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How to be sub 20

Sheldon Rego

Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2018
Messages
8
help me with look ahead,
i cant actually learn it from the videos i find in youtube nor from forum - im able to do look ahead but i cant do it so good to become sub-20,
pls help me with getting sub-20 using - white cross, intutive F2l , 2look OLL, full PLL

Generated By csTimer on 2016-8-8
avg of 12: 22.89

Time List:
1. 24.58 B2 D2 B2 U2 F2 L2 D2 L B2 F2 D' B2 R B2 R F R2 F2 U2 F2
2. (26.14) U F2 L2 D' B2 L2 U' R2 U2 L2 U2 F' U L F2 L B' L R B' R'
3. 24.28 L2 F' D2 B L U' L2 D F' D R2 B2 R2 D B2 R2 D L2 B2 U2
4. 22.60 R2 U D2 B2 U' R' U2 B' D' B2 D2 F L2 F2 R2 F' L2 D2 R2
5. (15.76) B' L U' F2 U2 D' R2 B' U R F2 L2 U2 D2 F D2 B2 D2 B
6. 21.97 U2 B2 L2 B R2 F' D2 L2 R2 B F2 D R' F' D' L B2 D F2 R2
7. 19.78 F' L D2 R' F2 D2 B2 D2 R' F2 L' U' B' R D' U2 B2 D2 L2 F2
8. 22.70 F2 L2 D2 U F2 U2 L2 U R2 U' B2 L B F2 R2 D R2 U' R F U
9. 24.49 R2 F U2 L2 U2 L2 F2 U2 F U2 L U' R' D' B L R B L2 R'
10. 24.58 B' D' L2 U' D2 F' R' U2 B' D2 R' D2 R' U2 R2 D2 L' U2 B2 R'
11. 22.41 D2 F2 R2 D U R2 D' L2 F2 D L B' L B2 D' U' B U' L
12. 21.48 U F' R2 B2 R F2 U' B D B2 U2 B' D2 L2 B' R2 U2 F2 R2 U
Look ahead is overrated for sub 20.
U should be doing f2l efficiently and do every pair with max 8 moves and 1 rotation.
Cross should also be 8 moves and 4 look ll will work.
 

Sheldon Rego

Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2018
Messages
8
So basically for the past 4-5 months I've been stuck at around a 19-20 second average, and it's driving me absolutely nuts. I've watched countless videos, tried countless methods, yet absolutely nothing's working. I am not getting better and sometimes I'll even get 25 which is really annoying. Being stuck right here for this long is quite discouraging and I'm close to just forgetting speedcubing. Does anyone have any tips? I don't care if I've heard them before I just want as much information as I can get.
Efficiency in f2l is more important (according to me) at this stage.
Look ahead comes in at sub 15.
U should complete cross-f2l in 10 seconds.
 

Sheldon Rego

Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2018
Messages
8
SLOW DOWN AND LOOK AHEAD is much more important than GET GOOD ALGS, in my opinion. Case in point: it's well within the realm of possibility to reach sub-20 without knowing full OLL.
According to me, efficient f2l is more important.
Choppy solves full of pauses can also be sub 20 if the f2l is efficient (8 moves and 1 rotation per pair max).
Look ahead is still important in sub 15-12
 

Mr.Roux86

Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2018
Messages
59
YouTube
Visit Channel
ok, I think this would be a good way to start the intermediate place so here we go!
First off I'll be talking mainly about the fridrich method. if you know another method, stay here as it will likely be beneficial anyway. So here we go!

step 1: Use the search bar for stuff (seriously) :)

ok so with fridrich you will want to know all/most PLL and you should be using 2LOLL. Seriously speaking, you can get through PLL and 2LOLL in a month. 1+ alg a day isn't hard to remember so just get it done. But please this is very important:

GET GOOD ALGS

Seriously without good algs there is not point learning it so take your time. go though EVERY alg in the speedsolving wiki and find the best to suit you finger trick.

