If you go even or a little below on your back cut the fibers will tend to be ripped out from what is felled as yours did. If you go above the bottom of the notch with the back cut your fibers will tend to be in the stump. If the tree is alive or dead and the variety of tree also play into it as well. I'd like to get input on this question from an actual logger. I've fallen hundreds of trees but mainly conifers and the oak in your pic is far taller than any in my area.
IME the trees hit by lightning are usually dry. So put a moisture meter to splits. Dry oak is a gooder thing!
Didn’t bother with a MM. The top branches were stove ready. Lots of punk tho. Much of it went in the fire pit. I’m beyond the days of saving every scrap. Some got split today and went in the general mixed hardwood pen.
