@jeffnippard
Instagram · Talking Head Edit
@jeffnippard I tested my upper pec activation at every incline, from flat to vertical! I found my results pretty interesting! Which incline do you prefer when targeting the upper chest? (Poll below)
Trending short videosTesting chest activation at different angles
The edit1 shot · 9 text
Shots Text0:56
Performance
- Views
- 8.4M
- Likes
- 263.7K
- Comments
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- Engagement
- 3.1%
- Outlier
- 2×
- Length · 9 Feb 2026
- 0:56
Video #20712 · Talking Head Edit
Testing chest activation at different anglesfrom @jeffnippard
[01]
Overview
The creator conducts a personal experiment to test upper chest muscle activation across various bench press incline angles. He uses an EMG sensor to measure activation from 0 to 90 degrees, displaying the percentage data for each specific angle on screen. He concludes by analyzing the results, debunking the strict necessity of the 45-degree 'golden angle', and advising viewers to choose the incline that feels best for their individual biomechanics.
[02]
Simple outline
- 1State common industry myth
- 2Introduce objective testing method
- 3Test variables sequentially
- 4Reveal the peak variable
- 5Deliver nuanced final takeaway
[03]
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Classification
[05]
Hook analysis
What stops the scroll in the first 3 seconds
Title hook · 50%
People think a 45 degree incline is the best angle
Verbal hook · 35%
People think a 45 degree incline is the best angle for the upper chest, but I wanted to test this out for myself, so I measured my upper pec activation at every incline from flat to vertical.
Visual hook · 15%
The creator is shown in a gym setting adjusting a workout bench, likely accompanied by a bright graphic overlay highlighting the 45-degree angle, immediately establishing the visual context of the physical experiment.
[07]
Hook and payoff
The promise the opener makes, and how the video pays it back
Hook
Present a widely accepted industry 'truth' or common assumption to immediately establish the premise and viewer curiosity.
Payoff
Summarize the objective winner but pivot to a nuanced, practical takeaway that empowers the viewer with actionable advice rather than just a rigid rule.
[08]
Narrative framework
The structural pattern this video runs on
Framework
The Empirical Mythbuster Gauntlet
Challenge a widely held belief by conducting a systematic, data-driven test across a spectrum of variables, revealing the objective truth step-by-step.
- 1
The Methodology Reveal
Introduce the objective measurement tool or experiment that will be used to test the initial claim, establishing authority and credibility.
- 2
The Baseline Test
Establish the starting point of the data spectrum, often revealing a surprising initial result to hook the viewer into the experiment.
- 3
The Escalation Sequence
Systematically test increasing variables, showing a clear, building trend in the data to create anticipation.
- 4
The Climax Test
Test the specific variable mentioned in the hook (the 'golden' standard) to definitively prove or disprove the initial myth.
- 5
The Drop-off
Continue testing past the peak to prove the limits of the trend and validate the climax result.
Themes
Techniques
Trends
Post caption
I tested my upper pec activation at every incline, from flat to vertical! I found my results pretty interesting! Which incline do you prefer when targeting the upper chest? (Poll below)
Text overlays
title · beginning
People think a 45 degree incline is the best angle
informational · beginning
Upper pec activation
informational · middle
0° - 59%
informational · middle
15° - 64%
informational · middle
25° - 66%
informational · middle
45° - 67%
informational · middle
65° - 60%
informational · middle
90° - 35%
informational · end
The real takeaway: pick an angle that you feel working and get strong at it.
Transcript
People think a 45 degree incline is the best angle for the upper chest, but I wanted to test this out for myself, so I measured my upper pec activation at every incline from flat to vertical. At zero degrees, I expected a fairly low reading, but I actually got 59% upper chest activation. Next was 15 degrees, which I expected to be higher, and, yeah, 64%. At 25 degrees, I good, ready for this, 66%. So activation is going up as the incline goes up, but not by much. Now let's test the golden angle, 45 degrees. That incline gave me a reading of 67%. Let's see if it keeps going up at 65 degrees. No. Back down to 60%, and then 90 degrees dropped way back to 35%. So 45 degrees one, but it was basically the same from 15 to tier, and if you have less arch than me, a slightly lower incline might actually work better on just one subject, and activation may not predict growth. The real takeaway, pick an angle that you feel working and get strong at it.