Elbow Turnover Meaning in Weightlifting

Elbow turnover is the rapid rotation of the arms around the barbell during a lift. This movement happens as the athlete transitions from the pull to the receiving position. In the clean the elbows must spin quickly under the bar to face forward. Faster turnover allows the lifter to catch the weight high on the front shoulders. Slow elbows often cause the bar to crash or slide off the athlete. This phase requires significant wrist and shoulder flexibility to execute with high speed and precision. A weightlifter performs a clean and snaps their elbows up to secure the bar. Driving the elbows toward the ceiling creates a solid shelf for the heavy load.