you will want to know a form of F2L which is quick (I'll talk about Fridich here sorry other users but keep using your methods ;)) so I don't want to see any LBL. You will need to know at least keyhole otherwise intuitive F2l (highly recommend) or alg F2L (don't recommend).
Now that you have your stuff down we can get to the important parts :D

*** apply concepts from this to other methods ***
eg. 2x2x2 block = cross etc.​

So first our cross. You want it to be about 6-7 moves on average so think about inserting several pieces at the same time using more complex thinking. But in saying that you also want to keep it finger trick friendly so:
8 move finger tricky > 6 move non-finger tricky

A very handy thing to practice is doing the cross blindfolded (I am dead serious, I REALLY recommend practicing this as the results will come very quickly. The purpose of doing this is so you know the whole cross in your head as you are doing it, thus meaning you need not look at it while solving and can concentrate on the next F2L pair. This helps a ton!!!

Next thing. While doing F2L you want to constantly be looking for the next pair. NEVER think about the pair you are doing at the moment as you should of figured it all out all ready from looking ahead in the stage before. Continuous flow > speedy, stop, speedy, stop.

Track pieces. When I am doing F2L I am constantly checking out pieces and their relative partner (eg. corner-edge). Another trick is to memorize where some of the pieces are so you can be ready to use them later.

That's about it for F2L. Just keep practicing. The rest of the solve is just relying on fast algs and good recognition. This should slow down the constant flow of " how can I be sub 20" threads :p

Also, one last thing. I think that these are the most important steps in achieving sub 20:
Slow down while doing you first 2 layers and look ahead (meaning tracking other pieces.)
Get good LL algs (cos if you don't, you'll regret it)
Practise your LL algs (figure out perfect finger tricks and DRILL)
Don't look at the cross while doing it (have it planned out)



PS. you may want a DIY as they help a bit.
Haha, was:2²[Y
 

shelley

chang
Joined
Apr 23, 2006
Messages
1,683
WCA
2004CHAN04
According to me, efficient f2l is more important.
Choppy solves full of pauses can also be sub 20 if the f2l is efficient (8 moves and 1 rotation per pair max).
Look ahead is still important in sub 15-12

Lol you quoted an almost 9 year old post. Cube hardware in those days didn't allow you to spam TPS the way everyone does nowadays.
 
Joined
Feb 20, 2018
Messages
5
How i averaged sub 20- (currently sub 11)
Get a good speedcube
Learn full PLL and make sure they're good algs (Algdb.net and cubeskills.com have good algs)
learn 2 look oll and some easy oll cases (full oll is NOT required to be sub 20. I average less than a second slower using 2 look oll rather than full oll when I speedsolve. 10.8 full oll and 11.7 or so using 2 look.)
Be efficient. The top speedcubers average ~60 moves per solve. (watch lots of example solves and many different f2l cases from different angles. Even learn edge orientation if you want to.)
Look ahead. Smooth f2l is MUCH better than spamming tps. Dont just slow down f2l, but look ahead so you have no pauses.
have a good cross. Your cross should be 7 moves or less and you should be able to do it blindfolded.
Build x crosses or plan out an f2l pair during inspection. This will greatly benefit your cross to f2l transition.
Have decent tps. A 60 move solution with 5 tps will yeild a 12 second solve.
Do all of this and not only can you be sub 20, but you can be sub 10 or faster.
 

1001010101001

Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2017
Messages
1,027
Location
Australia
WCA
2017WENR01
How i averaged sub 20- (currently sub 11)
Get a good speedcube
Learn full PLL and make sure they're good algs (Algdb.net and cubeskills.com have good algs)
learn 2 look oll and some easy oll cases (full oll is NOT required to be sub 20. I average less than a second slower using 2 look oll rather than full oll when I speedsolve. 10.8 full oll and 11.7 or so using 2 look.)
Be efficient. The top speedcubers average ~60 moves per solve. (watch lots of example solves and many different f2l cases from different angles. Even learn edge orientation if you want to.)
Look ahead. Smooth f2l is MUCH better than spamming tps. Dont just slow down f2l, but look ahead so you have no pauses.
have a good cross. Your cross should be 7 moves or less and you should be able to do it blindfolded.
Build x crosses or plan out an f2l pair during inspection. This will greatly benefit your cross to f2l transition.
Have decent tps. A 60 move solution with 5 tps will yeild a 12 second solve.
Do all of this and not only can you be sub 20, but you can be sub 10 or faster.
So cfop biased guide :(
 

