Hey guys, first picked up a Rubik's cube 6 weeks ago. Advice?

Have I improved quickly?

  • yes

    Votes: 7 70.0%
  • some-what

    Votes: 2 20.0%
  • average

    Votes: 1 10.0%
  • below average

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • slow

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    10

JacobM

Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2016
Messages
18
I first picked up a Rubik's cube 6 weeks ago, I learnt how to solve it using the beginners method on the Rubik's website. I used the beginners method for 2-3 weeks, since then I have started using intuitive f2l, 2-look oll, and a kind of hybrid 2-look pll.

I now average around 30-ish seconds, and my pb is 20.82 seconds (this is without any oll or pll skips, I thought that was kind of relevant). In the past few days I've sped up massively due to me getting better at f2l. Less than a week and a half ago, my pb was 35 seconds.

What do you guys think about my progress so far, has it been quick? Average? Also, what do you guys think I could do to improve?

EDIT:
Also, while I don't time these I can also solve: 2x2, 4x4, 5x5, mirror cube and ghost cube.
 
Last edited:
I first picked up a Rubik's cube 6 weeks ago, I learnt how to solve it using the beginners method on the Rubik's website. I used the beginners method for 2-3 weeks, since then I have started using intuitive f2l, 2-look oll, and a kind of hybrid 2-look pll.

I now average around 30-ish seconds, and my pb is 20.82 seconds (this is without any oll or pll skips, I thought that was kind of relevant). In the past few days I've sped up massively due to me getting better at f2l. Less than a week and a half ago, my pb was 35 seconds.

What do you guys think about my progress so far, has it been quick? Average? Also, what do you guys think I could do to improve?

That's really nice progress. After six weeks, I probably didn't even have a sub-1 single (although I improve extremely slowly). I'm assuming you're using a speedcube (if not, get one immediately), but other than that, just keep working on F2L, and learn full PLL as soon as you can. From there, you can work on full OLL, but that's not necessary right away.
 
Your progress has definitely been quick, probably due to the fact that you only stayed with the beginner method for only a few weeks.
I know I was averaging low 30s after a about four months, and probably around 1m after only six weeks.

Also, what do you guys think I could do to improve?
What cube are you using? is it a rubik's brand speed-cube?
If so, I would suggest getting a qiyi thunderclap, as that cube is very good for a lower price point, and preforms better than a rubik's brand. If not the thunderclap, just make sure you are using a good cube.

Intuitive F2L is the way to go, keep on with that

Have you looked into other methods such as Roux or ZZ? Definitely check those out; the wiki has plenty of info on them and so does Youtube.

What kind of "hybrid 2-look pll" are you using? I would suggest learning full PLL asasp if you want to continue with CFOP or ZZ. Learn CMLL if you want to use Roux.
 
I should've mentioned my main in my post, sorry. I use a GANS 3 56mm v2. I've been working on pll also, I know the 2-look Rubik's site algorithms as well as the z perm and h perm, when I said hybrid pll I was refering to this. I plan on learning the E-perm next.
As other methods go, I feel extremely comfortable with cfop, and will likely stay with it as long as I cube.
 
All the advice has been great so far, thanks guys! It's reassuring to know I've been improving quickly, since I don't know any speed cubers I had nothing to compare myself to other than people on youtube, but they're all like sub-15.
 
That's really nice progress. After six weeks, I probably didn't even have a sub-1 single (although I improve extremely slowly). I'm assuming you're using a speedcube (if not, get one immediately), but other than that, just keep working on F2L, and learn full PLL as soon as you can. From there, you can work on full OLL, but that's not necessary right away.
Hey, was just checking out your youtube channel and I saw you were sub-20 in 2013, how quick are you now?
 
Hey, was just checking out your youtube channel and I saw you were sub-20 in 2013, how quick are you now?

I average around 13 now (super slow improvement for ~2.5 years, I know :P), but 3x3 isn't my main event, which probably accounts for some of that. I practice every event other than 5BLD (which I plan on learning someday), so probably about 10% of my practice time is actually spent on 3x3. I'd say I spend maybe 20% on Pyraminx, which is my main event, and that leaves about 70% for everything else.
 
I average around 13 now (super slow improvement for ~2.5 years, I know :p), but 3x3 isn't my main event, which probably accounts for some of that. I practice every event other than 5BLD (which I plan on learning someday), so probably about 10% of my practice time is actually spent on 3x3. I'd say I spend maybe 20% on Pyraminx, which is my main event, and that leaves about 70% for everything else.

