Snigel's progression thread (dabbling in bigger cubes)

[Snigel]

Welcome to my progression thread! I currently focus on learning CFOP after having used Petrus in the ancient past (2000s). I'm also playing around with BLD. Feedback is always welcome and much appreciated!

Current goals and personal bests

• 3BLD (M2/OP)
  • Ao12: 3:30 (current focus)
  • Single: 2:15 (pending ao12 improvement)
• 3x3 (mostly on hold)
  • Use full inspection time (or more) in each solve to:
    • Make sure I can execute the whole cross while looking for F2L pieces
    • Plan beyond the cross in easy cases
  • Don't do more than 25 timed solves/day while working on the above
• 4x4 Yau (after 100 solves):
  • Ao12: 1:52.71
  • Single: 1:35.322
• 5x5 Yau (after 100 solves):
  • Ao12: 4:33.32
  • Single: 2:40.60

Previous goals and personal bests

• 3BLD
  • Successfully solve a cube using OP/M2 Done! (October 25 2023)
  • Ao5 under 1:00 sighted (no inspection time, no memorisation, but calling out letter pairs to practise the lettering scheme) Done! (April 28 2024)
  • Ao12 blindfolded, edges only, without any DNF Done! (May5 2024)
  • Ao12 blindfolded, corners only, without any DNF Done! May 1 2024)
  • Ao5: 3:30 Done! May 12 2024
  • Ao12: 4:40 Done! May 12 2024
  • Three successful solves in a row, with each solve taking less than 7 minutes Done! May 12 2024
• 3x3
  • Match my old Petrus times with CFOP (sub-20 ao12) Done! (October 2 2023)
  • Ao100 under 20.00 (Done! January 20 2024)
  • Ao1000 under 20.00 (Done! March 24 2024)

Spoiler: Original CFOP thread intro

I picked up cubing fifteen years ago and have spent some time with it on and off, but less in the past ten years or so. I learnt to solve 3x3, 4x4 and 5x5, dabbled in blind (PB: 8 minutes), multi blind (PB: 2/3) and some fewest moves challenges (PB: 32). I also tried to go fast, using Petrus because that’s what I learnt first (PB single: 13.69, PB ao12: 20.00).

Now I’m picking up cubing again and decided to learn CFOP. As I write this first post, I know all the algs from Petrus quite well, plus full PLL, although some of the algs are badly learnt and awkwardly executed (I do them like I did in 2010, when I didn’t know what fingertricks were). I also kind of know full OLL, but I forget and mix up algs all the time. I suck at F2L and cross, because I’ve only been working on those for a week.

I decided to write about my experience here and record solves, partly because it’s nice to keep a record and partly because I was hoping that kind cubers could give advice about what I’m doing wrong. If you have any suggestions for what to focus on, please let me know!

Spoiler: 3x3 progression over time (bold means new PB)

2023-05-23: Single 26.41, ao5 32.38, ao12 37.12, ao100 41.65
2023-05-24: Single 23.12, ao5 32.11, ao12 34.39, ao100 41.58
2023-05-25: Single 23.12, ao5 32.11, ao12 34.39, ao100 39.71
2023-05-26: Single 23.12, ao5 30.86, ao12 31.90, ao100 36.51
2023-05-27: Single 23.12, ao5 30.86, ao12 31.90, ao100 36.10
2023-05-28: Single 23.12, ao5 30.86, ao12 31.90, ao100 35.88
2023-05-29: Single 21.63, ao5 27.32, ao12 30.08, ao100 32.87
2023-05-30: Single 21.63, ao5 27.32, ao12 28.95, ao100 31.76
2023-06-06: Single 21.63, ao5 27.32, ao12 28.95, ao100 31.76, ao500 35.24
2023-06-07: Single 21.63, ao5 26.13, ao12 28.42, ao100 31.61, ao500 33.80
2023-06-14: Single 20.68, ao5 26.13, ao12 28.42, ao100 31.61, ao500 33.06
2023-06-19: Single 20.35, ao5 26.13, ao12 28.42, ao100 31.57, ao500 32.45
2023-06-20: Single 18.79, ao5 24.96, ao12 27.99, ao100 30.51, ao500 32.16
2023-06-22: Single 17.99, ao5 23.99, ao12 26.90, ao100 29.95, ao500 31.58
2023-06-23: Single 17.99, ao5 23.88, ao12 26.90, ao100 29.95, ao500 31.39
2023-06-27: Single 17.75, ao5 23.88, ao12 25.28, ao100 29.67, ao500 30.51
2023-06-30: Single 17.75, ao5 23.88, ao12 25.16, ao100 28.66, ao500 30.10
2023-07-12: Single 17.75, ao5 23.34, ao12 25.16, ao100 27.08, ao500 29.46
2023-07-22: Single 17.75, ao5 22.12, ao12 24.22, ao100 26.61, ao500 28.17
2023-07-26: Single 16.86, ao5 22.12, ao12 23.64, ao100 25.75, ao1000 27.95
2023-08-03: Single 16.86, ao5 21.12, ao12 22.66, ao100 24.55, ao1000 27.12
2023-08-10: Single 15.91, ao5 19.64, ao12 21.18, ao100 23.69, ao1000 25.47
2023-08-22: Single 15.83, ao5 19.64, ao12 21.18, ao100 23.69, ao1000 25.20
2023-08-28: Single 13.83, ao5 19.64, ao12 21.11, ao100 22.83, ao1000 24.52
2023-09-12: Single 13.83, ao5 18.89, ao12 20.16, ao100 22.13, ao1000 23.07
2023-10-02: Single 13.72, ao5 18.18, ao12 19.30, ao100 21.31, ao1000 22.21
2023-12-13: Single 13.72, ao5 18.18, ao12 19.30, ao100 21.24, ao1000 22.21
2023-12-21: Single 13.72, ao5 17.94, ao12 19.30, ao100 20.92, ao1000 22.02
2023-12-30: Single 13.72, ao5 17.94, ao12 18.59, ao100 20.87, ao1000 21.66
2024-01-20: Single 12.99, ao5 17.55, ao12 18.56, ao100 19.82, ao1000 20.88
2024-01-31: Single 12.99, ao5 16.48, ao12 17.80, ao100 19.42, ao1000 20.64
2024-03-13: Single 12.74, ao5 16.28, ao12 17.80, ao100 19.42, ao1000 20.34
2024-03-26: Single 12.28, ao5 16.28, ao12 17.80, ao100 19.41, ao1000 19.95

