Several Questions

[Zaxef]

Some of these answers can probably be found with search but they're kind of specific so I'd prefer to ask..

1. My cube is quite slow.. It doesn't cut corners well and I can't do "finger tricks" with it. It's a store-bought official Rubik's cube.. came in the Helix plastic cage thing..
So what should I do about it? Lube it? Buy a DIY cube that I see everyone using? They seem to maneuver much better..?
Can a store bought one be as good with lube?

2. I'm slowly starting to memorize PLL and OLL algorithms.. and trying to learn how to relate each case to the algorithms.. I tend to memorize it but not remember which case it is?
Anything you can suggest to help with this?

 

[Bomber]

I'll answer both of them briefly, I may add more later as I normally do but here's what I have now.

1. Store Bought Cubes are very 'stiff' at first, it's just the nature of them - although you can be lucky and get an excellent one.
According to your post history you have just struck sub-minute so I am guessing your cube is well 'broken in', I would say it is time for you to lube your cube - it's not actually necessary although most people start lubing at 50 seconds or less, that's what I did and I was amazed at the difference. It doesn't reduce your times however, not unless you are Sub-20 seconds. Don't take the last clause literally as It doesn't apply to everyone and I don't know your cubing style!
I will end question one by telling you there are many things that you can do to your cube but I won't list them here. Also, don't be fooled by people saying buy a DIY post-haste, they will honestly do little to your times, possibly 2 seconds at the most. Yes, they do manoeuvre better but remember, it's the hands manoeuvring the cube - that means practice.

2. My suggestions for your second question would be "Woah woah, slow down. You don't need to go learning all the OLLs and PLLs at the same time, just do the Four Look Last Layer! It cuts the algorithm count in half and there's plenty of resources to help you learn it. Check out BadMePhisto's Tutorial on it, it will be sure to help you!"
So yeah, learn Two Look Orientation and Two Look Permutation making up the Four Look Last Layer. There's only thirteen algorithms and they're very easy to learn. BadMePhisto can also help you with memorising, just check out his site. He has advice for each case on how to remember it and a handy diagram too. Not only that but he has a PLL Trainer! That BadMePhisto has everything!

I hope I answered your questions well enough, if you have any more have a search around. If you find no potatoes then just post!

 

[Vulosity]

At times of 1 minute, you shouldn't be learning 1-look PLL and OLL. Use two look or compound OLL.

And lube your cube.

 

[JLarsen]

Some of these answers can probably be found with search but they're kind of specific so I'd prefer to ask..

1. My cube is quite slow.. It doesn't cut corners well and I can't do "finger tricks" with it. It's a store-bought official Rubik's cube.. came in the Helix plastic cage thing..
So what should I do about it? Lube it? Buy a DIY cube that I see everyone using? They seem to maneuver much better..?
Can a store bought one be as good with lube?

2. I'm slowly starting to memorize PLL and OLL algorithms.. and trying to learn how to relate each case to the algorithms.. I tend to memorize it but not remember which case it is?
Anything you can suggest to help with this?

Well I would absolutely recomend a DIY at some point, but not really until your like at leats sub 40. If you lube around, go ahead lube it, it will be much better.

What I did was apply random algs, in succession, to produce a random PLL, then I would try and recognize it.

 

[teller]

PLL's: Find the biggest chunk of connected pieces and place them in their correct position. The crap that remains is pretty easy to recognize. For a J-Perm, the mixed up crap forms a J shape, etc.

 

[brunson]

PLL's: Find the biggest chunk of connected pieces and place them in their correct position.

Excellent description, I love it.

 

[Zaxef]

I've already watched all of Mephisto's youtube videos and I am learning the two look methods..
Just asking for future reference and I do get those 13 confused too sometimes :/

 

[Zaxef]

This raises another question then.. At which point (in speed/times) should I be switching over to 1look OLL and PLL.. about 30-40 seconds?
Either way I'll be trying to learn them as I go.. I'm fairly good at memorizing them, just bad at remembering which algorithm is which case

 

[Bomber]

Remember, there is an 'Edit' Function at the bottom right of your post. Try not to double post, especially when you don't need to 'bump' the thread.

Right here on this Forum there is a small guide with advice at when to do what, I will post it further down.
I am sure that you realise that there is no set time to do anything, you could get your times down below 20 seconds using a relatively basic Beginner's Method (as can be seen on the thread I'll post), but really that's not very fun when there is so much information around.
How to Get Faster using the Fridrich Method - http://www.speedsolving.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6085&highlight=fridrich+guide

I don't think you need to learn anything more than you do, you are using Four Look Last Layer which is adequate for now. We could use more detail if you want more help. Are you using Intuitive First Two Layers for instance?
You mentioned difficulty with recognition, you need to get that time down, but I suppose you need to recognise them first... Practice them, lots. Try and get your last layer to around 13-15 seconds before doing anything else - try BadMePhisto's 'LL Trainer', it helped me tremendously.

If you want to learn all 21 PLLs try and wait until you are around 40 seconds, OLLs are a different story I like others learn/ed them gradually along side the PLLs. Really, the 57 OLLs are not needed until you are very serious about speed, around 20 seconds.

 

[Zaxef]

Yes I know, I'm not new to forums, just lazy

 

[pcharles93]

Yes I know, I'm not new to forums, just lazy

That's even worse...