lookahead = i fail

[ryannn]

so using f2l and a few random algs for oll and pll i cant seem to get faster..

im getting decent at recognition.. but when i feel like im moving ahead i start having random solves where i completely look over the cube im looking for and ive waisted 5 seconds trying to find it.. then i eventually just skip and do another part of my f2l..

so after ive done about 20 solves and everythings feeling fluid, going for accuracy and not really speed, and really trying to master my recognition i start trying to do look ahead.. but im failing badly

can anyone comment on some of the techniques they use for lookahead, what should be going through my head during what part of the solve, and anything that can be beneficial for this part..

i cant seem to get sub 2 minutes.. im always at the border and ive broke it maybe 3 times.. by like 7 seconds..

i find myself burning around 4-6 seconds between each f2l corner

what should i be doing to get to the 1 minute mark. nothing would make me happier

 

[TurbulentTurtle]

The key word here is practice. There have been a ton of threads on pretty much the exact same thing, "how do I improve/get faster at xx?" It always ends with you needing to practice a lot more and just getting more comfortable with finding and working on the F2L case that you are given.
So, pretty much just practice the hell out of it and essentially make it so you can execute a edge/corner pairing and insert it purely due to muscle memory.

Also, people have recommended this and I believe it is pretty helpful. Try and not going for speed and just solve the cube slowly, and looking ahead like that. Since you aren't rapidly spinning the cube around and just turning it as fast as you can, you will be able to look ahead for your next corner/edge case a lot easier. Doing this can really help with your recognition times and you will be able to recognize certain situations a lot easier.

 

[ryannn]

The key word here is practice. There have been a ton of threads on pretty much the exact same thing, "how do I improve/get faster at xx?" It always ends with you needing to practice a lot more and just getting more comfortable with finding and working on the F2L case that you are given.
So, pretty much just practice the hell out of it and essentially make it so you can execute a edge/corner pairing and insert it purely due to muscle memory.

Also, people have recommended this and I believe it is pretty helpful. Try and not going for speed and just solve the cube slowly, and looking ahead like that. Since you aren't rapidly spinning the cube around and just turning it as fast as you can, you will be able to look ahead for your next corner/edge case a lot easier. Doing this can really help with your recognition times and you will be able to recognize certain situations a lot easier.

so basically i should forget about lookahead til i dont need to look at the cubes im solving?

 

[pcharles93]

The key word here is practice. There have been a ton of threads on pretty much the exact same thing, "how do I improve/get faster at xx?" It always ends with you needing to practice a lot more and just getting more comfortable with finding and working on the F2L case that you are given.
So, pretty much just practice the hell out of it and essentially make it so you can execute a edge/corner pairing and insert it purely due to muscle memory.

Also, people have recommended this and I believe it is pretty helpful. Try and not going for speed and just solve the cube slowly, and looking ahead like that. Since you aren't rapidly spinning the cube around and just turning it as fast as you can, you will be able to look ahead for your next corner/edge case a lot easier. Doing this can really help with your recognition times and you will be able to recognize certain situations a lot easier.

so basically i should forget about lookahead til i dont need to look at the cubes im solving?

No, just no.

 

[GerrySly]

Practice, don't just solve. Do things like solving the cross without looking, that means you can then solve the cross without looking at it giving you more time to lookahead instead of focusing on the cross. Then try and do each F2L pair with your eyes closed, things such as eyes closed means that when your eyes are open you don't have to look at what you are doing but more so at the next pair and so on and so forth.

 

[ryannn]

Practice, don't just solve. Do things like solving the cross without looking, that means you can then solve the cross without looking at it giving you more time to lookahead instead of focusing on the cross. Then try and do each F2L pair with your eyes closed, things such as eyes closed means that when your eyes are open you don't have to look at what you are doing but more so at the next pair and so on and so forth.

thanks for the advice.

 

[TurbulentTurtle]

The key word here is practice. There have been a ton of threads on pretty much the exact same thing, "how do I improve/get faster at xx?" It always ends with you needing to practice a lot more and just getting more comfortable with finding and working on the F2L case that you are given.
So, pretty much just practice the hell out of it and essentially make it so you can execute a edge/corner pairing and insert it purely due to muscle memory.

Also, people have recommended this and I believe it is pretty helpful. Try and not going for speed and just solve the cube slowly, and looking ahead like that. Since you aren't rapidly spinning the cube around and just turning it as fast as you can, you will be able to look ahead for your next corner/edge case a lot easier. Doing this can really help with your recognition times and you will be able to recognize certain situations a lot easier.

so basically i should forget about lookahead til i dont need to look at the cubes im solving?

No, just no.

Ah, okay then.
It's worked for me thus far, and I have read threads where people have said that. But you know more than me, I've only been cubing for a couple months, though I think I've made a fair bit of progress =\

 

[MistArts]

Use a metronome.

 

[JohnnyA]

I find the best way is to see your pair and be able to insert it without having to look at the pieces you are inserting. Try solving each pair one-by-one without looking at the cube after you identify the pieces, and if you can't do this you know you need to work on being confident with your F2L.

 

[JTW2007]

Metronome FTW. Although I'm not one to talk, as my lookahead is what's keeping me from sub-20s.

