Some trees pull fiber from the sides while they're falling. An easy way to reduce this
damage is to make side cuts on either side of the notch immediately after completing
the open face notch. A properly formed hinge will be strong enough to control the tree where it is intended to go and weak enough to break rather than split the tree when stressed. Cut the last 5-7 years of growth rings as they are the most likely to split.

Other trees slab easily. This means that while they are falling they may split a piece of wood off the front of the tree. Some other trees may split or pull fibers easily. The easiest way to reduce these types of damage is to cut the sides of the hinge and bore out the center of the hinge. This leaves a felling hinge that more closely resembles a door hinge.