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Rogue monster lite pull up spheres vs pinch blocks

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Sep 24, 2020 4:00:00 PM

Rogue monster lite pull up spheres vs pinch blocks

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

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.