Effective Technique

Until I saw this picture it never occurred to me to wear a hard hat for this.  In fact it is not as alarming as it looks, as the axe and log are very firmly fixed together after the previous conventional and unsuccessful strike:  they are already travelling quite fast on an arc just prior to the final acceleration down onto the block.  With the axe firmly stuck in a heavy log, one must either invest great effort into removing the axe from the log or take multiple hits of the log with axe onto the block - often with no noticeable result.  Using a conventional technique, the block to log contact seems to cushion the effect of the axe and any lack of alignment onto the block must send twisting loads onto the axe head-to-handle joint.  Turned upside down, interposing the axe between log and block,  the impact shock transmission to the log seems greater and, after one or more strikes, the log always comes off or splits.  Bringing the axe handle down horizontally so the back of the axe strikes the block almost square, with the log centre of gravity 'following' the axe down, reduces twisting on the axe head-to-handle joint, especially if the grasp on the axe handle is slackened at the moment of impact.  Anyway, it works well and saves a lot of effort releasing the axe from the log if the first strike is unsuccessful and the axe sticks.  Of course the greatest satisfaction comes form a well judged and delivered first strike, whether radial or tangential