I don't do ATG passes anymore because of irritation, etc. I (mostly) listen to what my dad told me about DE shaving and "always go down," except for my Gillette Slide pass, which is sideways and down simultaneously.
I'm in this boat...
I've been shaving WTG and XTG since the beginnning.
Only recently have I begun attempting ATG regularly as I've also begun using a Slim Adjustable.
With the setting on 6 I go WTG and XTG, then dial back to a 4 for ATG.
Still some irritation, but smoother shave. Perhaps I'll dial it back another notch to 3 and see how it goes.
With other razors any attempts have not been pleasant...
+1, but Mantic does mention "if it's good enough, stop here" after each pass in his "10 minute wetshave" video. That's the advice that actually made me think, "you know, this is totally acceptable" after a single pass, which converted me to the single-pass WTG shave. And it is still much better than a cartridge shave--so one blade gets me a closer shave than multiple, and thus far, that goes for Merkurs, Gillette Yellow packs, Astras and Bics! I'm working my way through a sampler, and they've all been better than cartridges and done just fine for a single pass. I expect this trend to continue, as you noted Pogo, it's a poor workman.With unalloyed respect for Mantics beard-reduction technique, it doesnt work for me.
Chasing the elusive babys-butt-smooth shave has consistently led to disaster: razor burn, ingrowns, folliculitis, and necessary shaveless days to recover.
As 3eff Jeff and Straight Arrow, I do only one with-the-grain pass, but I dont do touch-ups. Still, I get a socially-acceptable-shave.
The thought occurs to me that if you allow touch-ups or additional passes, you will never learn good single-pass, with-the-grain technique.
I see three steps to a good shave: 1) thorough prep, 2) single-pass, with-the-grain shave, and 3) stop. By far, the third step is the most difficult and requires the most discipline.
Found no profit or logic in going for babys-butt-smooth. In a few hours the effect would be lost by natural beard growth. Beside, no one but you can discern the difference between a babys-butt and a simple good shave.
The babys-butt goal seems to me to be a ritual auto-emasculation. A previous poster opined, BBS=OCD.