 

[T_adapledge]

Good luck on your goals

 

[Snigel]

To kick things off, here are five consecutive solves with scrambles and video clips. I know very well this is extremely bad, but humble beginnings, etc.!

2023-05-23

1: 37.00 U' F' L' U' D2 F B2 D' F R2 U D2 F2 D B2 D L2 U2 D' F2

2: 38.94 L U2 F' R' U2 L F' D2 F U2 L2 U R2 U2 B2 D2 B2 R2 D R2

3: (49.88) F' U B2 L2 F2 U2 B2 U' B2 R2 U B2 F L2 R B' L' U2 L2 B2 D

4: 38.78 U B' U2 L2 B' L2 F' U2 F2 L2 D2 F R2 U R F L2 D2 R U'

5: (33.44) D2 R B2 U2 B2 L2 B2 U' R2 F2 D B2 D2 U2 L U B' L' F U2 B2

Average: 37.91

My own priority list:

1. Learn to plan cross in inspection (which I can’t do now, even when I don’t care about inspection time limits)
2. Practise more F2L so I know what I’m doing (what you’re seeing here is completely intuitive and I know no set patterns or most efficient solutions)
3. Figure out cube rotations (I have no idea when to rotate the cube or when to do awkward moves, and I also tend to rotate to have free slots on the right because that’s what I did for Petrus)

There are obviously a ton of other things to improve here, but if anyone thinks there’s something I should focus on more than the above, or if I have some bad habit, I should stop doing immediately, advice is welcome!

 

[ethen]

To kick things off, here are five consecutive solves with scrambles and video clips. I know very well this is extremely bad, but humble beginnings, etc.!

2023-05-23

1: 37.00 U' F' L' U' D2 F B2 D' F R2 U D2 F2 D B2 D L2 U2 D' F2

2: 38.94 L U2 F' R' U2 L F' D2 F U2 L2 U R2 U2 B2 D2 B2 R2 D R2

3: 49.88 F' U B2 L2 F2 U2 B2 U' B2 R2 U B2 F L2 R B' L' U2 L2 B2 D

4: 38.78 U B' U2 L2 B' L2 F' U2 F2 L2 D2 F R2 U R F L2 D2 R U'

5: 33.44 D2 R B2 U2 B2 L2 B2 U' R2 F2 D B2 D2 U2 L U B' L' F U2 B2

Average: 37.91

My own priority list:

1. Learn to plan cross in inspection (which I can’t do now, even when I don’t care about inspection time limits)
2. Practise more F2L so I know what I’m doing (what you’re seeing here is completely intuitive and I know no set patterns or most efficient solutions)
3. Figure out cube rotations (I have no idea when to rotate the cube or when to do awkward moves, and I also tend to rotate to have free slots on the right because that’s what I did for Petrus)

There are obviously a ton of other things to improve here, but if anyone thinks there’s something I should focus on more than the above, or if I have some bad habit, I should stop doing immediately, advice is welcome!

