Yep those top handle saws are real good on the ground for various tasks like holding branches in one hand and zapping off lengths with the other, trimming hedges and stuff, pruning bushy tree trunks from the ground, cutting up boards, lengths of timber, old fences, pallets for firewood etc..
BUT, here's my tip for anyone and everyone, when cutting one-handed, always always always hold your other arm miles away from the line of the bar. Always always. One foot distance is too close, make it 3 feet. But far better to keep it off-line.
Treat the chainbrake as if it isn't even present. If you get careless and just slightly nudge the tip on something at high revs, the short bar will leap down or up 18 inches in a flash. Same with your body when cutting one-handed, always always always hold the saw out and away, keep your body out of line with the bar. Always always.
And cut deliberately, deliberate doesn't have to mean slow either it means steady and well controlled, don't start jerking and throwing the thing around like a toy, a smooth deliberate technique is less effort, with better control and it's FASTER than the frantic monkey technique
