Back widow vs Rogue cannonball grips
This is a comparison between the back widow and the Rogue cannonball grips including pros, cons, and alternatives. It was published first under which grip strength tool to get from Rogue. Follow the links for more details.
Overview and review of the Rogue cannonball grips
This is an overview of the Rogue Cannonball grips including pros, cons, and alternatives. It was published first under which grip strength tool to get from Rogue. Follow the links for more details.
Overview of the Rogue cannonball grips
Price $47.25 - $67.50
The
Rogue cannonball grips are a great tool to develop better grip strength. They are versatile and can be attached to a
rack,
kettlebell,
dumbbell, or
barbell. They come with a 3" diameter and in black or tan color. You can opt to get a carabiner and strap set with it or just the balls themselves. The full specifications are:
These are a must for any gym that is serious about strength. Versatile, cheap, and fun to use.
Pros of the Rogue cannonball grips
I am personally a huge fan of the
cannonball grips as they are good for beginners but can also be used by pros in as many setups as you can come up with. By having less and less of your hand and fingers touch the
cannonballs while doing your exercises you can modulate how hard this exercise becomes. Look beyond just gripping the ball in full and you will have a training tool for life for as cheap as a big feast at the fast-food chain of your choice.
Cons of the Rogue cannonball grips
-
Set up
-
Organic weight lift
-
Easy to lose parts
As these need to be set up with straps and a carabiner this is not for everyone. The weights can sometimes hang awkwardly from the balls, depending on how symmetrical the load is. Some people will welcome this as an additional challenge while others will smash in their chins. In addition to that, the parts can be easily lost, especially when people do not take care. If you want to offer grip training without these hassles, the
rack attached
spheres are a better option.
Alternatives to the Rogue cannonball grips
The
Rack mounted spheres are a little more expensive and work with the Monster lite and Infinity series of Rogue. These
spheres will be stable and also will not get lost. If you want a stationary setup for grip training with
spheres, this is the better option, as long as you have something to attach them to.
The
crown pull up bar is the king attachment for straight pull-ups. If you are all about improving your straight pull-ups with different grips, this attachment for the monster lite or monster
rack has it all. It comes in at $225 and is a great piece of equipment for a home gym to cover all the bases. The only downside is that it is not great for kipping pull-ups.
If you are into climbing and consider the
cannonballs for this purpose you might be better off with the wall climbing cross-member for $85. You get a lot more grip variations than with the
cannonballs for just a little more money. The downside is that they can not be attached to other weights.
Conclusion for the Rogue cannonball grips
The
cannonball grips are a must-have for anyone who wants to get a great grip. Home gym owners can start with this for all kind of carries and pull-ups. Commercial gym owners will find that the
cannonballs are the most accessible tool for beginners to get into grip strength training. The
grandfather clock grips can be too slippy and not everyone likes using chalk.
Captains of Crush grippers can be harsh on the hands and too challenging.
The
back widow is a versatile handle that can be used as an attachment for cable pulls and attached to a
barbell for landmine rows. This makes it a very versatile tool that can be used in many scenarios to improve grip and back strength. This is an ideal solution for a home gym where the user wants to save space and money for multiple applications. In bigger gym scenarios it might be a better approach to get multiple handles for the price of one
back widow. The full specifications are:
This attachment for a pulley and to bars has many different configurations which will help you to build a bigger back and stronger grip. It can also mix up the work with a rowing machine or lat pull so that you can stay motivated and attack all different areas of your back. With its high-quality build, you can throw almost anything at the
back widow without breaking it and even use it like a deadlift jack. The weight of this handle attributes for its high-quality design. You can see that professionally wanted to design something helpful for other professionals with the
Back widow. With a $price tag of $300 the
back widow is not cheap. for that amount of money, you can get three
stainless lat bars from a low price vendor or a big assortment of smaller handles. The weight itself is also not great when your home gym setup is a bit flimsy. If you combine it with the Spud Inc. pulley or similar self-made contraption, you will have problems with keeping a smooth feed through the rollers. This is best used with a stationary lat pull or rowing machines like the Rogue CT1 or the Rogue Monster Lat pull down. In a commercial gym setting, it is also better to get multiple handles rather than one handle. Most average joes will find the adjustments on the
widow annoying rather than helpful for a quick workout and as a commercial gym owner you rather have three different handles for three different towers than one handle for three towers.
Rogue Multi-grip cable attachment is a massive handle that can be attached to cable pulleys. This is a great tool for any strongmen who want to work on their grip and pull work. This attachment simulates better when you do not get the best grip on a big weight because the handles are not in the most advantageous position. With $175 it also leaves room for handles to be bought against the same budget like the
back widow. The only downside of this attachment is that it is very heavy.
The
Rogue Stainless steel bar is a classic lat pull bar that is straight and curved at the ends for different grip variations. This is the standard option that most gyms go with for their towers. Compared to the
Back widow you can almost get two of these for the same price. The only disadvantages are that it can be quite boring and that you might get this cheaper from a different vendor than from Rogue.
The
Rogue tricep strap is the better partner for home gym pulley setups that are a little makeshift. Its lower weight makes it easier to maneuver and get a smooth ride in place. It is also quite a bit cheaper than a
back widow or any of the other attachments. The disadvantage is that it is not suitable for big heavy pulls where you spread your arms wide.
The
back widow is a great tool for the home gym owner who has some extra cash to spend, likes high-quality products, and does not want too many handles flying about. Just have a hard look at your training routine if you actually do t bar rows and lat pulls already in your local gym or desperately miss out on them. This attachment is not just a gimmick like many others. For commercial gyms, I do not see the point as it is usually more practical to have a wall or bag full of a lot of attachments where people help themselves. The
back widow would need some instructions and also the versatility does not really apply to the commercial scenario. The teenagers or your strongest hulk will probably hug this attachment for two hours. Better to have more handles for others who are waiting.