The Cannonball Alley is an obstacle, firstly introduced as the eighth obstacle during Venice Beach finals on American Ninja Warrior 6.
Competitors must get across three different-sized balls with their hands (and feet if they wanted) to reach the landing platform. The balls were increasing in size on a slight decline, swinging back and forth from two secured lines.
In its debut during Venice Beach finals, the obstacle was proven to be brutal, as the first 14 competitors attempted the obstacle with different strategies, but none were successful, gaining a 100% failure rate for most of the night.
It was finally conquered by Kevin Bull, who wrapped his legs around the third ball and swung upside down toward the landing mat, eventually becoming the first finisher of the night.
In total, 16 out of 20 competitors who made it there failed, including top competitors such as Brian Kretsch, Dorian Cedars, Evan Dollard, Alan Connealy, Kyle Cochran, Travis Brewer, Mario Mendoza, Ben Melick, Thaddeus Robeck, Andres De La Rosa, Derek Nakamoto, Robert Ing, Alex Kane, and Vadym Kuvakin. The only other three competitors who could complete this obstacle were David Campbell (who was the last runner and managed to become the second finisher), James McGrath, and Dustin Rocho.
Other Season Appearances[]
American Ninja Warrior 7[]
The Cannonball Alley returned on American Ninja Warrior 7, as the eighth obstacle during Orlando finals, with a similar specification from Venice Beach finals on the previous season. There was a 6-foot (1.83-meter) gap from the second to the third ball, and the landing platform was placed higher, which made it harder to complete the obstacle with Kevin Bull's technique.
Just like during Venice Beach finals on the previous season, it had been the ninja killer of the majority of the competitors, eliminating top competitors such as Jo Jo Bynum, JJ Woods, James Bogle Jr., Eddy Stewart, Sean Clayton, and Alexio Gomes.
However, seven out of 18 competitors could complete the obstacle, including Travis Rosen, James McGrath (who also completed this obstacle during American Ninja Warrior 6's Venice Beach finals), Flip Rodriguez, Drew Drechsel, Adam Arnold, and Neil Craver.
Cannonball Incline[]
A modified version of the Cannonball Alley (called as the Cannonball Incline) appeared as the first obstacle in Stage Three on American Ninja Warrior 6, replacing the Roulette Cylinder from the past two American Ninja Warrior seasons. The obstacle also featured three balls, spread 3 to 4 feet (0.91 to 1.22 meters) apart, with the differences to the Cannonball Alley being:
- The balls were arranged in an incline, with the first and third balls being the smallest and the second ball being the largest.
- Each of the balls was only secured by one chain, with the smaller balls swinging in any direction.
- After reaching the third ball, competitors must directly make the transition to the next obstacle (the Doorknob Grasper).
It eliminated none of the two competitors who attempted it, as both Joe Moravsky and Elet Hall could get past it.
However, during USA vs. The World, the balls were enlarged to the same size as the Cannonball Alley. As the result, it ensnared Paul Kasemir (Team USA) and Asa Kazuma (Team Japan). No one else failed on the obstacle, since they either maintained grip and momentum or skipped the middle ball altogether.
On American Ninja Warrior 7, the obstacle was replaced by the Psycho Chainsaw.
Other Appearances[]
Cannonball Alley[]
Ninja Warrior UK[]
On Ninja Warrior UK 5, the Cannonball Alley appeared as the second obstacle during the finals' Stage 2. However, the obstacle featured eight small balls instead of three, and each of the balls was secured by just one chain (similar to the Cannonball Incline or Minefield). And the final two cannonballs were ellipsoidal rather than spherical.
Australian Ninja Warrior[]
On Australian Ninja Warrior 3, the Cannonball Alley appeared as the first obstacle in Stage Three. This time, the obstacle featured seven balls, with each the first three and the last two balls being secured by just one chain, and the fourth and fifth balls being secured with two chains each.
Ninja Warrior Germany[]
In Ninja Warrior Germany 1, the Cannonball Alley, locally called Affenschaukel (literally Monkey Swing), appeared as the first obstacle in the Second Stage of that season. This time, the obstacle differed in many aspects from most of the other versions:
- The obstacle consisted of five balls in total, arranged in a downwards pattern,
- The first ball was a large ball that was attached to a zip line, so the competitors had to slide down the zip line track until they could reach over to the next balls,
- The next two balls were smaller, almost parallel to each other and were suspended from only one rope, and;
- The fourth and fifth balls were even smaller than the preceding ones, making them harder to grip, and were suspended from only one rope as well.
Due to the fact that only Oliver Edelmann managed to reach the Second Stage of that season, only he attempted this obstacle, and he cleared this obstacle without any huge trouble.
Then, in Ninja Warrior Germany 2, the Cannonball Alley appeared as the fourth obstacle in the finals' Stage One. The obstacle consisted of four balls, the first, larger ball was hung on a zipline, while the latter three ball was suspended from only one rope on a string.
Ninja Warrior Arabia[]
In Ninja Warrior Arabia, the Cannonball Alley appeared as the first obstacle in Stage Three. Unlike American Ninja Warrior, despite its title, it consists of a variety of dangling objects, akin to Minefield. It starts with a cannonball (same size of the first ball in Cannonball Incline), then a cone (from Spikes into Cargo), then another cannonball, then a donut-shaped object, another cannonball, and finally a cone.
Cannonball Incline[]
Australian Ninja Warrior[]
On Australian Ninja Warrior 2, the Cannonball Incline appeared as the fourth obstacle in Heat 1. However, the first and second balls were secured by two chains, and after reaching the third ball, competitors must make the transition to the cargo net and climb it down to reach the landing platform. Therefore, the obstacle was named as the Ball Swing to Cargo Net.
Ball & Chain[]
Australian Ninja Warrior[]
In Australian Ninja Warrior, a fusion version of Floating Chains and Cannonball Incline, called Ball & Chain, appeared as the fifth obstacle in Heat 3. The obstacle featured two chains (with only the first chain having a foothold) and two balls placed between two chains that only secured by one chain for each ball.
Competitors' Success Rate[]
- All results based on the NBC broadcast and external information found.
American Ninja Warrior[]
Cannonball Alley | |||
---|---|---|---|
ANW | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
ANW6 | 4 | 20 | 20% |
ANW7 | 7 | 18 | 38.89% |
Total | 11 | 38 | 28.95% |
Cannonball Incline | |||
---|---|---|---|
ANW | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
ANW6 | 2 | 2 | 100% |
USA vs. The World | 7 | 9 | 77.78% |
Total | 9 | 11 | 81.82% |