Most blades (contrary to popular belief) are not 3". Some are but most if you measure the cutting area you are stropping are between 2 1/2" and 2 3/4" so with a strop that is 2 1/2" wide you really have nothing to worry about. Even with a 2" strop (which almost all of mine are) there is not much cutting edge that is "hanging" off the strop at any given point. So straight up and back, diagonal/half X, or full X strokes it doesn't matter much in my experience. Now, is it helpful to know these other patterns? Yes.