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Step 1
Know the route beforehand. Whether you follow a bolted route (a route that has preplaced bolts with metal hangers that you clip into) or you are leading the climb and placing your own cramming devices or chocks, study the overhang as best you can. Look for cracks, notches and underclings spaced at reachable intervals to mark your route. Mental effort on the ground will save you effort in muscle during the climb.
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Step 2
Use your entire body. Relying mainly on upper body strength will tire you out quickly. While good handholds and finger strength is vital, moving upward using the push of the stronger legs muscles will increase your climbing ability. Focus on your feet placement as much as your hand placement. Turn your knees to reach cracks you otherwise couldn't. Use your heel as a hook on ledges and the outside of your feet on tiny notches.
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Step 3
Think of your shoulders and hips. Try rotating your hip to stretch your body out farther, and then rotate your shoulder for greater reach with a minimum of effort.
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Step 4
Maintain your balance beneath the overhang at all times. Before you cut a foot loose, determine where each hand is. You should have the opposite hand locked off on a hand hold for balance. Keep your hips as close to the rock as possible so as not to tire yourself with extra drag.
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Step 5
Move efficiently at a steady pace in the thought out route until you pull yourself over the roof of the overhang.
