"Efficiency" . So, we will characterize more "efficient" a gripping hitch that has the same gripping power than another, but uses a smaller number of coils. Economy of coils (?).
"Effectiveness". So, we will characterize more "effective" a gripping hitch where the coils remain more circular than the coils of another, when they are equally or maximally loaded. Equally, or maximally (?). ( With "maximal loading", I mean the maximum loading under which the hitch does not slip alongside the pole ).
"Simple-ness". Let me refer here to some thoughts I have already tried to express in this forum. There are two, rather distinct, things that can be described by this term, as regards the
"easy-ness to be remembered" part of it. A hitch may be simple (A) to remember, because its structure/form/shape/image is simple. Or. it may be simple to remember, because, although it is not simple (A), it is simple (B) nevertheless : i.e. there is a simple logic/rule/law/idea/mechanism that, when followed, produces the hitch. A hitch, as any knot :
1. Can be simple (A) but not simple (B). It can be a not-so convoluted knot, with a few only tucks, but one has to learn it by heart. If one will forget a single thing, he will not be able to tie it, because there is nothing that can lead him from the one stage to another, there is no coherent logic/rule/law/idea that connects the individual parts of this knot. I think that many of the gripping hitches shown by Ashley at ABoK 1734- ABoK#1746 are simple (A) but not simple (B).
2. Can be simple (B), although it is not simple (A). It can be a very convoluted knot, with many tucks, but
a. one has only to learn the logic/rule/law/idea that dictates their presence. once this is well understood, the knot is easy to be reproduced, without a flaw.
b. one has only to combine two or more well-known, often-used knots, the one after the other.
So, even if one forgets the overall structure/form/shape/image of this simple (B) hitch, he can
a. reproduce it on spot, by following the"ratio" behind its construction, or
b. tie the one well-known knot after the other, and complete the final compound knot.
I think that many of the gripping hitches I have proposed are simple (B), although not simple (A).
I believe that the overall rating should also depend upon the overall security of the hitch, measured with the help of a tug-of-war type of test between pairs of hitches. I also believe that the gripping power of each hitch is very sensitive to the relative diameters of the ropes and the poles. So, we should not only test different materials, more or less slippery and more or less springy, on more or less slippery poles...but also large diameter ropes tied around small diameter poles, and vice versa. In short, I see much work before we can have any thumbs-up / thumbs-down result !
