Rogue 12-inch globe vs pinch blocks

This is a comparison between the Rogue 12 inch pull up globe and the pinch blocks 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 pinch blocks

This is an overview of the Rogue pinch blocks including pros, cons, and alternatives. It was published first under which grip strength tool to get from Rogue. Follow the links for more details.

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Overview of the Rogue pinch blocks

Price: $49-$62.50

The Rogue Pinch blocks are simple but effective. They come in three different sizes, 3x3,2x3, and 1.5x4. The thinner the block, the harder it is to hold onto. This is a simple tool that will improve your grip for a long time to come and has many applications. You can hold weights or hand from a rack as long as possible. As with all rogue products the finish is great and they hold chalk well.

Pros of the Rogue pinch blocks

The pros of the rogue pinch blocks are:

Cheap
versatile
Hardcore
Easy on the hands

The pinch blocks are relatively cheap and have a big impact on your grip strength. They are easy to use, as long as you know your way around a carabiner and a strap. Compared to other hardcore training tools for your grip, they are easier on the hands and less likely to rip your calluses and skin on the fingers.

Cons of the Rogue Pinch blocks

Cons of the Rogue pinch blocks are:

Not for beginners
Carabiner and strap setup

Pinch grip blocks are challenging and therefore not for beginners. If you consider buying without any prior experience in grip training, be prepared to get frustrated fast. In this case, you might be better off to get a set of low-level Captain of Crush grippers or the grandfather clock grips. The setup with a carabiner and strap is also not for everyone as it can be fiddly.

Alternatives to the Rogue pinch blocks

Alternatives to the rogue pinch locks are:

The cannonball and grandfather grip have roughly the same price. Both of them are easier for beginners than the Pinch blocks if you want to progress slowly. I personally see them as a set to be bought together to keep things interesting, but not everyone wants to invest that much money from the start for something they are not sure about.

If you prefer to work with a bar rather than an attachment to a random weight than the branch and beam are for you. The branch and beam are bars that have been made fat to be better for grip strength training. They are a good option to train lifts in strongman competitions like lifting wagon wheels or car axles.

Conclusion for the Rogue pinch blocks

The pinch blocks are a must for anyone serious about strength training. They are a good purchase together with the cannonball and grandfather grips. Be aware, that these are the more advanced options and that you will start humbled. With time, your hands will turn into beasts.

Overview and review of the Rogue 12-inch globe

This is an overview of the 12-inch pull up globe 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 12-inch pull-up globe

Price $140 - $154

The Rogue 12-inch pull up globe is exactly what it says on the tin. You get a globe that you can hang from your rack or your rig to do pull-ups with. This is a great finisher to a good session or fun little competition to have in a gym with a good community. The full specifications of the globe are:

12" Diameter Steel Sphere
Rogue Matte Black Powder coating

A great little gimmick to have if you have space and money. If I owned a commercial gym, I would have one of these to challenge my personal training clients so that they keep in mind I am different.

Pros of the 12-inch pull-up globe

Pros of the 12-inch pull-up globe are:

Unusual grip challenge
Well made

The globe provides a grip challenge, that is different from many others. Especially for very big athletes, the globe might be better than a pinch block, due to their body weight. If you weigh 140kg It is easier to hang onto something big, rather than having to pinch a tiny block. It will also better simulate events like the Atlas stone.

Cons of the 12-inch pull-up globe

Size
Price

Fr a home gym that has to take care of space this globe is too big. If your space is already crammed than the last thing you want is a 12-inch globe hanging in your face. For most gym setups it will be more money and space economical to go with the cannonball grips and some pinch blocks, as they cost roughly the same amount as a set, but leave you with more options and less space taken up in your gym.

Alternatives to the 12-inch pull-up globe

Alternatives to the 12-inch pull-up globe are:

All of these items are part of the Rogue grip strength line up that uses a simple carabiner on the rack on which these different attachments can be hooked. The pinch block is the hardest while the grandfather clock grip is the easiest. This makes for quite a bit of variation in your training and I would personally prefer to get a mix of these three rather than the globe for roughly the same budget.

Conclusion for the Rogue 12-inch globe

This is a great tool for big athletes as a better alternative for strength training as the pinch blocks. Still, the globe takes up a lot of space, is not very versatile, and costs more than the most other attachments for grip strength. It is a great eyecatcher in a gym for challenges, but the pragmatic gym owner will probably buy some pinch blocks and cannonballs.