like they said:
-when hitting it, 90% of it's energy will be guided away due to vibrations (the holding point is 3m away!)
-when hitting it, teh roudn surface might glance it off
-it's moving, hard to aim
- the pikes were so thick that not every man can make their fingers touch their thumbs

but pikes did splinter, but mainly on impact of armor I thought..

oh, and jebus very subtle...