Here in Rhode Island we have the typical New England rocky soil; ours is exacerbated by many trees. Just 6" away from where we put this socket tree roots prevented digging another pole deeper -- which was why we tried this product. It worked perfectly! I put a 4' pole in its socket so I could tweak for vertical every rotation or two, and it ended up very close. I rotated it so that the single locking bolt would push it even closer.

I'd like to endorse a recommendation made in an Amazon review of this product: Make the socket a bit larger in diameter at the top -- and use three bolts to better adjust to vertical.

We'll be buying more of these!