Learning to keep the spin on the strop can be difficult but over time it becomes second nature. For instance, if I try to start my strop session with the edge and the razor farthest away from me on the strop I get confused and have to stop. I strop the same way I have been for 35 years, with the edge towards me and the razor closest to me on the strop. I start off slow going away and then flip it on the spine so that the edge is away from me and then slow back. I pick up speed as I get into the swing of it.