I find that thumbstuds always work better if you open by moving your thumb parallel to the frame -- so you're pushing the stud somewhat towards the pivot, not perpendicular to the frame. Indeed, the 710's studs (at least the aluminum versions) work but are not spectacular if you engage the studs the way most people do, perpendicular to the frame, but they work fine if you use them the way I described.
I've tried opening the way ginshun describes, by just pulling back the axis bar and flicking, and it works fine for utility type opening. But way too difficult under pressure for defensive use. In that case, I find I can open quickly by just gripping the knife tightly in all five fingers and snapping my elbow hard without even bothering to pull back on the axis bar first -- and the blade just snaps out. So my fast, stress opening is pull out with a firm five-fingered grip and elbow snap to opening.
