So why is a paddle strop better than a hanging strop for not rolling your edge? Isn't it best to learn on the tools you have and perfect your technique before moving on...
With a bench strop, you're less like to roll the edge as the bench strop is NOT moving; it is stationary—so you're removing the possibility of too much or not enough slack one can have using a hanging strop.
I'll second what Glen said, I had a newbie straight razor user in to give him a few lessons and a few pointers and when it came to the stropping I had to keep checking him about him lifting the razor on the away stroke, in the end I did eventually get through it's simple no lift, try to maintain a good rhythm and even speed when you get it right you can actually look away and go to auto pilot, here's a short video I made while stropping one of my Filarmonicas.
