TOAST.Small threadjack: I want to get more into sport climbing with a few friends, we are all pretty much learning together. We all took a class at our climbing gym, but they really don't have any sport routes so we will mostly be learning outdoors by ourselves. We have all belayed indoor lead climbs with a normal atc, but would you recommend getting a grigri so we have the extra backup just in case. The only thing I am worried about with the grigri is just getting used to it since we are all used to using normal atcs.
Imho it's best to learn the basics and get the basics (brake hand, lowering, etc) on a manul device with a backup belayer behind you so that braking becomes instinctual and so you don't develop pulling on the strand above the device. If you want more info an opinions, visit Mountain Project. There are plenty of 35yo dek jockeys who wish they were outside to tell you more about this :). While having a brake assist advice is good, it should never be relied on. Stay safe and have a blast out there!
OP, the Black Diamond ATC-XP is simple like the atc, but lighter (I think?) and has teeth. I jump off of plenty of shit with a single strand in that thing and with barely any pressure on the brake hand it stops super fast. Tons of power, albeit a bit choppy if you rap on the tooth side, but for hangdogging noobz or jumping off stuff it's great. If ou ever do more technical stuff or multipitch get the Black Diamond Atc guide, its the same but you can belay a second (or a 2nd and a third) on an autoblock when you lead. Good luck!
