What to do when you hit a barrier?

[Spandy]

I just wanted to ask that what should I do when I hit a barrier. I am doing 3x3x3 only.

For example, when I hit the 1:20 barrier, I learnt 2 look pll, and when I hit the 60 barrier, I learnt full PLL. But now I cant get below 40 sec and and I don't see anything new to clear off that. SO, can you please help??

 

[JemFish]

Learn F2L and practise it.

 

[DeeDubb]

Stop timing yourself for a couple of weeks. Focus on efficiency. Then come back and see if you improved.

 

[FailCuber]

You can be sub 15 with only 4LL so just practice. Practising F2L will help your times dramatactly.

 

[Spandy]

How to practise f2l?? Learn all algs ie switch from intuitive to alg or do something else like look ahead or something??

 

[FailCuber]

How to practise f2l?? Learn all algs ie switch from intuitive to alg or do something else like look ahead or something??

Just practice.

Edit: 400th post!!! YAY!

 

[JemFish]

How to practise f2l?? Learn all algs ie switch from intuitive to alg or do something else like look ahead or something??

Play around - that's what will help you the most. Don't learn algs when you start out, but instead make up your own rules when you bump into a certain case.

 

[Smiles]

Clearly, learning things helps you.
If you really want to, you could always just keep learning new things. I'm not saying you have to use them in all your solves, but experiment for when it's effective.

Learn OLL now. Nothing's stopping you.
Learn VHLS because it's kinda easy. Even if you don't use it every solve.

Spoiler

but at the same time practice your F2L

 

[mafergut]

What everyone has recommended are all great pieces of advice.
I've been suffering this myself for months and I can also add: be patient. If you really enjoy cubing, keep practicing and you will end up improving sooner or later.

In order of importance I'd recommend to learn the following, and with this you can be at least sub-20:
- Intuitive F2L, the 3 basic cases and basic techniques to separate pieces incorrectly paired.
- 2L OLL & 1L PLL (because there are only 21 PLLs and you can learn all of them in a couple of weeks)
- More advanced F2L techniques (using empty slots, inserting into back slots, more efficient pair setup techniques...)
- Start to add some additional easy and convenient OLL cases, no need to hurry to achieve full 1L OLL you don't really need that
- More advanced stuff, like specific F2L algs for tricky cases, ful 1L OLL, some form of edge control, ...

But, to be honest, what is going to influence your times more is to practice F2L and get good lookahead (look for your next pair while you automatically insert the current one)

 

[UnsolvedCypher]

Could you post a video of a few solves? There should definitely be things to work on at 40 seconds, but it's hard to say what they are unless we see some solves.

 

[cubingbanta]

I just wanted to ask that what should I do when I hit a barrier. I am doing 3x3x3 only.

For example, when I hit the 1:20 barrier, I learnt 2 look pll, and when I hit the 60 barrier, I learnt full PLL. But now I cant get below 40 sec and and I don't see anything new to clear off that. SO, can you please help??

hey there, I am a new member to speedsolving.com so plz appreciate that anyway, as many people r saying, learn f2l, but using algs might just overload you. Try to learn f2l intuitively. this may seem hard at first, but keep trying, it will get easier. If u don't want to learn f2l, just practise a lot and try readying yourself for solves, eg relaxing and loosing tension before ur solves. this may help by a few seconds, but it would be best to learn f2l or of u don't know it 2 look oll........

 

[PenguinsDontFly]

The only barriers are the ones you make yourself.

 

[Bindedsa]

Cube more.

 

[theROUXbiksCube]

The only barriers are the ones you make yourself.

true, you hold yourself back sometimes. anything can be surpassed, except death, probably.

 

[JasonDL13]

1. Panic
2. Ask Feliks how to get faster (make sure you include something like "dont say pracise!!!!" in the message)
3. Get annoying that he says "Practice and watch example solves"
4. Don't use any of the guides posted on speedsolving.com, just make another post.

 

[Bunyanderman]

Change cubes.

 

[jms]

Plenty of decent advice on this thread. I would look at all the algs you have learned as a beginner and see if you can do them more efficiently or change them for different algs. All algs seem quick when you are starting off, but it's worth re-looking at them as there are usually better ones out there.

For instance I recently halved my sune and anti-sune times by switching to a better alg.

 

[lerenard]

I recently halved my sune and anti-sune times by switching to a better alg.

What alg would anyone have taught you besides R U R' U' R U2 R'?? Please tell me you actually mean you learned a new fingering/rotation that is faster.

 

[natezach728]

What alg would anyone have taught you besides R U R' U' R U2 R'?? Please tell me you actually mean you learned a new fingering/rotation that is faster.

Possibly R' U' R U' R' U2 R? Not sure. Either way, sunes don't take up much time at all.

 

[TDM]

What alg would anyone have taught you besides R U R' U' R U2 R'?? Please tell me you actually mean you learned a new fingering/rotation that is faster.

I used to find back-left-sune faster than front-right-sune, and learning that made my sunes faster (until I learned how to fingertrick sune).