Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
About this post ๐
Weโve been told to โtuck our elbows INโ during push-ups, and while thatโs a great cue for beginners, Iโd like to take it a step further.
Why is tucking the elbows a good cue for beginners?
Simply because flaring the elbows (the opposite of tucking) is a common compensation for lack of strength. It also puts the shoulder in a more vulnerable position, which could lead to problems down the line.
Now, hereโs the thing: we donโt always need to tuck our elbows in. It all depends on one major factor:
๐๐ฝ THE WIDTH.
For example, if we do wide push-ups, we actually need to flare the elbows slightly to get elbow on top of the wrists. If we โtuck in the elbowsโ, we end up caving inward way too much, which puts unnecessary stress on the wrists while also reducing our ability to generate force.
Instead of focusing on โtucking the elbows,โ I prefer to look at the FOREARM POSITION in relation to the ground and aim to keep them as perpendicular as possible. Another way to think about it: the elbow should be stacked over the wrist. This is the strongest position to push from, whether weโre doing wide push-ups or shoulder-width push-ups (this is of course not possible with diamond push-ups and thatโs ok)
๐๐ฝ In short: Tucking the elbows too much might cause them to cave too far inward, while not tucking at all might lead to excessive flaring, which isnโt ideal either.
๐ง Final thought: A little bit of flaring or tucking is not the end of the worldโwe are not machines. That said, for the best force production and joint health, keeping the forearms perpendicular to the floor is the most efficient way to push.
๐ Last note: The narrower you go, the more your elbows will naturally come in. The wider, the less.
Hope this helps!
I appreciate you here. ๐๐ฝ
With love,
Gabo
About this post ๐
Weโve been told to โtuck our elbows INโ during push-ups, and while thatโs a great cue for beginners, Iโd like to take it a step further.
Why is tucking the elbows a good cue for beginners?
Simply because flaring the elbows (the opposite of tucking) is a common compensation for lack of strength. It also puts the shoulder in a more vulnerable position, which could lead to problems down the line.
Now, hereโs the thing: we donโt always need to tuck our elbows in. It all depends on one major factor:
๐๐ฝ THE WIDTH.
For example, if we do wide push-ups, we actually need to flare the elbows slightly to get elbow on top of the wrists. If we โtuck in the elbowsโ, we end up caving inward way too much, which puts unnecessary stress on the wrists while also reducing our ability to generate force.
Instead of focusing on โtucking the elbows,โ I prefer to look at the FOREARM POSITION in relation to the ground and aim to keep them as perpendicular as possible. Another way to think about it: the elbow should be stacked over the wrist. This is the strongest position to push from, whether weโre doing wide push-ups or shoulder-width push-ups (this is of course not possible with diamond push-ups and thatโs ok)
๐๐ฝ In short: Tucking the elbows too much might cause them to cave too far inward, while not tucking at all might lead to excessive flaring, which isnโt ideal either.
๐ง Final thought: A little bit of flaring or tucking is not the end of the worldโwe are not machines. That said, for the best force production and joint health, keeping the forearms perpendicular to the floor is the most efficient way to push.
๐ Last note: The narrower you go, the more your elbows will naturally come in. The wider, the less.
Hope this helps!
I appreciate you here. ๐๐ฝ
With love,
Gabo
