First off, no not a corkscrew willow. Secondly I hardly ever use spikes, I just dont care for them. Yes it was a crane removal and the position of the crane was such that the operater was more comfortable with a face notch and thin hinge that he could gently pull to him. Probably not needed but I usually let the operator dictate (within reason) how he uses his crane. The sling should have been on the back side and probably a little higher but all went well, thanks for asking.