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Sub 20 With 3-look LL?

shadyb

Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2014
Messages
55
Hey guys, I've been meaning to ask about this for a while and just recently decided to do so. I'm somewhat new to the forum and just got into the hobby this past summer. So far, my favorite event is 3x3. I've gotten my time down significantly by learning F2L, and I average anywhere between 35-45 (I don't do timed averages often, so I can't even give a solid number), but I'm starting to get really into speed solving and getting faster. I currently use a somewhat inefficient method to do last layer, which RedKB taught on his tutorial for the 3x3. The steps are get the cross, solve one of the 7 cases (I memorized alg's for all of those), permute corners, then permute edges. I plan on soon shortening that by learning full PLL, which I've been told isn't very difficult. Here is my actual question: is it possible to get as fast as 20 seconds or even sub 20 using 3 look last layer (first get cross, then OLL, then PLL)? For all I know, that could be the standard for people who solve that fast, but I have no clue. It just seems to me, since using my weird 4 look (sometimes 5 if fixing the corners takes more than one execution of that alg) takes me so long, then cutting that down a step or two wouldn't cut my times in half, even with practice. Sorry if this is worded funny or sloppy, but that's the best way I could ask this. I'm welcome to all advice/constructive criticism. Thank in advance guys.
 
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Change your wierd four look into first orient edges, then orient corners, then full pll. This will easily get you sub 20. Full oll is 57 cases, and is reccomended for sub 15.
 
I've seen someone average like 16 seconds using Keyhole for the first 2 layers (it's less efficient then corner edge pairing, but a bit better than placing the corners then placing edges) and using 4LLL with it. Although I wouldn't recommend 4 look last layer for sub 20. Go for 3 look, but although not completely necessary, 1 look OLL shaves off about 2 or 3 seconds from a solver averaging about 25-30 seconds.

Even I could probably Sub-20 with 4LLL :P
 
Yeah with cfop I average about 25 with messed up 3 look (eo/edge control, coll, ep) . I could be sub 20 but you know cross and f2l are hard.
 
If by 3 look LL you mean first the edge orientation and then corners and then full pll (2 look oll + full pll), then I can tell you I was averaging 16 seconds with 3 look LL. It is doable and I would say that you should do it. Dont learn full OLL until you are sub 20.
 
If by 3 look LL you mean first the edge orientation and then corners and then full pll (2 look oll + full pll), then I can tell you I was averaging 16 seconds with 3 look LL. It is doable and I would say that you should do it. Dont learn full OLL until you are sub 20.

I say he should start learning his OLLs like 1 per day after he learns his PLLs. Or whenever he wants to, really. Learning your OLLs before Sub-20 isn't going to hurt. I myself finished learning OLL when I was Sub-25. It then gave me more time afterwards to play with X-crosses and stuff, and now I can make a pretty good X-cross every now and then.
 
I say he should start learning his OLLs like 1 per day after he learns his PLLs. Or whenever he wants to, really. Learning your OLLs before Sub-20 isn't going to hurt. I myself finished learning OLL when I was Sub-25. It then gave me more time afterwards to play with X-crosses and stuff, and now I can make a pretty good X-cross every now and then.

I just don't see why people recommend not to learn it, this is not the first time I've seen people advise against starting as soon as possible. If you don't want to, that's up to you, but there is absolutely no reason not too if you are willing.
 
I just don't see why people recommend not to learn it, this is not the first time I've seen people advise against starting as soon as possible. If you don't want to, that's up to you, but there is absolutely no reason not too if you are willing.

+1.

I learned it before I was sub-20 (around 23), and it helped me work them into my solves more easily (i.e., stop and recognize them, rather than giving up and 2 looking) than if I had started while I was faster, and makes it feel more natural as I get faster.

I'd recommend learning it as early as you feel like learning it, as long as it doesn't get in the way of practicing other things.
 
3LLL is definitely sub20, but I would also recommend learning a lot of the easy OLL cases. Some of them are really easy to pick up, and, if you have time, learn full OLL. I really helps.
 
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