X pattern v. Diagonal: Preferences?

I've been using the standard X pattern while stropping. But each time, I can't help but think that the heel gets the short end of the stick, since it spends less time on leather.

I looked on the forum and didn't see any previous threads that focused on this question.

It seems that placing the blade on a diagonal keeps the entire edge on the strop, and the angle simulates the angle (relative to the strop) created by the x-pattern.

However, the x-pattern makes better use of the length of the strop.

Thoughts on preferences, problems, or opinions?

Many people do it different ways. I have done x style and with wider strops I've done straight up and down and it works either way. I don't think the issue is critical as it is with a hone so as long as the blade in each of its areas gets a fair share on the strop your stropping. Even if the heel or toe gets a little less than the rest its no big deal.

My experiences are similar to thebigspender's. When I shave with my DD Dwarf, I normally just go up and down; the blade fits the widths of my strops. With traditional blades, it's X pattern all the way.

Chris L

I go straight up and down. If the whole blade fits on the strop, awesome. If not, I move the razor a bit between strokes to ensure that the whole edge gets a fair amount of time on the strop. I guess that ends up giving all parts of the razor a good amount of strop time, but the middle will still get more than the toe and the heal.

To be honest, I place far more emphasis and effort on honing and shaving technique than stropping. If a blade is poorly honed or if shaving technique is bad, amazing stropping won't help. But getting good at stropping is not difficult, and I'd have to imagine good stropping vs spectacular stropping will have some seriously diminishing returns.