You just have to have alot of patience with a straight. It will takes many weeks before you get really good shaves and months before you are really comfortable with the razor. That's just the way it is. We usually recommend when you have a straight honed by a honemeister to not strop it the initial use for obvious reasons. Other than that its just practice. Watch the blade angle, about 30 degrees and no more, minmimal pressure with the razor-let the blade do the work not you, good prep, no pressure on the strop and just keep at it. No fancy strokes in the beginning just finish with a DE or cartridge the first few shaves.