Hi and welcome to SRP,

You are right in the pocket with the equipment you bought. You did not say what you bought for a strop. Did you by one of SRD's full sets?

Building a good lather is very important. But learning to strop is paramount to success in this art. Take this nice and slow. The spine of the razor should stay on the strop through the flip when you reverse direction. Pay very close attention to when you lift the blade for the flip and when you set the blade back down for the reverse stroke. Just before you end your stroke start to lift the blade for the flip, flip and then drop the blade as you start the reverse stroke. This is for either direction.

You can really nick up your strop while you are trying to get your muscle memory set for this, so again, nice and slow.

Good luck. Can't wait to hear you progreass.

David