Elbow position during the Press

[progressiveman1]

How long during the movement are you supposed to be thinking: "elbows forward?" Should it be all the way to the near top until you snap your elbows into lockout?

And I'm confused with your statement saying that elbows forward of the bar should get the forearms vertical as it drives the bar up. Obviously you don't mean the forearms should be perpendicular to the ground, because the forearms slant with the elbows forward. So what is meant by 'vertical'?

[Mark Rippetoe]

The forearms are vertical with the elbows just in front of the bar at the starting position, and you think about this only at the start. You move under the bar as soon as it passes the top of your head, and this is what you think about from that point on.

The forearms are vertical when you think about putting your elbows just in front of the bar, and they only "slant" if this forward position is excessive. But you have to think forward or you will end up behind the bar.

[progressiveman1]

My forearms look vertical in the start position, but not so much in the figures in your book. It says Lon Kilgore did the illustrations but if you could comment anyways. Are the forearms vertical in these figures: 5-12, 5-16, 5-17(far left). It looks like the elbow is much farther forward than the top of the forearm, causing a slanted angle.

[Mark Rippetoe]

You are correct. This is actually being addressed right now as we make minor revisions to the illustrations for the second printing of the book.

[grv575]

What are the implications w.r.t. efficient pressing mechanics (and perhaps joint stresses) when performing the press with a vertical forearm compared to elbows elevated as in a clean rack position?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Vertical forearms (specifically a vertical radius) reduces the length of the lever arm operating between the elbow and the bar, in the same way that keeping the bar close to the shoulder reduces the length of the lever arm between the bar and the glenoid.