Older cubers discussions

[pglewis]

Oldies are representin' this weekend, congrats @openseas and @h2f!

Some regression and frustration on 3x3 for me but a little better consistency is slowly coming around. After a couple lousy practice sessions Friday I dropped my Ao12 by over a half second and my Ao50 by a couple hundredths yesterday. The Ao50 should have been quite a bit better but 7 of the last 10 solves were sup 25, if I were stubborn I'm sure I could get it down in the 22s on a good day. The bell curve is edging down towards :20 finally with a 2nd one centered around :26, primarily due to a variety of mis-solved cross, mis-solved pairs, clobbering solved pairs, and LL execution errors. A lot of the mistakes are growing pains due to looking ahead more and many of those were otherwise on pace to be decent solves, at least.



3bld is really, truly back on the menu this coming week. It feels like the perfect time to just let 3x3 percolate with less focus and get my blind legs back.

 

[AlphaCuber is awesome]

I think everyone who can get sub 20 5bld will be going for it at bso.

 

[openseas]

For BigBLD, I think not (at our level). I timed the cost of fixing parity for both events, and for me it's 3.4 secs 4BLD and 7.5 secs 5BLD. That's much less significant as a proportion of solve time, compared to 3BLD, at the 5/12 mins I average today. Also, there is almost certainly a cost to the extra thinking to swap wings, until years of practice make it unthinking, and there will always be an additional risk of errors through making the solving process slightly more complex.

The only reason I did UB/UL swap for big BLD was, because I forgot the parity alg :-(

 

[pglewis]

[...] 3bld is really, truly back on the menu this coming week. It feels like the perfect time to just let 3x3 percolate with less focus and get my blind legs back.

And I totally forgot I've moved to a different apartment since I was last practicing blind so... hey... new rooms lol.

With M2: any consensus on swapping I/S/C/W in memo vs. just remembering to swap during execution? I've always done the latter but I'm strongly considering swapping during memo.

 

[mark49152]

With M2: any consensus on swapping I/S/C/W in memo vs. just remembering to swap during execution? I've always done the latter but I'm strongly considering swapping during memo.

I don't know about consensus, but I can offer an opinion. I've always swapped during memo, for M2, and found it very convenient because that allows the use of consistent algorithms and tricks for adjacent targets regardless of whether they start on odd or even target. It means less thinking during execution.

Of course that becomes a disadvantage when switching to 3-style, because you want CL to be the inverse of LC not LW, etc. I was concerned that might present me a problem, but it didn't. When I switched to 3-style edges recently, I pretty much immediately got used to not swapping during memo, with few if any issues.

 

[openseas]

I don't know about consensus, but I can offer an opinion. I've always swapped during memo, for M2, and found it very convenient because that allows the use of consistent algorithms and tricks for adjacent targets regardless of whether they start on odd or even target. It means less thinking during execution.

Of course that becomes a disadvantage when switching to 3-style, because you want CL to be the inverse of LC not LW, etc. I was concerned that might present me a problem, but it didn't. When I switched to 3-style edges recently, I pretty much immediately got used to not swapping during memo, with few if any issues.

Me, too. Swapping during memo is easier. You just need couple of practice to get use to it.

 

[h2f]

I do corners first but if I did edges first I would swap too.

 

[AbsoRuud]

Got another competition coming this month on the 29th. I wonder if Ron will sit me at the old people's table again this time around.

I'll be doing 2x2x2, 3x3x3, 4x4x4 and Skewb. The only two other events are Square-1 (evil) and Megaminx (not interested) so I won't be able to try and beat my Clock or Pyra PRs. Don't much care about Pyra though, but it's a shame about Clock.

I've barely practiced 4x4x4 and Skewb, so I don't think I'll do well in those, but my 2x2x2 and 3x3x3 have improved a lot. I have good hopes beating my PR single and average at this comp in those two events.

I'm strongly debating getting the Mei Long 4 and Mei Long 5 though. I hope www.cubediction.nl will have them in stock at this comp, otherwise I'll be ordering them online asap. Anything is better than the WuQue.

 

[Mike Hughey]

I've seen so much hate dished on the WuQue lately. I still love my theCubicle WuQue M; I really don't understand why people hate the WuQue so much. Maybe theCubicle treatment makes all the difference? Or I have a really bad cube but just think it's great because I don't know better?

