New pb, 16.99! Just barely my first sub-17. Not only that, it was also my first consecutive sub-20 solve (the previous one was 18.50). I wasn't able to get a good average though, because I got a DNF on the next solve.
When I least expected it - new pb single of 16.29! The sub-20s are starting to come naturally now, once I finish learning full PLL I should be averaging sub-20 (at least, I hope so, for the sake of my first competition results).
Day 1 of learning full PLL
Today was the first and perhaps easiest day of my journey to learning full PLL. Because I've been using beginner's CFOP, I already know the H, T, Ua, Ub, Y, and Z permutations, so I figured for my first day I would master these before moving on to my next set. I average 2-4 seconds on each of these, including both recognition and execution.
If I stay on schedule, I will be finished on August 13th, five days before my first competition. To be continued...
Day 2 of learning full PLL
Today was quite a bit different than yesterday, because yesterday I only drilled the PLLs that I already knew from 2 look PLL. But today, I had to learn a new algorithm: the F perm.
First, I played through JPerm's video on PLL to learn the proper finger tricks for executing the algorithm. After that, I repeated it several dozen times before I then used JPerm's alg trainer website to do 50 timed F perm solves. Finally, I then ran through 50 more timed PLL solves with the 6 other PLL algorithms that I knew.
I will now also be doing an ao50 every day to track my progression to sub-20, so here was today's average:
How long did it take to know the f perm per alg? The f perm can be executed like: R' U' F' (T PERM) U R (I Think, t pern ends with a f but its kinda like that i think)
How long did it take to know the f perm per alg? The f perm can be executed like: R' U' F' (T PERM) U R (I Think, t pern ends with a f but its kinda like that i think)
Day 4 of learning full PLL
Seven down, fourteen to go. I decided to now learn perhaps the most iconic PLL, the J perm. Unfortunately, I have already fallen behind schedule. I was supposed to learn both J perms yesterday and the N perms today, but I had to slow down. I now average 3-4 seconds for both recognition and execution for Jb, after running it through the alg trainer 50 times. Tomorrow, I'll learn the Ja perm.
Today's averages
I passed a big milestone today, my first sub-20 ao5! I also beat my pb ao12 and ao50. Here's today's update on my pbs:
My package from SCS arrived today, I ordered the new QiYi smart timer, lunar and stardust lube, and most importantly, a skewb!
I went with the GAN standard, and I think it feels great. Of course, who am I to judge, it's my first skewb, yet I have to compete with it in 11 days. I'm not too worried about it though, because 30 solves in, I have a 13.83 ao5 and 9.79 single with beginner's method. Now to learn finger tricks...
I didn't want to create an entire thread about this, so I'll put it here. I just finished the second FMC scramble on the SS weekly competition and beat my personal best by 6 moves. But despite double checking it four times, it was submitted as a DNF! Try out the scramble and my solution for yourself, I'm confident that I didn't do anything wrong (it's scramble 2):
Forget getting my first sub-16, how about my first sub-15! If I remember correctly, it was a four move cross, a very efficient and fluid F2L, and 2 look last layer.
My first competition in 2 days, and I have a an important question for you (at least, it’s important to me). Do you think I can make the second round?
There are 90 competitors, the top 75% advance to second round, and I average 22 seconds once warmed up. I linked the psych sheet of the competition below. It’s difficult for me to tell, because there are 25 new competitors. Let me know if you think I can make it!
My first competition in 2 days, and I have a an important question for you (at least, it’s important to me). Do you think I can make the second round?
There are 90 competitors, the top 75% advance to second round, and I average 22 seconds once warmed up. I linked the psych sheet of the competition below. It’s difficult for me to tell, because there are 25 new competitors. Let me know if you think I can make it!
22 seconds would put you around 45-50, and since there are 90 competitors you are roughly top 50%. I would say that you are almost guaranteed the chance to make second round as long as you don't get too nervous. In any competition that I have gone to, most of the new competitors are not going to be much faster than you, and you would have around 15-20 spots of leeway before losing top 75%.
