Pole Grasper

The Pole Grasper is an obstacle, firstly introduced on American Ninja Warrior 5 during Denver finals as the ninth obstacle, and then appeared again on American Ninja Warrior 6 during Dallas finals as the ninth obstacle.

Competitors must get across a series of hanging poles to the landing platform. During American Ninja Warrior 5's Denver finals, there were seven poles to get across. While during American Ninja Warrior 6's Dallas finals, the number of poles was reduced to six, with the bottom part of the poles was attached to the bottom of the water area.

The Pole Grasper had a similar concept with the Hariyama, which was used as the third and final obstacle during the Third Stage in SASUKE 1, except the poles were not elastic.

American Ninja Warrior 7
The Pole Grasper returned on American Ninja Warrior 7, as the fifth obstacle in Stage Three, replacing the Propeller Bar from the previous season, which was moved to the second obstacle in Stage One on that season.

Instead of the poles being in the water, they were suspended from the top, making them react differently when moving from pole to pole. The poles were much shorter and thinner than those used in Denver or Dallas courses. The number of poles was reduced to five, and the fourth pole would drop down when the competitors were on it (similar to the second and third poles for the Sidewinder R in SASUKE 32). Once on the fifth pole, they must make the transition to the next obstacle (the Hang Climb). Despite that, no competitor fell on this obstacle.

Ninja Warrior UK
On Ninja Warrior UK 3, the Pole Grasper appeared as the eighth obstacle during the semi-finals, which was very similar to the one used during American Ninja Warrior 5's Denver finals, except the number of poles was increased to 10. This version of the Pole Grasper was proven to be easier, as only one competitor failed on this obstacle (likely due to the placement of the poles, as most of the competitors who completed the obstacle skipped several poles altogether).

Then, on Ninja Warrior UK 4, the Pole Grasper appeared as the fifth obstacle during the finals' Stage 1. This time, the number of poles was decreased to 9. Similar to its appearance on the previous season, only one competitor failed on this obstacle.

On Ninja Warrior UK 5, the Pole Grasper appeared as the fifth obstacle during the semi-finals. This time, the obstacle was made similar to the one used in Stage Two on Australian Ninja Warrior 2.

Australian Ninja Warrior
On Australian Ninja Warrior, the Pole Grasper appeared as the eighth obstacle during the semifinals, which was very similar to the one used during American Ninja Warrior 5's Denver finals, except the number of poles was increased to eight.

Then, on Australian Ninja Warrior 2, the Pole Grasper appeared as the first obstacle in Stage Two. This time, the number of poles was decreased to six and the first pole was attached to a zip-line, requiring the competitors to grab and slide the first pole to reach the other poles.

Ninja Warrior Poland
At Ninja Warrior Poland, Pole Grasper appeared during the final stage 1 as the seventh obstacle. At that time, it consisted of six poles. Only one competitor failed this obstacle. Then, at Ninja Warrior Poland 2, Pole Grasper returned as the fifth obstacle during the final stage one and also consisted of six poles. Three participants were eliminated on this obstacle. Pole Grasper is back in Ninja Warrior Poland 4 in two versions: the first was connected to the Dancing Stones obstacle, where 3 poles followed 2 stones and preceded 2 more. The competitors had to go from the stone to the poles, walk over them and then descend to the third stone. This version appeared as the third obstacle of Stage One. The second version was the regular classic one, on which the competitors had to walk on the poles with a slightly changed layout of the course. It consisted of 5 poles spaced 1 meter apart. This version appeared as the eighth obstacle in stage two.

On Ninja Warrior Poland 5, 10 poles from Pole Grasper were used in the Power Tower.

Ninja Warrior Germany
The Pole Grasper appeared firstly in Ninja Warrior Germany 2 as the fifth obstacle at the finals' Stage One. Later in Ninja Warrior Germany 3, Pole Grasper reappeared as the fifth obstacle in Stage One. During the semifinals of Ninja Warrior Germany 6, the Pole Grasper appeared as the second obstacle. At that time, it consisted of ten poles. No competitor failed on this obstacle.

SASUKE Vietnam
The Pole Grasper appeared from SASUKE Vietnam 3 to SASUKE Vietnam 5, as an obstacle in Stage 3, which was very similar to the Pole Grasper from American Ninja Warrior 7, except there were only four poles instead of five, and after reaching the fourth pole, competitors must make the transition to the Hang Climbing. Both the Pole Grasper and Hang Climbing were combined and counted as one obstacle, called as the Pole Grasper to Hang Climbing (or simply called as the Hang Climbing (Vách Nghiêng)). Just like on American Ninja Warrior 7, no competitor fell on the obstacle.

SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia
On SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia 2017, the Pole Grasper appeared twice during the season.
 * Firstly, as the first obstacle during Semifinal Stage 1, which was very similar to the Pole Grasper from American Ninja Warrior 7, except there were only 4 poles instead of 5. However, during SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia: International Competition, the number of poles was reduced again from 4 to 3.
 * Secondly, as the third obstacle during Final Stage, which was very similar to the Pole Grasper from American Ninja Warrior 6, except there were only 4 poles once again.

Pipe Dream
A variation of the Pole Grasper, called as the Pipe Dream appeared as the fifth obstacle in Stage Three on American Ninja Warrior 11, replacing both the Curved Body Prop as well as the Peg Cloud in favor of this obstacle from the past two seasons.

The difference was subtle from its variation, incorporating some ideas from the other obstacles. Competitors must grab a laché bar and swing to the wall, similar to the ones used on the Wall Drop and Cat Grab with a small platform on top. Then, they must transit to the poles, four in total, and make it across to another sets of poles which were thicker in size. Those poles looked similar to the Wind Chimes and would drop down when they put their weight on them (a very similar concept to the Sidewinder R). After going through those, competitors would then transit to the resting bar as a medium to the next obstacle (the Cane Lane).

Out of 11 competitors who reached the obstacle, only three of them fell (Karsten Williams, Tyler Smith, and Lucas Reale). However, many competitors had trouble locking in their lower body, and had to rely only on their upper body, this resulted in them falling on the next obstacle, the Cane Lane. During USA vs. The World 6, the obstacle was surprisingly brutal, as both Magnus Mitdbo from Team Europe and Matt Tsang from Team Australia fell on the transition to the unstable wall.

American Ninja Warrior 13
The Pipe Dream returned on American Ninja Warrior 13, with a slight modification being that the dropping poles being much thinner compared to its previous appearance. During this season, no one failed on the obstacle.

Competitors' Success Rate

 * All results based on the NBC broadcast and external information found