We drilled about 70 holes yesterday, went through half a dozen shear pins, and had to back it out of the ground twice with a pipe wrench. Hooked on the edge of a rock both times.
I've found that digging a shallow (2-3 inch deep) pilot hole with a shovel is the best way to get instant digging as well as keeping the hole in the place you want. Sod takes a few turns to get through, and by that time the auger may have slid sideways a couple of inches. Holes started on a side hill are especially difficult to keep straight, the pilot hole does the job there.
Sean