Hey! we have the same average! wanna race to a sub 30 average?

 

[Deleted member 36445]

To kick things off, here are five consecutive solves with scrambles and video clips. I know very well this is extremely bad, but humble beginnings, etc.!

2023-05-23

1: 37.00 U' F' L' U' D2 F B2 D' F R2 U D2 F2 D B2 D L2 U2 D' F2

2: 38.94 L U2 F' R' U2 L F' D2 F U2 L2 U R2 U2 B2 D2 B2 R2 D R2

3: 49.88 F' U B2 L2 F2 U2 B2 U' B2 R2 U B2 F L2 R B' L' U2 L2 B2 D

4: 38.78 U B' U2 L2 B' L2 F' U2 F2 L2 D2 F R2 U R F L2 D2 R U'

5: 33.44 D2 R B2 U2 B2 L2 B2 U' R2 F2 D B2 D2 U2 L U B' L' F U2 B2

Average: 37.91

My own priority list:

1. Learn to plan cross in inspection (which I can’t do now, even when I don’t care about inspection time limits)
2. Practise more F2L so I know what I’m doing (what you’re seeing here is completely intuitive and I know no set patterns or most efficient solutions)
3. Figure out cube rotations (I have no idea when to rotate the cube or when to do awkward moves, and I also tend to rotate to have free slots on the right because that’s what I did for Petrus)

There are obviously a ton of other things to improve here, but if anyone thinks there’s something I should focus on more than the above, or if I have some bad habit, I should stop doing immediately, advice is welcome!

Nice solving!

You have lots of potential!

 

[Snigel]

Hey! we have the same average! wanna race to a sub 30 average?

Sure! I'll check your progression thread. I'll update mine in a week or so and we'll see how it goes!

Edit: @ethen Oh, wait, I thought you included a link, but you didn't. Do you have a progression thread?

 

[Snigel]

Nice solving!

You have lots of potential!

Thanks! It feels super awkward, though, and looking at the recordings makes it feel like I spend 90% on recognition and 10% on turning. Which is understandable, of course, once I start learning cross/f2l better, look ahead will be possible, but right now I'm fully occupied with making sure pieces go where they're supposed to go. I still mess this up often, such as trying to slot something in, only to realise I have moved the cross piece.

 

[Deleted member 36445]

Thanks! It feels super awkward, though, and looking at the recordings makes it feel like I spend 90% on recognition and 10% on turning. Which is understandable, of course, once I start learning cross/f2l better, look ahead will be possible, but right now I'm fully occupied with making sure pieces go where they're supposed to go. I still mess this up often, such as trying to slot something in, only to realise I have moved the cross piece.

It's fine

Nice to see you know full oll. That's quite an achievement.

I want to see a petrus average when you can make a video about it. I looked on your YouTube but there's no video of it

 

[Snigel]

It's fine

Nice to see you know full oll. That's quite an achievement.

I want to see a petrus average when you can make a video about it. I looked on your YouTube but there's no video of it

Hm... I can try, but it was a while ago I did Petrus fast, so I probably won't get anywhere close to my old times, but definitely faster than my current CFOP. I'll see what I can do!

 

[Snigel]

@Filipe So, I did a few test solves and then started the camera. I expected this to go much worse after not touching Petrus for a while, but it went okay. You have everything in one video clip, five solves with times and scrambles below:

1: 22.72 L' D R2 F' D2 F D2 L2 F D2 R2 F U2 B2 L F' D2 L D L' U'
2: (27.26) B' L' F L D' L B R D2 L2 F' U2 R2 L2 B' U2 F R2 B
3: (18.08) B' L2 U' R' B2 R2 L' U' L U2 D2 B' R2 U2 F' D2 B' R2 D2 B
4: 24.28 R2 D2 B L D R' L' F R2 U2 F D2 B L2 F' D2 B D2 F2 R
5: 21.55 D' F D2 R' U' D' L2 B' U2 R F2 B2 L U2 R' D2 L2 U2 F2 R' B

Average: 22.85

 

[ethen]

Sure! I'll check your progression thread. I'll update mine in a week or so and we'll see how it goes!

Edit: @ethen Oh, wait, I thought you included a link, but you didn't. Do you have a progression thread?

yea i do here! https://www.speedsolving.com/threads/ethens-progression-thread.89969/

 

[Snigel]

yea i do here! https://www.speedsolving.com/threads/ethens-progression-thread.89969/

Great! I don't know what's the custom here, but I think I'll update the first post in this thread whenever something noteworthy happens (new PBs, etc.), but I find recording tedious, so I'll only do that occasionally when I feel I have improved significantly. I'll update the stats in the first post later today because I got a new single PB with 23.12 just now. It was a PLL skip, but I might have beaten the old record (26.41) even without the skip, unless it would have been an E-perm or something!

