Placement of the elbows during the Standing Military Press.

[FROGGBUSTER]

hi mark, i was wondering where the elbows should be placed when the barbell is resting on the deltoids at the bottom of the military press.

i've always directed them inwards (between the hands, flared inwards) and have always noticed a funny pop in my left elbow when i'm pressing the barbell upwards. i guess today it finally caught up with me and it turned into a full-blown injury.

are the elbows supposed to be directed outwards (flared outwards)?

thanks a lot mark.

p.s. i am very eagerly anticipating the shipment of SS 2nd edition.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I have always used a position that places the elbows directly under the bar. Since the elbows drive the bar up, I want them in a position to most efficiently do that, one that has the forearms vertical when viewed from all directions and flared neither in nor out, with a grip width that facilitates this vertical forearm. This way, there is no torque on the elbows from any direction, and the drive all goes straight up. To get in this position most people will have to be told to put the elbows "just in front of the bar".