When the athlete pulls with elbows low and inside during a sumo-deadlift high pull, which correction should be used?

• A. Give a tactile cue to have the athlete hit your hands where elbows should finish.
• B. Stand in front to block curling.
• C. Cue “Elbows high!”
• D. Hold ball at peak of shrug.

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is using a direct cue to fix elbow position during a powerful pulling movement. When elbows are low and tucked inside, the bar tends to be lifted more with the arms and the bar path can drift away from an efficient, vertical line, putting the shoulders at greater risk and reducing hip-driven power.

Calling out “Elbows high!” gives the athlete a simple, actionable target: drive the elbows upward during the shrug and pull. This cue helps recruit the upper back and traps, keeps the elbows out in front, and promotes a proper bar path close to the torso without overpulling with the arms. It directly addresses the pattern of the elbows being low and inside, making it the most effective correction.

The other cues are less direct for this issue. Tactile cues about finishing position can arrive too late to correct the initial elbow descent. Standing in front to block curling is more about footwork or bar contact than elbow height. Holding a ball at the peak of the shrug can disrupt rhythm and still doesn’t fix the elbow trajectory.