Yeah, I saw your pyraminx solves, really impressive btw. I can solve it but never tried speed solving it. Maybe I will someday, but I'm so new atm I won't rush into it. If the only event you don't do is 5BLD, am I right in assuming you can solve a 3x3 and 4x4 blindfolded? If so, how fast?

Also, I'd like to learn Old Pochmann at some point, when do you think I start?
 
I just wanted to catch you early with this before you develop bad habits -- use https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRZHt_6umybxXK7SMTT4UvC9me0lpwStF to learn *any* PLL algorithms that you use. If you really don't like a particular one of those, use http://algdb.net/. Bad algorithms early can really hurt your progression
Thanks, I've actually been using one of these videos already to learn the E-perm. I'll make sure to check out the rest too, before learning any algs elsewhere.
 
I can't stop you if you do get into BLD, but I'm warning you now, especially as you average 30 seconds, it's a difficult adventure. What I would suggest (you don't have to listen to me) is to improve more and get more experience with the cube before learning it. Well BLD seems straightforward now that I've learned it but I remember all the struggles I had with my tutorial, and how long it actually took me to understand EVERYTHING.

Anyway you're improvement is fast, I got my first Speedcube (Dayan Zhanchi) when I was averaging mid 40's, and that shot me straight down to mid 30's.
 
I can't stop you if you do get into BLD, but I'm warning you now, especially as you average 30 seconds, it's a difficult adventure. What I would suggest (you don't have to listen to me) is to improve more and get more experience with the cube before learning it. Well BLD seems straightforward now that I've learned it but I remember all the struggles I had with my tutorial, and how long it actually took me to understand EVERYTHING.

Anyway you're improvement is fast, I got my first Speedcube (Dayan Zhanchi) when I was averaging mid 40's, and that shot me straight down to mid 30's.
Thanks, I wasn't planning on starting blind-solving quite yet, how fast do you think I should be before I start? Or, how deep should I be into cfop before I start (full pll, full oll)?

Oh, and I know that blind-solving uses a different method to regular solving, i did a little research into old pochmann, i'm just using last layer algs as like a waypoint in cubing skill.

Another little aside, I seem to pick up new techniques rather quickly, if that's of any relevence. My first timed f2l solve was faster than my pb at the time, by a large-ish amount, for example.
 
Thanks, I wasn't planning on starting blind-solving quite yet, how fast do you think I should be before I start? Or, how deep should I be into cfop before I start (full pll, full oll)?
Blindsolving has nothing to do with CFOP. technically you only need to know the J perm. Also BLD is pretty confusing at first, so don't try it yet unless you can focus on it

Since you've just started cubing, you should definitely try out other methods before settling on CFOP. The Roux method is pretty cool (Try it!:))
 
Yeah, I saw your pyraminx solves, really impressive btw. I can solve it but never tried speed solving it. Maybe I will someday, but I'm so new atm I won't rush into it. If the only event you don't do is 5BLD, am I right in assuming you can solve a 3x3 and 4x4 blindfolded? If so, how fast?

Also, I'd like to learn Old Pochmann at some point, when do you think I start?

Yup. 3BLD I average around 2 minutes, and on 4BLD I've only ever gotten 2 successes, which were a 23:21 and a 23:27, so I guess I average 23:24. :p
If you have any interest in blind, there's really no reason not to learn it. It's really fun and you get to learn a lot more about the cube in the process. It will be difficult if you start earlier on, but based on what you said about how quickly you grasped intuitive F2L, I don't think it would be too hard for you.
 
Yup. 3BLD I average around 2 minutes, and on 4BLD I've only ever gotten 2 successes, which were a 23:21 and a 23:27, so I guess I average 23:24. :p
If you have any interest in blind, there's really no reason not to learn it. It's really fun and you get to learn a lot more about the cube in the process. It will be difficult if you start earlier on, but based on what you said about how quickly you grasped intuitive F2L, I don't think it would be too hard for you.
That's really impressive, I'd love to be able to do it too. Thanks alot for the advice, I wasn't planning on learning to blindsolve but you've got me really hyped for it. Could you maybe link an old pochmann tutorial that you think I could use to learn?
 
Blindsolving has nothing to do with CFOP. technically you only need to know the J perm. Also BLD is pretty confusing at first, so don't try it yet unless you can focus on it

Since you've just started cubing, you should definitely try out other methods before settling on CFOP. The Roux method is pretty cool (Try it!:))
I really like cfop, so I'll stick with it for now. I'll look into roux, but since I enjoy f2l I doubt i'll begin to use it.
 
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