I should have listened to the veteran shavers from the beginning...

Well I have been straight shaving for about 5 weeks now... I am pleased to say I had my best shave yet this morning. Smooth to the touch from corner to corner...

But my post today is about the X patern stroke... I purchased my 3 inch strop and 3 inch Norton Stones with the intention of using an up and down motion only... (Going against all advice)

2 weeks ago I noticed after doing a HHT that the toe of my edge would not pop the hair... This was frustrating. I kept saying to myself 'but im going up and down while remaining completely flat to the strop.'

Suddenly the 3 months research prior to starting my new hobby kicked in and I remembered reading a piece from Lynn stating that the key to keeping an even strop and or hone on a blade is the X patern approach... This method actually promotes this an even exposure to the edge.

So Since then I have been using the X patern stroke... My dovo blade has been passing the HHT and shave test everytime.

I should have just paid attention from the start...

Please ee82 forget about the HHT, there are too many variables for you to worry about at your experience level.
I am not trying to be condesending, I am just remembering when I first started and that was all that mattered.
All that really matters is the shave test - how it feels on your face.
I purchased a shave ready razor from the classifieds here and never tried the HHT on it 'cause I knew that the vendor had honed it, stropped it, oiled it and posted it to me.
I was in contact with him just today and let him know that I had not yet felt the need to hone the razor he sold me.
I still have not tried the HHT on it - I shaved with it yesterday and got a BBS (and a cut on the lip, but that is another story)
I'm really glad that you are getting used the 'mechanics' of straight shaving and enjoying yourself - that is what matters.
Hang on and enjoy the ride

HHT is crap. Its something to show off to your friends. Ive taken razor that i have been shown to pass the HHT and then tried it with my hair, the wifes hair, and my daughters hair and no pop, i only get the bend. So as stated above forget it. Shave test is the only one that matters.

I do already agree. I perform and use the HHT as an indicator that im getting close to the desired edge... As you have said, its the shave quality that passes the razor...

There is something to be said for the x pattern, with both stropping and honing. I think applying any test, even the HHT, consistently the way you did across a single variable is a good way to apply a test. I applaud you for using a test in what I think is a very logical method.

Well done!

Some beginners don't do any tests and end up with razorburn. I use the the HHT deliberately with alot of different hair types(elastic, stiff, thick, thin, grippy, glossy, etc), depending on how it cuts certain hairs, and I can tell what kind of edge I've got. Its handy, but also it can fail the test and get decent shaves. But different strokes. If you keep using the HHT you'll get a feel for what constitutes an edge that is ready for a shave test.