 

[IamWEB]

Side Notes: Please use 'cubies', I was confused at first when you referred to your cube and the pieces of the cube with the same exact word.

 

[abr71310]

Wait, did you say your times were 2min+ with F2L + OLL/PLL??

Man, I thought -I- was slow at recognition...
*sighs* I guess I'll put in my two cents and try to help.

The way I improved was to time myself less and really watch (not "look-ahead", but just observe) the pieces as I inserted F2L edge-corner pairs. The more you allow yourself to notice where they go (really force yourself, GLUE one eyeball to an edge and the other to a corner if you have to!!!) in order to make the connection.

Essentially, you want to get a to a point where you've memorized where they are, close your eyes, and solve it blindfolded.

My problem still lies in making the cross blind, but that'll take more time than F2L pairs, since at max it would take 9-10 moves to insert (cross is 7-8, but it's not restricted by putting faces back down after putting in a corner/edge combo).

Just stop worrying about it.

If you find this doesn't work, do what I did: drop it.

For a day, week, whatever you think will work. You need to kick cubing for a while and take some time to just relax; let out the stress before it bottles up inside of you and rips you inside outwards.

Come back after about 5-6 days and just scramble/time/solve. Tell us how you do then.

 

[rjohnson_8ball]

It was already wisely said to practice making the cross with your eyes closed. Begin with unlimited time to plan the cross. Ultimately you want to be able to plan the whole cross with just 15 seconds (or less) of inspection time. (Usually I only plan 2 or 3 cubies rather than all 4 in that time, but I am improving.)

My F2L is bad also. I find my worst times are when I try to do the F2L too fast, panicking rather than watching the cubies.

Subscribe to badmephisto on youtube to watch tips on cross and F2L.

 

[blgentry]

To the OP: How long have you been cubing? I suspect less than a month, if not less than 2 weeks. It's normal at this stage to be slow at F2L. You're going to figure out a lot of subtle things about F2L over the next 2000 solves you do that are going to make huge difference in your times.

I remember thinking that spending an entire week on just F2L (and not even knowing *any* last layer algs) was a lot of dedication and that I should see big improvements. I laugh at myself for thinking this. A week is nothing in cubing time. I remember thinking that being sub 1 minute was a very long term goal that I might never reach. I again smile and laugh at my inability to see the long term picture.

It sucks that I can't really offer you any magical wisdom about F2L at this point, but as many have said, you just need more repetition. I'm not sure this helped, but I hope it did.

Brian.

 

[shelley]

The key word here is practice. There have been a ton of threads on pretty much the exact same thing, "how do I improve/get faster at xx?" It always ends with you needing to practice a lot more and just getting more comfortable with finding and working on the F2L case that you are given.
So, pretty much just practice the hell out of it and essentially make it so you can execute a edge/corner pairing and insert it purely due to muscle memory.

Also, people have recommended this and I believe it is pretty helpful. Try and not going for speed and just solve the cube slowly, and looking ahead like that. Since you aren't rapidly spinning the cube around and just turning it as fast as you can, you will be able to look ahead for your next corner/edge case a lot easier. Doing this can really help with your recognition times and you will be able to recognize certain situations a lot easier.

so basically i should forget about lookahead til i dont need to look at the cubes im solving?

What? Did you read at all? The WHOLE POINT of that exercise is to work on lookahead.

 

[4weeksAndImSub60]

so using f2l and a few random algs for oll and pll i cant seem to get faster..

im getting decent at recognition.. but when i feel like im moving ahead i start having random solves where i completely look over the cube im looking for and ive waisted 5 seconds trying to find it.. then i eventually just skip and do another part of my f2l..

so after ive done about 20 solves and everythings feeling fluid, going for accuracy and not really speed, and really trying to master my recognition i start trying to do look ahead.. but im failing badly

can anyone comment on some of the techniques they use for lookahead, what should be going through my head during what part of the solve, and anything that can be beneficial for this part..

i cant seem to get sub 2 minutes.. im always at the border and ive broke it maybe 3 times.. by like 7 seconds..

i find myself burning around 4-6 seconds between each f2l corner

what should i be doing to get to the 1 minute mark. nothing would make me happier

I definitely understand where you are coming from. First off, one thing I must ask you is, do you know all F2L algs? I just started F2L 4 days ago (intuitively) and I went from 1:30, to sub 60. I get sub 60 everytime, except for the rare situations in which, very much like you, I waste 5-6 seconds looking for a pair. Another thing, what type of cube do yo use? I'm using a store rubiks brand cube. I've sanded it and lubed it, but I must say it is a bit unstable even though it often doesn't entirely spin all the way.

One thing I do, is that I try my best to locate and remember where white corners ( I always solve a white cross. It's a good thing to always solve a cross on the same color, because you're more accurate at locating other color sides.) are. Also, it is essential that you learn what the effects are on the cube when you preform certain moves on it, so that you already know where an edge is gonna be placed at if you preform a certain alg. This allows you to conceive which alg. is going to be required for the next f2l pair.

I've learned that it takes time to get good at things like this. Check out badmephesto on youtube. He has VERY helpful videos.