You are correct, of course, in thinking that the trick is holding the removal tool flat against the BB.
My trick is to chuck my removal tool vertically in my bench vise, then thread the whole bike frame onto the tool. Take a minute to figure out which way you have to rotate the bike frame to unscrew the BB. I've never had this process fail.
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.