One of my friends is just starting to get into lead climbing. I'd like to find some good approaches for providing them with a soft catch if they fall. However, there is a big weight difference difference between us. I'm ~95kg and they're ~35kg.
I normally belay close to the wall so if my normal climbing partner (~65kg) takes a fall I can push off the ground and get a foot onto the wall to provide a softer catch. Then when both our weight is back on the rope, we both hang and I can proceed to lower myself back down.
The issue when I tried this with the ~35kg climber was that as soon as my weight was back on the rope then it pulled them back up the wall and I fell back to the floor.
Is my only option to stand further back from the wall when belaying and try to take steps forward just as their weight hits the rope? When I was learning to lead belay, I was taught it is best to stand close to the wall whilst belaying.
Not sure how much difference it makes, but the climbing we are mostly do is on indoor walls in the UK, roughly 13m high, and I almost always use a GriGri.