The high elbow catch (90 degrees elbow bend) is professed to be better than a straight arm (180 degrees) catch, but why is that so?
Is not the arm surface area connecting with the water identical in both cases?
Physics would say they are equal surface area so it should not make a difference.
???
You might also be able to exert more force on the water with the bent elbow. For instance, if you are using a tricep press machine, you will be able to press much more weight if your elbows are bent than using a straight arm in front of you (or better explained - imagine getting out of shallow water in the pool by pressing your body out with straight arms in front of you to the deck vs bent elbows).
Jeff
You might also be able to exert more force on the water with the bent elbow. For instance, if you are using a tricep press machine, you will be able to press much more weight if your elbows are bent than using a straight arm in front of you (or better explained - imagine getting out of shallow water in the pool by pressing your body out with straight arms in front of you to the deck vs bent elbows).
Jeff
