Greetings!

[tkofaith]

Hello. I'm new to cubing. I have a best solve time of 5'26". I average closer to 10 min. I'm trying to learn beginner F2L and it's starting to come together for me. I'm not sure, however, how to set the final pair together and in place. When I've got open slots I can figure it out without too much effort. I did search, but my head doesn't work the same was as the search engine and I wasn't able to find what I was looking for.
Thanks for the help!

Tim

 

[UnsolvedCypher]

If you are averaging around 10 minutes, it's probably a little early for you to learn F2L. Can you post a link to where you learned your current method? It is probably quite inefficient and at your speed, a few tricks or algorithms can bring your average down by minutes.

 

[TomTom]

before f2l, i would like 2 look pll and oll... so much less algs

 

[tkofaith]

If you are averaging around 10 minutes, it's probably a little early for you to learn F2L. Can you post a link to where you learned your current method? It is probably quite inefficient and at your speed, a few tricks or algorithms can bring your average down by minutes.

http://youtu.be/mvhKNXHQqyM

It didn't take too long to get the hang of this method, but it was mostly just memorization. The F2L is the slowest part of my solves. I've since been looking at badmephisto's YouTube videos about intuitive solving for F2L. I like the idea of reason over rote. I'll probably never enter a competition (my first passion is being a musician). I'd just like to get my solves under 2 minutes.

I appreciate you taking the time to help!

Thanks,

Tim

 

[tkofaith]

before f2l, i would like 2 look pll and oll... so much less algs

I guess my first step, then, is to google pll and oll!

 

[TomTom]

http://www.cubewhiz.com/4lll.php 4 look ppl is i believe 15 algs, and if you do F2L algorithmically, its 52 and the site will also have everything you need for f2l

 

[Prismatic]

You should probably use badmephisto's beginner tutorial. It sets you up for CFOP.

 

[TDM]

and if you do F2L algorithmically, its 52 and the site will also have everything you need for f2l

But algorithmic F2L is not a good idea. In my opinion, it's best to learn it intuitively, and only after you are comfortable with it should you learn algs for the slower cases.

 

[PixelWizard]

I wouldn't recommend to learn a new technique. You can get under 2 Minutes with Layer by Layer easily, so solve the cube more often, practice until you get a few minutes down.

Good Luck

 

[tkofaith]

Thank you to everyone for your comments. Since I've already gotten started with badmephisto's intuitive method I think I'll continue trying to gain skill that way. I will go back and look at his beginner tutorial as his method is worlds different than the method that I first learned.

 

[TomTom]

tko, what method did you learn?

 

[STOCKY7]

Welcome!

Yeah, I'd agree with the others - practice layer by layer (or whatever method you are using) until you average under 2 mins.

Then when picking the next method, really search around and get to know a few before you decide to stick with one.
A lot of newbies just go straight to CFOP (since it's the most popular) and I was guilty of this too.
I regret not at least looking into Roux.

Best of luck!

 

[tkofaith]

tko, what method did you learn?

This is the first method I learned:
http://youtu.be/mvhKNXHQqyM

It involved keeping the first layer on top until F2L solved and then inverting. I've since been learning badmephisto's beginner method. I actually had a 4:32 today! Most of the time I am working slowly, however, until it becomes sort of second nature.

 

[tkofaith]

Welcome!

Yeah, I'd agree with the others - practice layer by layer (or whatever method you are using) until you average under 2 mins.

Then when picking the next method, really search around and get to know a few before you decide to stick with one.
A lot of newbies just go straight to CFOP (since it's the most popular) and I was guilty of this too.
I regret not at least looking into Roux.

Best of luck!

Thanks for the advice. I did switch methods just once. The original method I learned kept the "bottom" layer on top until the F2Ls were solved. I think it seems to be working better for me.

 

[tkofaith]

Just an update.... I've stayed away from F2L and focused on cutting time with the beginner's method. I just broke 3 minutes for the first time! 2:53.57. I'm stoked!

 

[Randomno]

If it's convenient, I'd like to see an example solve.

 

[tkofaith]

If it's convenient, I'd like to see an example solve.

Do you mean video of me doing the solve? My iPad is my only video camera and it is unwieldy. I can give it a shot. Or do mean something different? I know that I can probably easily knock another 30 seconds or so off. I do a lot of wasted motions (looking around the cube, etc.).

 

[Randomno]

Do you mean video of me doing the solve? My iPad is my only video camera and it is unwieldy. I can give it a shot. Or do mean something different? I know that I can probably easily knock another 30 seconds or so off. I do a lot of wasted motions (looking around the cube, etc.).

Yeah, I was thinking a video. Propping up an iPad isn't too hard, getting a good angle in a cluttered room is (my current problem :/).

 

[tkofaith]

Yeah, I was thinking a video. Propping up an iPad isn't too hard, getting a good angle in a cluttered room is (my current problem :/).

Give me at least a few days and I'll see what I can do. My wife just had surgery, so I'm a bit more busy than usual taking care of her. Thanks for your interest in helping me along!

 

[Randomno]

I watched the example solve you sent me.

I think you need to recognise the corners faster and get a little better at the colour scheme. Like thinking "this corner is green-orange, the edge pieces on this bit are blue-red, the correct place is on the opposite side", and quite fast.

Good practice to solve on the bottom before learning F2L, like you do.