We have this style of drop hammer at work. The mechanism under the anvil on ours is a type of counter blow device that pushes the base anvil up to meet the dropping head. If it is set up properly, you will not feel anything when you drop the head and strike a part, no matter what rate you have the drop set at. However, if it is setup incorrectly, or the timing chain jumps so much as one tooth on the gear, you will most definitely feel it lol