jerky' point.

and yes, the grigri2 resolves this to a point, but sometimes an extra biner on the leg loop is still warranted if your partner is pushing the 150% of your weight threshold.

Thanks! Finally someone who isn't jumping straight into an insult by calling me or my belayer an incompetent belayer or giving me a quote about underestimating a fool.

I'll give that a try next time.

Peace...

Thanks! Finally someone who isn't jumping straight into an insult by calling me or my belayer an incompetent belayer or giving me a quote about underestimating a fool.

I'll give that a try next time.

A competent belayer would have read and understood that in the Gri-gri instructions, or asked if they didn't understand.

Again with the insults. Funny, no one EVER insults me to my face, but then again you're safely tucked away behind a computer screen, so there ya go.

I did read the instruction.

you're the one calling an advanced belay device foolproof. just sayin'

Which, of course, means the next logical conclusion is to call me a fool if I'm having a slight problem with it.

I took a couple of years away from this forum because of the smartass comments and I'm sure a lot of people hesitate to ask questions for fear of catching shit. Why can't people posting comments simply give a mature informative response, just saying.

Isn't it odd that if I ask a question to a climber in a face-to-face encounter, I NEVER get a smartass reply, just saying.

Isn't a Grigri supposed to be foolproof? How exactly does one use a Grigri improperly? With no rope twist, pulling the lever slowly and firmly, I get some jerking when belaying heavy climbers. I've only used my Grigri, not anyone elses, so I don't know if my own Grigri might be the issue.

It's not a radical jerking, but noticeable. I don't have any issues using other belay devices. I don't have problems with lighter climbers either.

I've never questioned your intelligence before.

But those two sentences . . . .

Which, of course, means the next logical conclusion is to call me a fool if I'm having a slight problem with it.

I took a couple of years away from this forum because of the smartass comments and I'm sure a lot of people hesitate to ask questions for fear of catching shit. Why can't people posting comments simply give a mature informative response, just saying.

Isn't it odd that if I ask a question to a climber in a face-to-face encounter, I NEVER get a smartass reply, just saying.

Which, of course, means the next logical conclusion is to call me a fool if I'm having a slight problem with it.

I took a couple of years away from this forum because of the smartass comments and I'm sure a lot of people hesitate to ask questions for fear of catching shit. Why can't people posting comments simply give a mature informative response, just saying.

Isn't it odd that if I ask a question to a climber in a face-to-face encounter, I NEVER get a smartass reply, just saying.

The Petzl site says "The GRIGRI 2 has a new design that allows excellent control during the descent." So it seems they recognize a possible problem with their first generation device.

Not so much a problem as a recognition that rope diameters have gotten increasing thinner and they also realized that thinner ropes are harder to control- so the new device addresses these problems- with the pleasant side effect that the device is easier to use in general.

Am I correct in assuming that the new Grigri 2 also handles the larger sized ropes better too?

I think I'll get one either way. I think it's a neat piece of gear.

Thanks...

Right, so that makes you?

The Petzl site says "The GRIGRI 2 has a new design that allows excellent control during the descent." So it seems they recognize a possible problem with their first generation device.

Why not an ATC? Cheaper, easier, lighter, arguably safer.

Arguably an incorrect statement and assumption. The atc, stitch plate, grigri, cinch whatever, are all sound devices. The only thing that is unsafe is the belayer. In competent hands, all of these devices are equally safe.

The new grigri is a big improvement over the first generation. I use fat statics with it and it feeds just fine. It also has much better control for lowering and feeding out rope for leading. As I said before, dirty old ropes just don't work that well with them. But still with in respectable parameters.

I can't compare the cinch since I haven't used one, but I'd just buy the new grigri.

Ok so Im happy to say that I've made a decision. Ill be getting a Grigri 2 and only use it on the 9.8. I'll prob. use it from time to time on the fatty when being belayed by certain partners, but will limit this use.

Thanks to everyone that weighed in (even shoo). I appreciate your time and thoughts.