 

[AbsoRuud]

I've seen so much hate dished on the WuQue lately. I still love my theCubicle WuQue M; I really don't understand why people hate the WuQue so much. Maybe theCubicle treatment makes all the difference? Or I have a really bad cube but just think it's great because I don't know better?

I don't like mine because it barely cornercuts, even if I lube it a whole bunch, it stays slow and stiff. It might just be me and it might be my lack of setup skills, but I just can't seem to find my groove with this cube. When I switch from example my MGC 2x2x2 or my Wei Long 3, to my WuQue, it's like turning a frozen cube under a thick layer of mud. Each time I use it, I have to lube it and break it in. It's not very motivating to solve on. So I'm gonna get the Mei Long 4.

Mind you, mine is the stock WuQue, without magnets and without pro setup.

 

[pglewis]

The very first solve I tried reversing targets in memo reminded me why I probably didn't do it before: it turns my brain inside-out in review. Granted, I should be ditching review for 3bld once I'm back in shape but I can't get away from it for mbld. I might give it a shot regardless, I know it's just a matter of getting used to it like everything else.

Remedial M2/OP wasn't as bad as anticipated. I'm back to making slow, careful, untimed attempts and cheating by consulting my image list heavily during memo with a good success rate.

 

[xyzzy]

I've seen so much hate dished on the WuQue lately. I still love my theCubicle WuQue M; I really don't understand why people hate the WuQue so much. Maybe theCubicle treatment makes all the difference? Or I have a really bad cube but just think it's great because I don't know better?

I don't like mine because it barely cornercuts, even if I lube it a whole bunch, it stays slow and stiff. It might just be me and it might be my lack of setup skills, but I just can't seem to find my groove with this cube. When I switch from example my MGC 2x2x2 or my Wei Long 3, to my WuQue, it's like turning a frozen cube under a thick layer of mud. Each time I use it, I have to lube it and break it in. It's not very motivating to solve on. So I'm gonna get the Mei Long 4.

Mind you, mine is the stock WuQue, without magnets and without pro setup.

There are about thrice as many moving parts when you make a turn on a 4×4×4 compared to a 3×3×3, so it's simply not going to turn as well as smaller cubes. (It gets worse on 6×6×6 and 7×7×7, really.)

My experience with a stock Wuque (no magnets etc.) was similar, in that it generally just feels weird for the first few solves of a session and requires a lot of constant relubing. It gets much better with magnets and a spring swap/mod/compression; weaker springs make it faster but less stable, and the magnets make up for that lost stability. I'm still not entirely pleased with my own magnetised Wuque, but I don't hate it enough that I'd drop fifty bucks on an Aosu GTS2M. (I also like my Wuque more than the Cubicle Wuque M I bought before, so there's that.)

Honestly, I think it's a safe bet that the Meilong 4 will be even worse than the Wuque. Moyu's Cubing Classroom series generally had good cubes (MF3RS and its successors), but aside from the MF7S, literally none of their budget big cubes have been well-received; I doubt the Meilong series will buck that trend. The YJ Yusu v2 M will probably be a better option.

 

[h2f]

My pb ao5:

 

[AbsoRuud]

There are about thrice as many moving parts when you make a turn on a 4×4×4 compared to a 3×3×3, so it's simply not going to turn as well as smaller cubes. (It gets worse on 6×6×6 and 7×7×7, really.)

My experience with a stock Wuque (no magnets etc.) was similar, in that it generally just feels weird for the first few solves of a session and requires a lot of constant relubing. It gets much better with magnets and a spring swap/mod/compression; weaker springs make it faster but less stable, and the magnets make up for that lost stability. I'm still not entirely pleased with my own magnetised Wuque, but I don't hate it enough that I'd drop fifty bucks on an Aosu GTS2M. (I also like my Wuque more than the Cubicle Wuque M I bought before, so there's that.)

Honestly, I think it's a safe bet that the Meilong 4 will be even worse than the Wuque. Moyu's Cubing Classroom series generally had good cubes (MF3RS and its successors), but aside from the MF7S, literally none of their budget big cubes have been well-received; I doubt the Meilong series will buck that trend. The YJ Yusu v2 M will probably be a better option.

I watched a video from Waffojim that says the Meilong 4 turns as well as the 3. So I have good hopes. Besides it's only 6 bucks, so what can go wrong there?

