ATG Advice?

In my first month with a straight razor I've shaved every day and seen great improvements. I'm able to get very consistent shaves that are almost to the BBS level that I can get with three passes with my DE, and without any nicks. I'm quite comfortable doing a close pass WTG, a good XTG (ear to nose direction), and doing touchups around the chin to get very close. I've had some luck going ATG on my upper neck, but the razor always seems to stick at that point. Maybe this is just how ATG works, but I haven't been able to find any way to get that slippery feel going ATG. I've experimented with angles, lather, and grips, but I'm still not quite there.

Any good advice on getting a comfortable, slippery ATG pass? Maybe just more practice...

Start out with your cheeks and use a really flat blade angle (included angle ie:keep the spine of the razor close to you face) and take short strokes. That should work for you. Over time you can incorporate some increased angle of attack (toe vs heel like a Merkur Slant) to your blade.

I think ATG passes tell you more about the sharpness of your blade than other passes. This is because the blade cannot skip over the whisker or cut it partially and move on as it can in WTG and XTG passes. I don't think even my good ATG passes have been as smooth as a WTG pass can feel, but when the edge is not as it could be, the blade will either pull, tug or even stop. This is especially true around the chin and jowl area where whiskers tend to be sturdier. When I begin to have trouble with ATG passes, that tells me to head back to the stones.

Yea your blade needs to be in tip top condition as does your technique. If neither is you will know it fast. Also stretch that skin.

The flatter the blade is the better for ATG. The problem is that the flatter the blade the harder for an edge to catch the whisker. A truly keen blade will catch and cut with almost no resistance. Some people have neck hairs that are tough and thick and present a real challenge for the edge. Mine are like turkey quills and unbelievable tough so ATG demands a very keen edge. Some different techniques like laying the blade down and adding blade pressure accomplishes some desirable results. You will get the hang of it and everyone is a little different so enjoy the journey.

Take Care and good luck,
Richard

I have a spot on my neck that is really tough for ATG. Not only do I flatten the blade angle, I'ver found that it works better to use the heel end of the blade, since that part seems to have less give in my hand. And only do about half an inch sections working through that area, instead of trying to use the full length of the blade to attack the whole area in one stroke. Trying to take too many whiskers at once will stop the blade. And of course, as was said before, your blade needs to be well-sharpened.

I always been against the ATG.
I think it is unnecessary .
if you get your technique and practice
you will never need ATG.
i DO Understand many people likes to do so.
just opinion.

I'm with Ace, and hi_bud, and slightly frightened by MinATX. Yep, the blade's gotta be tip-top. No, ATG isn't a critical part of a shave. EVERY shave doesn't need to be BBS, and for many (myself included) the ATG pass is a flirtation with rash. I only do it if 1) I'm sure the blade in my hand is up to it, and 2) I really need to look smooth.

Here's what frightened me in MinATX's post--the strategy of shaving with the heel "since that part seems to have less give in my hand." Someone used to have a signature file that encouraged as loose as possible a grip on the blade, so that if the blade hung up during a pass, your grip would slip instead of forcing the blade ahead. I think that was someone who's already posted in this thread. The special danger of this during an ATG pass is that when your blade is moving against the grain and isn't sharp enough to slice the hair, the hair will instead steer it down toward your skin. If you're too focused on moving the blade forward, then forward it will go--forward and inward.

Another benefit of using the heel, though, is that the heel seems to get honed a little better than the rest of the blade--at least if you're an amateur honer like me.

I'm glad to hear you've made such progress in just a month. You must be a natural at this.

Let me rephrase that. I hold the razor lightly, but I use the heel end up to the middle of the blade on my neck because it gives me better control of the blade angle. Then fingertips of the hand that are holding the blade keep some contact with my neck too, helping to keep my hand steady. Also, the way the hair grows there, it's better for me to start the ATG pass on the rear of the neck and work forward in small, light strokes, so it's less awkward to lead with the rear of the blade.
For me anyway, the whole arrangement gives me good angle control while also using a very light touch. Also, Since I use a spike point, the curved heel works better around the curve in my neck, where the spike would cut me.

Right, don't use the heel to add more force. Hope that helps.

MinATX--I like the way that sounds. I'll try it (or the nearest variant I can muster) on the weird tight jawline hollow under my right ear. On the left side I can take care of it with a conventional but extra-careful pass; on the right side it feels like I make up a new solution each time. This sounds like a good approach.

Thanks. Keep in mind, when I do ATG on my neck, I'm actually shaving downwards, since the hair on my neck / throat grows upwards. I also use my razor straight, not folded, so I end up holding it like a fine paint brush most of the time. So what I do may not work for your grip.

The key, for me, to going ATG on that tricky spot on my neck is to take slow, light (no pressure), narrow passes (not more than a half inch wide strip at a time). I find if I try to take too many whiskers at once in that spot, THEN the razor gets hung up, leading one to try to put more pressure on it to push it through the hairs. That WILL give you a cut.

For the jaw line and that hollow behind the ear, I switch back to wider passes using the middle and toe end of the blade.
I started doing all this about a month ago after I mapped out the growth directions and practiced blade placements with a butter knife.
Since then, I've got much better, consistently good shaves.