Toran Jain

Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2018
Messages
6
ok, I think this would be a good way to start the intermediate place so here we go!
First off I'll be talking mainly about the fridrich method. if you know another method, stay here as it will likely be beneficial anyway. So here we go!

step 1: Use the search bar for stuff (seriously) :)

ok so with fridrich you will want to know all/most PLL and you should be using 2LOLL. Seriously speaking, you can get through PLL and 2LOLL in a month. 1+ alg a day isn't hard to remember so just get it done. But please this is very important:

GET GOOD ALGS

Seriously without good algs there is not point learning it so take your time. go though EVERY alg in the speedsolving wiki and find the best to suit you finger trick.

you will want to know a form of F2L which is quick (I'll talk about Fridich here sorry other users but keep using your methods ;)) so I don't want to see any LBL. You will need to know at least keyhole otherwise intuitive F2l (highly recommend) or alg F2L (don't recommend).
Now that you have your stuff down we can get to the important parts :D

*** apply concepts from this to other methods ***
eg. 2x2x2 block = cross etc.​

So first our cross. You want it to be about 6-7 moves on average so think about inserting several pieces at the same time using more complex thinking. But in saying that you also want to keep it finger trick friendly so:
8 move finger tricky > 6 move non-finger tricky

A very handy thing to practice is doing the cross blindfolded (I am dead serious, I REALLY recommend practicing this as the results will come very quickly. The purpose of doing this is so you know the whole cross in your head as you are doing it, thus meaning you need not look at it while solving and can concentrate on the next F2L pair. This helps a ton!!!

Next thing. While doing F2L you want to constantly be looking for the next pair. NEVER think about the pair you are doing at the moment as you should of figured it all out all ready from looking ahead in the stage before. Continuous flow > speedy, stop, speedy, stop.

Track pieces. When I am doing F2L I am constantly checking out pieces and their relative partner (eg. corner-edge). Another trick is to memorize where some of the pieces are so you can be ready to use them later.

That's about it for F2L. Just keep practicing. The rest of the solve is just relying on fast algs and good recognition. This should slow down the constant flow of " how can I be sub 20" threads :p

Also, one last thing. I think that these are the most important steps in achieving sub 20:
Slow down while doing you first 2 layers and look ahead (meaning tracking other pieces.)
Get good LL algs (cos if you don't, you'll regret it)
Practise your LL algs (figure out perfect finger tricks and DRILL)
Don't look at the cross while doing it (have it planned out)



PS. you may want a DIY as they help a bit.
Thx it would help me a lot
 

emps

Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2018
Messages
35
I need help with cross to f2l transition. if i can get my cross to f2l transition better and drill some ll algs i can become sub 20.

here are my splits : cross - 6 seconds (akward pause for like 3 or so seconds) f2l - 10 seconds oll - 3.5 seconds pll - 3.5 seconds
 

xtom

Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2015
Messages
34
Location
Shanghai
Maybe you still remember the www.rankingtimer.com I created 3 years ago, it could only be used on desktop browser.
Now I have created the Wechat mini app for it, you can use it on phone.

Search '排名计时器' in Wechat app, or scan below QR to get it.
rt_logo.jpg


Same function, simple UI, enjoy it!
 

Ender_Mage14

Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2016
Messages
10
I am using intuitive f2l with a few algorithms, 2 look OLL and 1 look PLL. I can usually finish the first 2 layers in around 15 seconds, and my average solve time is 25-27 seconds. Please tell me how I can improve my times to be sub 20!
 
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