 

[Snigel]

On a whim, I tested my 2-side PLL recognition using this tool. I tested 100 cases to eliminate noise and scored 54 out of 100, so not awesome, but much better than chance. I didn't go terribly fast but didn't stop to think where pieces must go and so on either. The tool doesn't require you to choose which subtype of PLL, so you just click G, A, U etc., not Ga/Gb/gc/Gd and so on. I then checked this guide which confirmed many of the things I think I've picked up intuitively, but also made me realise that this is more complicated than I thought. This is obviously not where I will save time, so I won't pursue this, but I thought I'd save the 54/100 for future reference. I also found this timer/guide that seems to be more useful if I decide to look at this again later.

Since I'm posting anyway, I'll also mention that I've updated my PBs in the first post. Yesterday, I beat every single one. Today, I haven't done that many timed solves, but was able to reduce the ao100 somewhat. Check the first post for details.

PBs as of 2023-05-24: Single 23.12, ao5 32.11, ao12 34.39, ao100 41.58
PBs as of 2023-05-25: Single 23.12, ao5 32.11, ao12 34.39, ao100 39.71

 

[Snigel]

Today, I felt a qualitative difference in F2L. For the first time, I felt that I could find and slot in pairs without mentally needing to turn them to see where they fit. This allowed for some look-ahead and fluidity in this stage of the solve. As a result, I broke my PBS for ao5 with more than 1 second, ao12 with more than 2 seconds and ao100 with more than 3 seconds. I also make much fewer mistakes with F2L/cross now, leading to fewer horrendous times (60+ seconds). First post in the thread has been updated, as usual.

PBs as of 2023-05-26: Single 23.12, ao5 30.86, ao12 31.90, ao100 36.51

 

[ethen]

welp singel you destroyed me, partly because i havn't been praticing 3x3 much lol, but gg man

 

[Snigel]

welp singel you destroyed me, partly because i havn't been praticing 3x3 much lol, but gg man

I'm cheating, though, so don't feel too bad about it! I mean, I was around or below 20 with Petrus and know full OLL and PLL, so the main difference between your times and mine is probably due to that right now. I think you said you do 4LLL, and this should take twice as long as what I do! 来て！

 

[ethen]

I'm cheating, though, so don't feel too bad about it! I mean, I was around or below 20 with Petrus and know full OLL and PLL, so the main difference between your times and mine is probably due to that right now. I think you said you do 4LLL, and this should take twice as long as what I do! 来て！

true

 

[Snigel]

Did ~50 solves today, which lowered the best ao100 by almost half a second to 36.10. I also managed to do two sub-30 solves in a row, which is a first for me. I then followed that with a 47.xx, so there's that. First post updated for stats as usual.

 

[Snigel]

Massive leap forward today. I still get occasional 40+, but I was close to getting sub-30 ao12. I also beat all other PBS, including single, which I beat twice. I'll see if I can get some solves recorded tomorrow to mark the one-week birthday of this thread! PB update (as usual, see the first post for a full record):

2023-05-28: Single 23.12, ao5 30.86, ao12 31.90, ao100 35.88
2023-05-29: Single 21.63, ao5 27.32, ao12 30.08, ao100 32.87

 

[Snigel]

Today was a weird day. I started off with the most awesome streak ever and easily got below 30 ao12 (28.95) and lowered my ao100 a bit, too. Then I remembered that I said I would film some solves today and proceeded to not even be able to get five solves below my previously recorded ao5 from last week (which was 37.xx). Nothing worked. I lost pieces, forgot which colour was where, accidentally dislodged the cross, messed upp OLL, and so on. Terribly frustrating! I then took a longer break and finally recorded something which was more in line with my ao100:

1: 28.85 B2 U2 F' U2 L2 R2 F L2 R2 B R2 F' R' B' D' L2 R B' R' U'
2: 32.57+ R D2 R2 D2 U2 R2 F R2 B' L2 B' L2 F L D' L' F' D L2 B' D'
3: (28.20) D2 U' L2 F2 D B2 R2 U' R2 D2 U' B' D L' B' L' B2 L B2 R
4: (47.54)* B2 R' L' U L' F2 R B2 D2 R2 B2 L2 F2 L2 D L2 U' B2 U' F
5: 33.71 L2 F L2 B2 U2 L2 R2 B L2 F2 D2 L B F' L2 U' F' L R B2

Average: 31.71 (0.05 from my best ao100, so this is representative)

+ I think I hit stop before the last turn, so added a +2 here, although it hardly matters.
* I messed up the OLL badly here, so basically did one and a half solves.

Priority list

1. Stop moving before knowing what the goal is
2. Learn F2L cases where the two pieces are connected
3. Do more slow solves; timing and filming isn't the point