Hey, thanks for all of the advice. I changed my grip so I was putting pressure flat against the side of the tang where I'm holding it, lightened up the pressure on the blade, and slackened the strop a bit. Joe, you nailed it man. I think I was also pulling the strop too tight which was also causing me to have a death-grip on the blade. Relaxing on the strop let me relax the hand holding the blade as well. Stropped and shaved this morning, and it was a great shave, no tugging or discomfort.