Don't Lock Out - Perfecting Elbow Position
Should I lock out that front arm? Should I keep it soft? This question is so important because it will decide a few important things. 1.) Clearance of the string: if your elbow is locked out, your string path will have little clearance. The opposite with a soft elbow. 2.) Pain. Locking out your elbow can contribute to pitcher's or tennis elbow. What I'm looking for when perfecting elbow position is the position of the thumb. If you rotate your thumb to 2 o'clock, you'll minimize that lock out position and keep things relaxed and in line. This is especially important to avoid for youth, female and double jointed archers since these problems can be exacerbated with more delicate joints or a more extreme forearm arch. Final verdict: Avoid lock out at all costs. Soft elbows = big time groups.