Rogue branch and beam vs pull up spheres

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Oct 1, 2020 4:00:00 PM

Rogue branch and beam vs pull up spheres

This is a comparison between the Rogue branch and beam and monster lite pull up spheres 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 monster lite pull up spheres

This is an overview of the Rogue Monster pull up spheres 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 monster lite pull up spheres

Price: $57.50

The rogue monster pull up spheres are compatible with the monster lite and I do its racks and rigs from Rogue. You can combine several spheres on a rig to create a nice climbing Parcours or attach them to your rack to train your grip. The spheres are available in two sizes for progression. The full specifications of the spheres are:

Made in America
Diameter options: 5"
Sold in Pairs
9-gauge Steel Construction with Black Powdercoat
Compatible with standard RML-3, RML-4, RML-6 Power Racks and Monster Lite Rigs with XML-70 Beam or 43" Monster Lite crossmembers
Thread optimized for 3" depth tubing of a crossmember/upright with 0.625" diameter holes
For safety reasons, any rack should be securely fastened to the ground before using Pull-Up Spheres

This is a little extra, especially in a facility with a long rig to switch things around a little.

Pros of the rogue monster lite pull up spheres

The pros of the rogue monster lite pull up spheres are:

Cheap
Compact
Nice switch up

The monster lite spheres are relatively cheap for Rogue equipment. At $50 you get a nice pair which will do you or your clients a great service for getting a better grip. They are easy to install and can be lit in different places, especially in a big rig or daisy-chained racks. They are also a nice alternative to a regular pull up bar.

Cons of the rogue monster lite pull up spheres

Cons of the rogue monster lite spheres are:

Need to be attached to a rack
Not compatible with monster series

Compared to other grip strength options the spheres only work in conjunction with a rack. That makes their use cases limited compared to the very similar cannonball grips. You can also not use them with the rogue monster series which is currently taking over the Rogue Production lines.

Alternatives to the rogue monster lite pull up spheres

Alternatives to the rogue monster lite pull up spheres are:

The crown pull up bar comes in at $225-$255 depending on your type of rack. With this, you get two different sized spheres and all the straight pull up setups you can think of. The only downsides are the price and that it is not great for kipping pull-ups. This is a great option for any home gym owner to make the most of their space.

The cannonball grips are al ist the same idea as the spheres with the bonus that they can also be attached to barbells, kettlebells, and dumbbells. If you are more thinking about your grip strength than developing a better pull up, these might be the more versatile option with a very similar outcome. You will also not need to have a rack to attach them to.

The rogue climbing crossmember comes in at $85 and can be attached to the monster ted lite or monster series of Rogue. If you wanted to provide climbing options for your existing rig, this is the better option than the spheres. You pay minimally more and get many more grip options. For home gyms this probably the inferior choice as they usually lack the width or height to make the climbing crossmember fun.

Conclusion for the rogue monster lite pull up spheres

The pull up spheres are a nice addition in a corner of a big rig where you do not know what else to do to make it a little more exciting. They are also a good option when you want something a little wider in diameter than the cannonball grips. Otherwise, a crown pull up bar and/ cannonball might be the better investment for a home gym and the climbing crossmember for a commercial gym.

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.

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