Tick Tock

The Tick Tock is an obstacle, first introduced as the second obstacle on American Ninja Warrior 8 in Los Angeles.

The obstacle consisted of a trapeze swing, a 100-pound pendulum with a ledge on the bottom, and a cargo net. Competitors must swing from the trapeze to reach the pendulum, which was 11 feet apart. Then, competitors must work their way around this pendulum and jump off to the cargo net (10 feet away from the pendulum), which was attached on the landing platform.

This obstacle is similar to the Double Pendulum, which was used from SASUKE 32 to SASUKE 34 and in KUNOICHI 10, except:


 * There is no trampoline at the start
 * A cargo net was added at the end
 * A different type of trapeze was used

The Tick Tock proved to be intense for competitors, with many failing to reach the middle of the pendulum. Several competitors also had trouble dismounting, as they failed to swing enough momentum to hang onto the cargo net. A total of 43 competitors fell on this obstacle during Los Angeles qualifiers, including Brennan Mejia, Kapu Gaison, Paige Chapman, Sandy Zimmerman, and Arnold Hernandez (who was disqualified for tapping the truss at the end).

During Los Angeles finals, the obstacle was modified, where the cargo net was removed (similar to the Double Pendulum), and a larger distance between the trapeze swing and the pendulum was added. Only Natalie Duran and Steve Seiver failed on this obstacle during Los Angeles finals.

American Ninja Warrior 9
The Tick Tock (renamed as the Tic Toc) returned as the second obstacle on American Ninja Warrior 9 in San Antonio.

During San Antonio qualifiers, the obstacle was proven to be just as deadly as during Los Angeles qualifiers on the previous season, taking out Kat Ratcliff, Artis Thompson III, Chynna Hart, Trevor Parks, Brittany Hanks, and many other competitors. Ultimately, it eliminated the same amount of competitors as in Los Angeles qualifiers on the previous season, with a total of 43 eliminations on the obstacle. The Tic Toc eliminated the highest amount of competitors on a single obstacle than any other obstacle during city qualifiers round on American Ninja Warrior 9.

Also during San Antonio qualifiers, only 4 female competitors were able to complete this obstacle. Because of this, it ultimately served as the cut off for the top 5 female competitors.

Unlike during Los Angeles finals on the previous season, no modification was made to the obstacle during San Antonio finals. As a result, no competitors failed on the obstacle.

SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia
On SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia 2017, the Tick Tock appeared as the second obstacle during Final Stage.

However, the obstacle was more similar to the Double Pendulum (with the absence of the trampoline). Among the 3 competitors who attempted it (Tri Mardyanto, Yosua Laskaman Zalukhu, and Angga Cahya), 2 of them (except Tri Mardyanto) could complete it.

During SASUKE Ninja Warrior Indonesia: International Competition, the obstacle took out Asrul Sani from Team Indonesia, who was the only competitor to failed at this obstacle.

SASUKE Vietnam
On SASUKE Vietnam 4, the Tick Tock (called locally as Ôm Trụ) appeared as the second obstacle in Stage 1, replacing the Log Grip from the past three SASUKE Vietnam seasons. The obstacle had a similar specification from the Tick Tock used on American Ninja Warrior. However:


 * the trapeze swing used for the obstacle was the same trapeze bar used for the Giant Swing and Double Pendulum.
 * the cargo net was similar to the Tick Tock used on American Ninja Warrior: Ninja vs. Ninja, and
 * if the competitors wrapped or touched the pendulum with any parts of their bodies but didn't reach the pendulum on their first attempt, they would be disqualified.

This obstacle became deadly on the debut season, as many competitors couldn't hold on to the pendulum after the transition, got disqualified, or just hold the pendulum by two hands and never could pull up back. Most shockingly, it wiped out Lê Văn Thực (SASUKE Vietnam 2's winner) from the competition.

On SASUKE Vietnam 5, the obstacle was moved to the second obstacle in Stage 2. This time, the "one-touch" rule from the previous season was removed, meaning competitors could wrap or touch the pendulum any time they want until they gained enough momentum to transfer. As a result, the obstacle became much easier, as only three competitors failed on it, with two of them being disqualified for touching the starting platform, while Nguyễn Phước Huynh was shockingly the only one failed to hold on the pendulum after the transition.

