Rogue monster lite pull up spheres vs grandfather clock grip
This is a comparison between the Rogue monster lite pull up spheres and the grandfather clock grip 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.
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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
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.
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.
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.