Rogue Grandfather clock grip system vs cannonball grips
This is a comparison between the Rogue grandfather clock grip and the 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
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Set up
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Organic weight lift
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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.
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.
Overview of the Grandfather Clock grip system
Price: $56.50
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Made in the USA
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Length: 6"
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Diameter: 1.875"
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Steel tube with welded loop
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Available to order with Rogue Grip System (straps and carabiners)
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Color: Black
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Knurling: None
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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
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Versatile
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Easy to use
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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
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
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