The Clacker

The Clacker is an obstacle, firstly introduced as the ninth obstacle during Atlanta finals on American Ninja Warrior 8.

The obstacle was 20 feet in length and had ten clackers in total (four on the left side and six on the right side). Competitors must grab two clackers that were sitting on a ledge and bring them up and over to the other side of the ledge, and then made the transition to another set of clackers. After the second set of clackers, competitors could only use one side, which was at the middle. These clackers alternated in length, either 14 or 16 inches in length. From the middle, competitors must once again make thr transition to another pair of clackers. There were two sets at the end of the obstacle, but if they want to, competitors could make the dismount after finishing the first set.

During Atlanta finals, 7 competitors reached this obstacle. Ultimately, Brett Sims, Travis Rosen, James McGrath, and Drew Drechsel were the only four competitors to complete the obstacle and the course altogether, while 3 competitors came very close to finish it (Casey Suchocki, Jo Jo Bynum, and Shawn Richardson).

American Ninja Warrior 9
The Clacker returned as the ninth obstacle during Cleveland finals on American Ninja Warrior 9, with a same specification during Atlanta finals on the previous season.

However, due to the brutality from the previous obstacle (the Nail Clipper), only Jamie Rahn and Joe Moravsky could reach this obstacle, and both of them could complete it and the course altogether.

American Ninja Warrior 10
On American Ninja Warrior 10, The Clacker appeared as the eighth obstacle during Indianapolis finals. This time, the final 2 clackers at the end of the obstacle were removed, leaving with just 8 clackers in total.

Due to its placement as the eighth obstacle, more competitors attempted the obstacle than during the past two American Ninja Warrior seasons. However, despite the obstacle was also preceded by the Salmon Ladder with no rest, only one competitor (Alex Carson) failed on it.

Other Appearances
In Ninja Warrior Poland 2, The Clacker appeared as the second obstacle in Heat 3 and Heat 5. In this season, the obstacle did not include single clackers. The obstacle turned out to be deadly difficult, as many competitors fell on it. In Heat 3, only 4 people have completed it, and in Heat 5, 6 people. Then in Ninja Warrior Poland 5, The Clacker appeared as the seventh obstacle in finals Stage Two. After throwing the last clackers, competitors must jump down onto a small landing in front of the next obstacle. Only Igor Fojcik, who had completed the previous obstacle, attempted and completed The Clacker.

Competitors' Success Rate

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

Trivia

 * The idea of The Clacker came from a wooden ratchet instrument.
 * The name of the obstacle came from the clacking sound that the wooden ratchet makes.
 * The original concepts of the obstacle were first started out as right-arm and left-arm movements and then windshield wiper movements were added to one side in the middle to make it harder.
 * With Jamie Rahn and Joe Moravsky being the only two competitors to attempt and complete The Clacker during American Ninja Warrior 9's Cleveland finals, this marked the first time that the ninth obstacle during city finals round had a 100% completion rate, since American Ninja Warrior fully featured 10 obstacles in every city finals course (starting on American Ninja Warrior 5).