The Spinball Wizard is an obstacle, firstly introduced on American Ninja Warrior 9 as the ninth obstacle during San Antonio finals. The obstacle is named after the song Pinball Wizard by The Who.
It consisted of five sets of handles, shaped like an inverted-V, each with a set of spherical-shaped objects to hold on. Except at the second set of handles, the other four sets handles could spin freely.
Competitors had to hold on to a set of handles and must swing four feet to another set of handles. Then, they must repeat this process, until they could make the last swing to the landing platform. Among the 6 competitors who attempted the obstacle, only Karsten Williams and Andrew Lowes failed to complete it.
Other Season Appearances[]
American Ninja Warrior 10[]
On American Ninja Warrior 10, the Spinball Wizard appeared as the ninth obstacle during Philadelphia finals, and the obstacle remained unchanged from the previous season, except the fourth set of handles was made stable, meaning there were 2 sets of handles that stable (at the second and fourth sets of handles), while the other 3 sets of handles could spin freely (at the first, third, and fifth sets of handles).
During Philadelphia finals, the obstacle shared the exact number of clears and attempts as during San Antonio finals on the previous season, as among the 6 competitors who attempted the obstacle, 4 of them could complete it. Dave Cavanagh and Judas Licciardello were the only 2 competitors who failed on the obstacle.
American Ninja Warrior 11[]
On American Ninja Warrior 11, the Spinball Wizard appeared as the ninth obstacle during Cincinnati finals.
This time, the obstacle only eliminated Philip Scott and Tyler Smith out of nine competitors who attempted it.
Other Appearances[]
Australian Ninja Warrior[]
On Australian Ninja Warrior 2, the Spinball Wizard appeared as the fourth obstacle in Semifinal 2 and Semifinal 4. However, compared to the one used on American Ninja Warrior, the obstacle featured:
- A trampoline at the start,
- Only two sets of handles were used, each with a set of spike-shaped objects to hold on, and
- Each set of handle (along with its axis) could spin freely. Therefore, competitors must maintain their body control and momentum while making the transition between the sets of handles (in a similar fashion to the Double Twister).
Then, on Australian Ninja Warrior 3, the Spinball Wizard appeared as the fifth obstacle in Heat 1 and Heat 3. This time, the obstacle featured three sets of handles, with each of the first and third handles having a set of spike-shaped objects to hold on, and the second handle having a set of spherical-shaped objects to hold on (similar to the Spinball Wizard used on American Ninja Warrior). The contestants must jump 2.8m from the tramp to the first handle, then swing to the second handle which is 1.9m away.
This version of the Spinball Wizard was proven to be much more difficult and brutal, as only ten competitors completed the obstacle out of 32 competitors who attempted it across those two heats.
The same version of the Spinball Wizard from Australian Ninja Warrior 3 appeared again as the seventh obstacle in Semifinal 3 on Australian Ninja Warrior 5, with all three handles having a set of spike-shaped objects to hold on (in a similar to the one used in Ninja Warrior Israel 2). The obstacle eliminated many competitors, including Josh O'Sullivan, Le Hua ,and Zed Colback. It was also served as the cut-off for advancing to the grand final.
Ninja Warrior Germany[]
In Ninja Warrior Germany 3, the Spinball Wizard, locally called Wรผnschel-Route (literally: Divining Route), which is a play on words with the German Wรผnschel-"Rute" (literally: Divining Rod), appeared as the fourth obstacle of the Semi-finals of that season. In this appearance of the obstacle, the obstacle was rather similar to the Spinball Wizard used in American Ninja Warrior and Australian Ninja Warrior, however it still differed in two aspects:
- The number of sets of inverted-V-handles of this Spinball Wizard was four, and not five or three,
- And both the second and fourth sets of handles could spin freely, while the other two sets were almost static.
This version of the Spinball Wizard proved to be somewhat difficult for many athletes and eliminated 16 competitors out of 49 competitors who attempted this particular obstacle. In addition, it also almost eliminated one of the top favourites of that season, Renรฉ Casselly, with him almost failing to hold onto the second set of handles after he misplaced his hands.
Ninja Warrior Austria[]
In Ninja Warrior Austria 3, Spinball Wizard appeared as the second obstacle of Stage 3. It consisted of three V-shaped handles, with a spherical handhold on each side. Unlike the other versions, all the handholds were stationary and did not spin around.
Ninja Warrior Poland[]
In Ninja Warrior Poland 3, the Spinball Wizard appeared in the final as the seventh obstacle in the Stage Two. Immediately after completing the Cliffhanger, the competitors had a half-minute rest before he could get onto the rope leading to the first ball-shaped handles. Then, jumping on the next handles, he had to grab the bar leading to the next obstacle. Only two competitors attempted this obstacle: Ivan Kohut and Sebastian Kasprzyk, while Ivan fell from the transition from the last handles to the bar, and Sebastian wass the only one of all finalists to complete the obstacle. Spinball Wizard in this version consisted of three sets of handles.
Ninja Israel[]
On Ninja Warrior Israel 2, the Spinball Wizard, locally called ืืงืจื ืืื ืืืกืชืืืืืช (literally The Rotating Rays) appeared as the fifth obstacle in Heat 14, with several modifications:
- All three handles having a set of spike-shaped objects to hold on, and
- The first set of handle (along with its axis) could spin freely (in a similar to one used in Australian Ninja Warrior 2), hence the local name ืืงืจื ืืื ืืืกืชืืืืืช.
Then, on Ninja Warrior Israel 3, the Spinball Wizard appeared as the fifth obstacle in Heat 4 and Heat 14. It was paired with the Barrel Roll as part of the Route B of the Crossroads. Compared to the one used in the previous season, the obstacle featured a trampoline as a medium to reach the first set of handle and the third set of handle was removed, but the gap between tthe second handle and the landing platform was larger. Despite of that change, the obstacle was still brutal, as most competitors falled when transition to the second set of handle.
American Ninja Warrior Junior 3[]
The Spinball Wizard appeared as the fifth obstacle for Bracket 3, kids aged 13-14, for American Ninja Warrior Junior 3.
The number of handles was reduced to four, and they were colored red on the handles, and black on the balls.
17 competitors fell, including big names like Jordan Carr and Jackson Erdos.
Competitors' Success Rate[]
- All results based on the NBC/Polsat broadcast and external information found
American Ninja Warrior[]
ANW | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|
ANW9 | 4 | 6 | 66.67% |
ANW10 | 4 | 6 | 66.67% |
ANW11 | 7 | 9 | 77.78% |
Total | 15 | 21 | 71.43% |
Ninja Warrior Germany[]
NWG | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|
NWG3 | 33 | 49 | 67.34% |
Total | 33 | 49 | 67.34% |
Ninja Warrior Poland[]
NWP | Clears | Attempts | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|
NWP3 | 1 | 2 | 50% |
Total | 1 | 2 | 50% |