Someone explained quarter sawn to me for backing.

So a good hickory backing will be quarter sawn and hopfully straight grained?  But what I dont' understand is can't quartersawn slat splinter if the grain isn't followed?

Hickory can take some grain violation, unlike other wood. Most backings are sawn and thus grain violations are present.
  I like the end grain to look like this...(/////) but I don't mind if it looks like this...(IIII)

I have some hickory I am thinking about getting a friend with a saw mill to quarter saw for me.  He said it takes some time but he would do it for free.