So my motto for this whole learning how to use a straight razor business, which has been incredible, has been why not? If I feel comfortable doing it, why not? If I know it's something I'll need to learn eventually, why not learn it now? It has proven to be quite the effective motivator and I made my first ATG pass today and have a BBS shave on most the face. Missed a few spots due to growth patterns here and there but it will come with time right?

Anyways back to the real post... Even though I have a motto of why not? I cannot, for the life of me, figure out the XTG stroke! For some reason I just can't get the angle right and just end up basically going WTG again for the second pass. So I just skipped XTG and went straight to ATG. I just couldn't get comfortable with the razor in any way trying different grips, left hand on right side of face, right hand on left. So really my question is... Is it necessary to due the pattern WTG, XTG, ATG to get the best shave possible or is it just the same doing only WTG and ATG? What do you gents do? A full 3 pass shave or a variation of it? Just curious is all...