[Help Thread] Over 40 average, but sub-30 single.

[Not That Good Cuber]

I done a 14 singles training, i got a really fast solve, about 27 seconds, something there, but i have done my averages, and they don't get even sub-40. How do I make my times consistent?

Here's the CStimer text.

{"session1":"
[[[0,49123],\"R2 F' L2 D2 F L2 D2 L2 B2 F' L2 F U L D' B' D2 U R U R2\",\"\",1545677776],

[[0,38824],\"R F U L2 D' L2 F2 R2 F2 U2 R2 D' L2 U2 F' U' L' F2 U' B D'\",\"\",1545677918],

[[0,43521],\"L U2 R2 F2 U2 L' B2 U2 R' B2 L U2 F' R D' B' F2 D' B2 U B\",\"\",1545678078],

[[0,54255],\"B U L2 F2 D2 L B2 R' D2 L2 F2 R B2 D2 F' R U2 R2 U B F'\",\"\",1545678214],

[[0,50203],\"B2 U2 F2 R' U2 B2 F2 R B2 L2 R2 U' R2 B U R' F L2 U' F'\",\"\",1545678367],

[[0,52049],\"L2 U R2 F2 D L2 U L2 U2 F' D2 F' U2 F2 L' B' L' R F'\",\"\",1545680318]
,
[[0,38460],\"L' U2 R U2 R' B2 R' F2 L' U2 R' B' D' B R F L2 R' U2 F'\",\"\",1545680450],

[[0,45475],\"F L B F2 D' L2 U2 L2 U R2 U' F2 U L D' B R' D' L2 U2\",\"\",1545683308],

[[0,39256],\"R B2 D2 B' F2 R2 B U2 L2 D2 B U F L' R' D U' B' R2 U'\",\"\",1545683428],

[[0,50141],\"L2 U2 F2 D2 U' F2 U F2 L2 R2 F L' B U' B F D' B' L' U'\",\"\",1545683544],

[[0,37960],\"D R2 B2 F2 D F2 D B2 R2 B2 D' U2 L B' L B2 L F R D F\",\"\",1545683675],

[[0,27813],\"B2 R2 D' U2 R2 F2 D' U2 L2 F2 U L2 B' D' F' U2 B R'\",\"\",1545683872],

[[0,44727],\"D B2 U' R2 B2 D' L2 U' B2 D2 B2 U' R' D2 L R2 D R U F D2\",\"\",1545684282],

[[0,42664],\"B L2 D' R2 F2 R2 B2 D2 L2 U L2 U2 L U L2 R' F U2 L F\",\"\",1545684428]]"

 

[DGCubes]

This is pretty normal; your times aren't the most consistent but it's not shocking. The standard advice is to just practice, but it's quite difficult to give specific advice without knowing anything about your solves (what cube/method you use, how long you've been cubing, etc.).

 

[JustinTimeCuber]

I'd agree with DG; your times are a bit more inconsistent than normal but not so much that it's surprising or worrying. Practice more and you'll get more consistent. If you want more specific advice you're going to need to give us more details to work with.

 

[Not That Good Cuber]

I'd agree with DG; your times are a bit more inconsistent than normal but not so much that it's surprising or worrying. Practice more and you'll get more consistent. If you want more specific advice you're going to need to give us more details to work with.

So, I use CFOP and I have full section A of basic F2L, which is both pieces in top layer. I have a efficient cross of 8 moves or less, averaging not more than 1 tps on the cross execution. 3-look last layer with full PLL and nothing more than full OCLL unless the 2-look algorithms, which are T1 and P4.

 

[JustinTimeCuber]

So, I use CFOP and I have full section A of basic F2L, which is both pieces in top layer. I have a efficient cross of 8 moves or less, averaging not more than 1 tps on the cross execution. 3-look last layer with full PLL and nothing more than full OCLL unless the 2-look algorithms, which are T1 and P4.

Sounds like your cross might be holding you back a bit in terms of consistency. If you have an efficient (usually < 8ish move) cross as you say, that's better (in terms of efficiency) than even some people I've seen who are around or a bit below 20; however, doing that at just 1 TPS is going to throw a lot of variability into your solves. I don't know the best way to improve that but I'd suggest practicing solving the cross blindfolded. The easier, short term (but bad, don't actually do this) solution would just be to sacrifice some efficiency for higher turning speed. As I said, don't actually do that. It's not worth it in the long run.

Unless you've been making frequent mistakes with your last layer, that's not where a lot of gains will be made at your level. A lot of people around the 40ish range have super inconsistent and poorly executed F2L solutions. I'm not sure if this applies to you specifically but a common problem is taking much longer than necessary to spot the next pair. Make sure you know your solution for a pair in muscle memory so you can see the next one sooner.

 

[cuber314159]

How to be sub30 on 3x3:

1. Get bored of 3x3
2. Get an aochuang GTSM
3. Do lots of 5x5 solves
4. Get a sub 2:30 5x5 average
5. Congratulations, you should now be sub30 on 3x3

 

[Not That Good Cuber]

Sounds like your cross might be holding you back a bit in terms of consistency. If you have an efficient (usually < 8ish move) cross as you say, that's better (in terms of efficiency) than even some people I've seen who are around or a bit below 20; however, doing that at just 1 TPS is going to throw a lot of variability into your solves. I don't know the best way to improve that but I'd suggest practicing solving the cross blindfolded. The easier, short term (but bad, don't actually do this) solution would just be to sacrifice some efficiency for higher turning speed. As I said, don't actually do that. It's not worth it in the long run.

Unless you've been making frequent mistakes with your last layer, that's not where a lot of gains will be made at your level. A lot of people around the 40ish range have super inconsistent and poorly executed F2L solutions. I'm not sure if this applies to you specifically but a common problem is taking much longer than necessary to spot the next pair. Make sure you know your solution for a pair in muscle memory so you can see the next one sooner.

A lot of times I make my F2L timing, i have 16ish seconds, which is somehow a similar time to my full last layer. I get a lot of time through 2-look last layer, because I am bad at executing the bug and bowtie, or T and L for 2x2, and I get them frequently after 2-look executions. I am not that fast in N, R and G perms, and I use Feliks' variations in the Cubeskillz (I don't actually remember it properly) PDF. Even tough I train TPS by OLL and PLL, I can't get faster, and I try using the most easy fingertricks, like the push U' in the Gb perm.

 

[pglewis]

Recording some of your solves and watching back might be self-enlightening. Look for pauses in particular, they're the enemy and I find them a lot more noticeable watching back than during my solves.