This last sunday at the local match we had more new shooters than we've had in a long time and most of them are in the early to late teens. and a couple of us seasoned veterans were watching and giving some pointers to the youngsters. One young man we were watching keeps his "trigger" elbow if you will, right elbow, he's right handed very close to his body almost touching. We suggested that he try and bring his elbow up almost parrallel to the floor, which alot of shooters do. His grandfather was there keeping score for him, very very very supportive of his grandsons shooting and told use that he is in a junior club that does 3 positon shooting. The coaches told him to keep his elbow tucked in to his body as much as possible for the standing disipline. His grandfather had a hard time with that as well cause he eas taught in the military to keep his shoulder up as well but was not going to question the coaches. My question is why do they teach 3 position shooter to keep their elbows tucked and not up like normal. Is there some advantage as to being more stable, are you not using as many muscles therefore have a more relaxed position to steady the rifle. I would like to get some feedback from any 3 or 4 position shooters (Mary ) to help me understand this. My thinking is a rifles a rifle and you would hold the same no matter what your shooting. We had close to 30 shooters at yesterdays match .

How did the shooter take the advice ?

if not somewhat willing, remind him that this is an opportunity to try different approaches, without a Coach yelling and breathing down his neck!

Shakes, if I'm not mistaken, it is to put your trigger hand in a better position with less stress (meaning muscle fatigue) then when one is holding their elbow parrallel to the ground. Target rifles have more of a hand grip then a say hunter class rifle. It's also one of the positions shown in the Rifle books I have as well.

If LOP is correct then I shoot better with a relaxed right arm (I am right handed), while short stocks fall in place better with the right elbow elevated. Either way, the more natural position improves shooting and keeps me in the hunt longer. Heck, trying to twist around enough to find a hip for my left elbow is strain enough...

Bob, I thnik I can safely say You, Kitty and myself will never find our hips again..... It is what it is

I remember hips....used to be what my belt held onto....

In reference to position, good rule of thumb is no to assume any position with the arms and whatever is attached to the arm that induces any strain into the position....Strain=tension in the muscles which translates to the body inducing more of a wobble than would occur without said strain....unsolicited advice, take it fwiw

Kitty

He and his grandfather took the advice well. I told him we wern't trying to teach him something different from what his Junior coaches taught him. That It might work better for silhouette if he keeps his elbow up. He try'd and knocked over quite a bit more animals, he was excited. He was shooting a CZ with a low power scope, but he was having a real good time. His grandfather wants to buy him a vest, so we pointed him toward Chris at HardScrabble.

thanks for the answers guys.

Hey, if it helped y'all did good!

3P coaches can be as opinionated as silhouette shooters if not more so. My offhand position tends to relax the trigger hand (right side), but that is a personal preference. I have coached and seen many trigger hand/elbow positions that work for that shooter. The best situation is to find what fits for you, and it seems like what you have shakes is the best of several worlds, a supportive family around a youngster that are both somewhat willing to try different suggestions. Great, hope they come out to Pe Ell.
Mary

The high elbow "flying chicken" was taught in the military to form a pocket for the rifle butt. I don't know of any other reason to do it. Much of what was taught in the military years ago is a little questionable for target shooting. Seems like they also taught you to get a death grip in the forestock too, not using your body (bones) to support your rifle.

Remember that the military must teach shooting to kids that have never handled a rifle - kids that might just drop the darn thing when it goes off.