This has emerged from my question on bent over rows vs. rear delt rows a few weeks ago. On those exercises, having your elbows in vs. your elbows out made a huge difference. I don't generally think about it when doing other exercises. In a lot of exercise descriptions, elbows seem to be taken for granted.

For individual exercises, should they generally be out at a 90 degree angle, parallel to what you're lifting, or pulled into your side, so your arms are parallel? Obviously it depends on the exercise. I propose we start a list.

Bent-over row - elbows in
Rear delt row - elbows out

That's interesting, I've wondered the same thing about bench pressing. I used to do it elbows out, but when I started using my rack, it's a little too narrow to do that, so I started doing elbows in. It made a big difference at first, but I've caught up in learning the new skill. I'm not sure, though, if there's a right or wrong way when it comes to elbows in or out on bench press.

This is exactly what I'm talking about. Bench press, pull ups, military press, I feel like there's got to be substantial differences between different elbow positions on these exercises.