Why isn't onsight an option for bouldering ticks?

When I ticked some boulder problems recently I noticed onsight isn't an option - only flash is.
For roped routes both flash and onsight are options.

Is this because it is hard to get near a boulder problem without a boulderer spewing beta and therefore a true onsight is not a possibility?
But what if you are alone as I was?
I couldn't resist the snarky opportunity - maybe lingo has changed. I am getting old.

I have heard that since boulders are so low you can easily feel the holds and see all the moves which negates the onsight. I think you should be able to onsight a highball though...

Go onsight Too Big to Flail and report back

I always thought it was because boulder problems can be so contrived that you have to have beta to even know if you did the correct route. I.e. sometimes I great jug will be off for a certain problem etc

Onsighting a boulder is certainly possible, I think that it just depends on the nature of the route. If you are there alone, or if no one else sessions the moves with you, and if there really aren't any other problems that you might dab on, I think it can be an onsight. Its just that typically you can see exactly where you need to go, so its more about how hard you can climb rather than routefinding skillz

The consensus in bouldering for the past few decades has been that you can only flash, not onsight boulders for the reasons folks have mentioned above.

We can worry about changing the terms as soon as someone claims a true onsight of Ambrosia or TBTF. If you want to claim an onsight of something like Melon Patch or Advanced Rockcraft Arete, you probably care too much about your ticklist.

Alex Holmann wrote: I have heard that since boulders are so low you can easily feel the holds and see all the moves which negates the onsight. I think you should be able to onsight a highball though...

If you feel the holds, then that would also negate the flash.

An onsight is first try, no falls, no pre-inspection/feeling of anything except the start holds, and no purposeful image/video/word of mouth beta. By this definition of you climb a Boulder correctly, ground up, on your first try, and without other's help/advice then I'd consider it an onsight and differentiate the two for personal accounts.

Since bouldering is so social and a much more difficult 'puzzle' to be honest few really try to onsight hard problems because someone is always there to offer advice and the holds are already in front of your face to clean and feel... so why decline the help? This is a time where MP is justifiably simplifying your options. If someone cares to differentiate they can say so in the notes on their route tick.

Pat MurphTRON wrote:

If you feel the holds, then that would also negate the flash.

What if I feel their aura?

NegativeK wrote:

What if I feel their aura?

Auras and e-meter readings are an integral part of most high-end flashes. Feel with the soul, but don't touch the holds!

Probably because bouldering isn’t actually rock climbing.

If being able to see/know all of the holds and/or sequences from the ground negates an onsight, does that mean you can only flash routes at Indian Creek if you know the gear?  Cam sizes tell you all you need to know about the jams for a splitter.  Not really much guess work about the moves for an 80 foot crack and 8 #2 camalots.

bkozak wrote:  does that mean you can only flash routes at Indian Creek if you know the gear?  Cam sizes tell you all you need to know about the jams for a splitter.  Not really much guess work about the moves for an 80 foot crack and 8 #2 camalots.

But is it baggy 2s or tight 2s?   I need to know how much tape to put on.

One theoretical situation I've wondered about is if April climber practiced on an indoor simulator problem made by someone else for and outdoor route, then did the outdoor route first try. Could it still be considered a flash? It seems like it kills the point of not knowing the body positions or full situation ahead of time, but really isn't much different from Ondra's assisted visualization and technically follows the flashing definition.