Rogue branch and beam vs Pinch blocks
This is a comparison between the Rogue branch and beam 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
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Cheap
-
versatile
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Hardcore
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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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.