Ninja Warrior Poland
Tick Tock appeared in Ninja Warrior Poland 2 and Ninja Warrior Poland 3 as the seventh obstacle in the final stage 1, locally called the Wahadło. This time, the trapeze bar was replaced by a stationary laché bar.

Swing Surfer
A variation of the Tick Tock appeared as the fourth obstacle in Stage Two on American Ninja Warrior 9. It was named as the Swing Surfer, replacing the Butterfly Wall from the past three American Ninja Warrior seasons.

Competitors must make a run-up and leap to the pendulum, which was 13 feet away. This pendulum was thinner, almost shaped like an upholstery hammer, with one side of the foothold being longer than the other. Then, they must work their way around the pendulum and jump to the rope, which was 12 feet away from the pendulum. From there, they must climb up using the rope (in a similar fashion with the Rope Climb, but with addition of logs placed horizontally to the wall). Finally, they must drop down to the landing platform.

Just like the Butterfly Wall in its first appearance on American Ninja Warrior 6, the Swing Surfer only eliminated 2 competitors, in which it knocked out Ian Dory and Mike Bernardo. In both cases, they didn't get a good run-up from the starting platform and failed to hold on to the pendulum.

During USA vs. The World 4, the Swing Surfer eliminated Morimoto Yūsuke from Team Asia and Marco Jubes from Team Latin America.

American Ninja Warrior 10
On American Ninja Warrior 10, the Swing Surfer returned as the fourth obstacle in Stage Two. This time, the obstacle was extremely easy, as no competitor fell on it.

However, during USA vs. The World 5, Jesse Labreck sustained a painful injury on this obstacle. On the transition to the rope, Labreck landed awkwardly and tweaked her back. Still, she was able to clear Stage Two and win two points for Team USA.

American Ninja Warrior 11
On American Ninja Warrior 11, the Swing Surfer returned once again as the fourth obstacle in Stage Two. This time, the rope was removed and the wall was embedded with ledges where competitors must transit after working their way around the pendulum.

Although just two competitors (Alex Blick and Lorin Ball) fell on the obstacle, numerous competitors had some problems climbing up the ledges such as Nate Burkhalter. During USA vs. The World 6, the obstacle eliminated Team Europe's Damir Okanovic.

On American Ninja Warrior 13, the obstacle was replaced by the Hammer Drop.

Australian Ninja Warrior
On Australian Ninja Warrior 3, the Swing Surfer appeared as the second obstacle in Heat 1 and Heat 3, with a trampoline added to the starting platform and the foothole reversed, and after reaching the pendulum, competitors must make a jump directly to the landing platform.

This time, the obstacle became significantly more brutal than the one used on American Ninja Warrior, as several competitors either failed to land on the pendulum after bouncing from the trampoline or failed to jump to the landing platform. It shockingly eliminated Jack Wilson from the competition in Heat 3.

American Ninja Warrior: Ninja vs. Ninja
Another version of the Tic Toc appeared as the second obstacle on American Ninja Warrior: Ninja vs. Ninja, with a few modifications:


 * The run-up was placed lower and now at the same height with the pendulum, thus a much shorter gap to the pendulum,
 * The pendulum was switched back to the one from original Tick Tock.
 * The rope was replaced by the cargo net from the original version. Competitors to swing on the pendulum and then jump to the cargo net.



Other Appearances
Australian Ninja Warrior

In Australian Ninja Warrior 4, a similar version to the one in American Ninja Warrior: Ninja vs. Ninja appeared as the second obstacle in Heat 1 and Heat 2, named Tic Toc to Net.

Ninja Warrior UK
The version that appeared on American Ninja Warrior: Ninja vs. Ninja arrived to Ninja Warrior UK 4, as the second obstacle in Heat 1 and Heat 3, with the name Tic Toc. However, the distance to the pendulum had been made larger.

Competitors' Success Rate

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

Trivia

 * The Tick Tock was designed/sketched after a punching bag.
 * The obstacle originally was going to have two pendulums, but was decided to just have one pendulum due to it becoming far more difficult.
 * On SASUKE Vietnam, the Tick Tock shared the same local name as the Log Grip (as Ôm Trụ).