Glad to hear that, I'm really hoping to make second round because I tend to get my best times at that time of day, and it makes a big difference to get another ao5.
I'll post my mains and goals for the comp later today.
One day away from my first comp, and I just smashed my ao5 pb, with an average of 18.58! The average had a counting 16, which is very good for me. I'll post my mains, methods, averages, and goals for the comp later today.
Tomorrow is my first WCA competition, and I'll be leaving this afternoon for my hotel. Here are my mains and goals for the comp:
3x3
Main: Tornado V3 Flagship Method: CFOP with 4LLL Average: 22-23 seconds Goals: sub-23 average / sub-20 single / make second round
My three 3x3 goals are all more important to me than any of the other events, as it's my main event (aside from 5x5). Let's just hope the competition nerves don't get the best of me.
4x4
Main: YJ MGC Method: Reduction Average: 1:35 Goals: sub-1:30 average / sub-1:20 single / make cutoff (1:30)
I never practiced 4x4 until I registered for this competition 2 weeks ago, but because they didn't offer my main event 5x5, I figured that I could pick up 4x4. I was going to learn Yau for it, but I enjoy using reduction on 5x5, and I didn't want to confuse myself by trying to know both.
Pyraminx
Main: MoYu Weilong Maglev Method: Beginners Average: 10-12 seconds Goals: sub-13 average / sub-10 single
I never practiced pyraminx much either, but I do enjoy solving it, so I'm excited to see what I'll get for it at this comp. I tried to learn L4E last minute, but I started a bit too late, so I figured that I was sufficient enough with beginners for this comp.
Skewb
Main: GAN Standard Method: Beginners Average: 12 seconds Goals: sub-13 average / sub-10 single
I bought my first skewb only three weeks ago, when I decided to register for it at this comp. I've come a long way in two weeks, and if I can just get a low teens average and a sub-10 single, I'll be very happy.
Flex in Lex Competition Report
This is my report for my first competition, Flex in Lex 2023. I was running on only 4 hours of sleep, so I'm pretty happy with the results. I did record all of my solves, I might upload them to YouTube sometime soon.
My strategy was to get my average times first round and get my pb times the second round, since I usually don't get very warmed up in the mornings. Yet somehow, I almost managed to get a sub-20 average, and a 16 single! I wasn't very relaxed on the second and third solve, which was pretty bad, and the fourth solve had a PLL skip. But my 16 second single had no skips and almost no rotations, which I'm very happy about.
4x4
Solves: 1:41.86, 1:39.47 Single: 1:39.47
4x4 was definitely my biggest flop at the competition. I've only been practicing 4x4 for three weeks, but I was consistently getting sub-1:30 solves at home. But my look ahead was very bad that day, and I didn't make cutoff.
I was very surprised with my Pyraminx results, since I hardly even practiced it leading up to the competition. I don't remember what went wrong on the first solve, but the next three solves turned out very well.
I bought my first skewb only two weeks prior to the comp, so I can't complain about my results. I am happy with my 12 second average, but I was really hoping for a sub-10 single, which I have consistently been getting at home. But I didn't get any good scrambles, so I'll take it.
After my completely unexpected performance in the first round, I wasn't expecting to beat any official pbs on the second round, and while that didn't happen, I was a bit more consistent. Not really much to say here, I did get to sit next to Luke Greisser on my last solve, who has an official 4.54 single.
That's it for this comp report, I'll try to share some photos and videos later on.
Here's the video of my 16 second solve. Not sure why it's so fuzzy, it looks a lot better on my camera roll. Would you consider 0:17 a regrip or rotation?
It's only been several days after my first competition, and I already registered for my second: Sowega Solving (in 3 months). I am very excited for this one, because it offers my main event, 5x5. I also registered for 3x3 and 3x3 OH.
I already have a general idea on how to improve my 3x3 and 5x5, but until now, I have used my right hand and lots of "table abuse" for OH, and average 50-55 seconds. I want to switch to my left hand and start using better finger tricks, right now I'm using Jperm's tutorial. What would you recommend for me to do to improve OH over the next three months?