 

[Sergey]

I watched a video from Waffojim that says the Meilong 4 turns as well as the 3. So I have good hopes. Besides it's only 6 bucks, so what can go wrong there?

My experience says - in general do not buy cheap puzzles if you're want to get pleasure from the solving. But of cause there are an exceptions. E.g. WuQue Mini M is not cheap, but it is not as good out of the box and only after springs compression mod it become more or less acceptable. If you want to get 4x4 with the feeling closer to 3x3 in terms of turning - AoSu GTS2M is your choice, IMO. But I have not come across yet with the 4x4 with the same or better non crunchy, smooth turning (in contrast of feeling different moving parts during turn) and flatness feeling like the old regular WuQue.

 

[One Wheel]

I’m working on 4BLD (again), and dealing with memorizing longer strings than I can’t seem to make work for 3BLD. I think I’ve got a phrase that works for me for this one, but it’s nice to see other ideas. What would you guys memorize for

UR IS FD MK GP TC HX OB LW?

 

[Mike Hughey]

UR IS FD MK GP TC HX OB LW?

I normally memorize 3 pairs per location, so I'd break this up in 3 parts:
an URn is held by the goddess ISis, holding bountiful FooD
MarK (an old roommate of mine) fills a GaP in the wall with a huge TiCk
a HeXagonal OBoe has been shoved (probably mouthpiece first) into the LaWn

I know other people would possibly be going for audio for a string this length, for some types of pieces at least (the usual thing I think now is to do 4x4x4 wings with audio), but I still have incredible trouble memorizing just 3x3x3 edges in audio - wings are way beyond my capability with audio. Other than audio, I try to make my memorization as visual (with images) as I can - memory just doesn't stick very well for me otherwise.

I guess I should mention that, if you notice, all my words here are one or two syllables. Almost all of my images now are one or two syllables - one syllable if possible - so I can "say" them quickly. It really made a difference in my times when I made that change. When I review, I'd really say under my breath:
Urn Isis Food
Mark Gap Tick
Hex Oboe Lawn
Really fast that way.

 

[pglewis]

I’m working on 4BLD (again), and dealing with memorizing longer strings than I can’t seem to make work for 3BLD. I think I’ve got a phrase that works for me for this one, but it’s nice to see other ideas. What would you guys memorize for

UR IS FD MK GP TC HX OB LW?

This is probably how I'd memo it:

[uncle rico] on [ice skates] at the [fire dept] with a [monkey]
[gomer pyle] on a [tennis court] with a [hexed] [oboe] and a [little wagon]

 

[One Wheel]

I normally memorize 3 pairs per location, so I'd break this up in 3 parts:
an URn is held by the goddess ISis, holding bountiful FooD
MarK (an old roommate of mine) fills a GaP in the wall with a huge TiCk
a HeXagonal OBoe has been shoved (probably mouthpiece first) into the LaWn

I know other people would possibly be going for audio for a string this length, for some types of pieces at least (the usual thing I think now is to do 4x4x4 wings with audio), but I still have incredible trouble memorizing just 3x3x3 edges in audio - wings are way beyond my capability with audio. Other than audio, I try to make my memorization as visual (with images) as I can - memory just doesn't stick very well for me otherwise.

I guess I should mention that, if you notice, all my words here are one or two syllables. Almost all of my images now are one or two syllables - one syllable if possible - so I can "say" them quickly. It really made a difference in my times when I made that change. When I review, I'd really say under my breath:
Urn Isis Food
Mark Gap Tick
Hex Oboe Lawn
Really fast that way.

Do you have some words that you just never use? I would be concerned by “held,” “goddess,” “fills,” and “shoved.”

I had Uncle Rambo IS FeD MarK’s Grand Prize ThunderClap, a HeX is OutBound LeftWard. I think I prefer Uncle Rambo IS FeD MarK’s Grand Prize ThunderClap and a HeXagonal OBoe on the LaWn. Not sure of the wisdom of using “is,” though.

 

[openseas]

UR IS FD MK GP TC HX OB LW?

I would go audio, too but...

URine IShaan at FooD MarKet with GaP (hat) eating TaCo HauX (drinking) OB (beer brand in Korea) with Law (my colleague).

Like Mike, all pairs are one word for me.