Rogue Grandfather clock grip system vs pinch blocks

This is a comparison between the Rogue grandfather clock grip 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.

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 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

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

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:

Unstable
Shorter than a climbing rope
Easy to lose

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.