I can't use the shovel like I used to because my injured hips and knees don't allow me to stick the blade of the shovel into the ground to dig a hole, BUT I found it to be an inexpensive auger, put it on my powerful cordless drill and used the auger to drill a series of circular holes just enough to break through the compacted topsoil and then was able to use the shovel blade normally my limited use leg. Strength. 5 stars across the board.