The upper portion of the chest is often seen as both difficult and crucial to grow. But there’s ongoing debate about the best way to target it. Some argue there’s no need to set the bench too steep, while others insist a higher incline is essential for maximising gains. So YouTuber and science-based lifter Jeff Nippard set out to test it for himself. To do that, Nippard attached an EMG muscle sensor to his upper pecs and used a Smith machine to keep the weight and bar path consistent across six different bench angles.
Supersize Your Upper Chest with the Latest Muscle Science; Ryan Dabbs, Men’s Health, 27 February 2026
