An elbow pad is provided for an upper body garment with a sleeve portion having a shoulder end and a wrist end. The elbow pad includes padding material and a substantially J-shaped preferential fold line. The preferential fold line is configured so that the padding material bends along the preferential fold line to cup the wearer's elbow. The elbow pad may have multiple layers. The elbow pad may be attached to an upper body garment, and may be done so as to fill an opening in a sleeve portion of the garment.