Run Faster, Lift stronger, Think deeper

Rogue branch and beam vs grandfather clock grip

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Oct 2, 2020 4:00:00 PM

Rogue branch and beam vs grandfather clock grip

This is a comparison between the Rogue branch and beam and grandfather clock grip system 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 Grandfather clock grip system

 

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

Related articles

 

 

 

Overview of the Grandfather Clock grip system

Price: $56.50 
 
The grandfather clock grip system is part of the grip system of Rogue. This system includes the Pinch blocks, cannonballs grips, grandfather clock, and globe. The grandfather attachments are one of the easiest out of the line up to master whereas the pinch blocks and the globe are at the harder end of the spectrum. The full specifications of this item are: 
 
  • Made in the USA
  • Length: 6"
  • Diameter: 1.875"
  • Steel tube with welded loop
  • Available to order with Rogue Grip System (straps and carabiners)
  • Color: Black
  • Knurling: None
  • Applications: Towel Grip Pull-Ups, Farmer’s Carries, and more
This is a great addition to any gym framed by the rogue grip system. Ideally, you get all components in the set. 
 

Pros of the Grandfather clock grip system

 
 
  • Versatile 
  • Easy to use 
  • Cheap 
 
Compared to other options to train your strength, the grandfather clock grip is relatively cheap. It can also be attached to various weights or racks using the strap and carabiner system from Rogue. This makes it easy to use, install, and transport. Not a lot you can do wrong with these. 
 

Cons of the grandfather clock grip system

 
Cons of the grandfather clock grip system are: 
 
 
The grandfather clock system is a great way to simulate rope climbs if you have low ceilings. Still, they are not a rope and therefore provide only a simulation and not the real thing. The grips will also be quite wobbly. If you don’t like this in your training go with an alternative that is attached to the rack like the spheres or the crown pull up bar. Apart from all of this, if you have a big gym, travel a lot, or have a lot of people using these grips, it is easy to lose them. 
 

Alternatives to the grandfather clock grip system

 
Alternatives to the grandfather clock grip system are:
 
 
The Rogue climbing cross-member simulates a climbing wall on your rogue rack. A couple of these will work best when installed on a longer rig or daisy-chained racks. This setup is only minimally more expensive at $85 and provides stable grips which will be more challenging for your finger strength. This is the better option when you want to train for actual climbing and you do not want to get every tool under the sun. 
 
A climbing rope is a classic tool to train grip and arm strength. A good rope climber always has a strong grip, too. When I used to do Judo semi-professionally we always ended the session with ten ropes in camp. They are a great tool as long as you have a high ceiling. If you do not have a high ceiling or want to avoid heights, then the grandfather grips are an alternative, but no replacement for the real thing. 
 
The crown pull up bar is the best pull up attachment you can get for your rack. In terms of value for money, you get many different grip variations for only $225. If you were to buy all the attachments to get to the same amount of variety you would pay more. You will get narrow, wide, and neutral pull-up setups and two different sized spheres.
 
The cannonball and pinch blocks are better options if you already have a climbing rope and want to save money. I see the pinch blocks, cannonball grips, and grandfather as a whole to be bought together and not separately. However, that can bring the bill to $300 -$500, which not everyone is willing to pay. If you get the whole set for your home gym, you will not regret it as it is versatile and keeps grip training interesting. 
 

Conclusion for the grandfather clock grip system

 
The grandfather clock grip system is the best option from rogue to compress rope climbing into a confined. Combined with the pinch blocks and cannonballs you get a powerful grip orchestra. If you have space, hang a rope from your high ceiling to get even better results. 
 
 
 

Overview and review of the Rogue branch and beam

This is an overview of the Rogue branch and beam 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 branch and beam

Price: $170 
 
The branch and beam are bars from rogue which have been made extra fat. The branch has a round grip, while the beam has a square grip. These two bars are a great alternative to the traditional 28-29mm bars and a bit closer to the unconventional lifts you can find in strongman competitions. This will also help with your grip strength in general. The specifications of the two bars are:
 
  • The Rogue Branch Fat Bar
  • Round grip
  • Outside Diameter: 3"
  • Bar Length: 80.5"
  • Bar Weight: 39LB
 
  • The Rogue Beam Fat Bar
  • Square grip
  • Fat Grip is 3x3”
  • Bar Length: 80.5"
  • Bar Weight: 41LB
 
These are great additions to a fully equipped gym that looks for more options to entertain their clients or a strongman home gym who wants to be prepared for anything. 
 

Pros of the branch and beam

 
The pros of the branch and beam are:
 
  • Safe to use
  • Easy to load
  • Easy to store
 
The branch and beam are two options to challenge your grip for heavy lifts with unconventional setups. They can be stored on a regular barbell gun rack, are easy to load, and are safer to use than an actual tree trunk or wooden beam. Compared to other more cumbersome solutions to the problems they solve they are a preferable option. 
 

 Cons of the branch and beam

 
The cons of the branch and beam are:
 
  • No knurling 
  • Issues with the finish 
  • Narrow use cases
 
For bars with very limited use cases, unless you really make a point about using them, they are eating up quite a bit of space to become a gimmick. As these bars also not go through the standard quality tests for all barbells from rogue, some of them lack in quality. Especially during COVID where some extra people were hired. 
 

Alternatives to the branch and beam

 
Alternatives to the branch and beam are: 
 
 
Fat gripz are an easy and cheap way to turn a barbell into a branch. These are made of plastic and can be wrapped around the bar to make it thicker. 
 
Pinch blocks can be used to simulate the beam. Combined with straps and a carabiner you can hook up kettlebells, dumbbells, and barbells to your liking. 
 
Log bars are an essential training tool for strongman athletes as no competition goes without a log bar lift. The neutral grip also challenges the regular deadlift setup. 
 

Conclusion for the branch and beam

 
The branch and beam are great tools for serious strongman athletes or gyms who like to mix things up regularly. With pinch blocks and fat gripz you can simulate similar stress to the body, without eating up as much space in your home gym. 
View full post