centers 4 4x4

[AJelsma]

any tips 2 get 10/sub 10 on 4x4 centers it takes me about 20-35 secs but, i average about 2:00-2:10. This is greatly decided on the 3x3 solve and centers.

Thanks

 

[fanwuq]

I would want to know this as well. I average around 20-25 seconds on centers and 65-80 seconds for the whole solve. Sometimes my edges are faster than my centers.
This is for ryanheise's simulator. Real cubes *cough*Meffert's*cough* do not work for me.

 

[jcuber]

I want an advanced guide *cough*erik*cough* to 4x4 centers.

 

[Robert-Y]

Try looking ahead more. When you begin your solve make sure you can at least spot a solution to the first centre and, if possible, the first half (or even the whole) of the second centre (which should be the opposite centre to the first one). As you're finishing the second half of the second centre, try to preserve any 1x2 centre blocks you see, so you can use that as the start of the third centre.

 

[EmersonHerrmann]

Uh...*cough*practice*cough*

Also *cough*here's*cough*a*cough*tutorial*cough*.


It's in Japanese but you can understand what Syuhei means by where he points

Edit: and what Robert said above.

 

[Robert-Y]

Hang on, no one has asked yet but, how are you solving the centres?

 

[jcuber]

Me or OP?
MSGTOOSHORT

 

[fanwuq]

I solve centers color neutral (one at a time in any direction), sometimes I have to pause to think about my color scheme. That's my main problem. I've gotten sub-15 centers before, but that's harder than a sub-15 3x3 stage.

 

[Ellis]

I solve centers color neutral (one at a time in any direction), sometimes I have to pause to think about my color scheme. That's my main problem. I've gotten sub-15 centers before, but that's harder than a sub-15 3x3 stage.

Maybe try not being color neutral then... if you're still pausing to remember the scheme. I'm only opposite neutral and after either center I solve first, I do the rotation to end up with my scheme the same way. I think I'm usually sub-15 centers, but find it nearly impossible to get sub 20-25 3x3 stage.

 

[amostay2004]

For me it just gets faster by practise..once you're used to it. I'm at 15-20secs..sometimes sub-15

 

[DavidWoner]

The secret is to turn faster.

 

[Robert-Y]

I solve centers color neutral (one at a time in any direction), sometimes I have to pause to think about my color scheme. That's my main problem. I've gotten sub-15 centers before, but that's harder than a sub-15 3x3 stage.

Yeah, I think the best way to is to solve one centre, then the one opposite to it, then whichever centres you like for the rest of the centres solve.

 

[Vulosity]

Well, I am averaging about 15 seconds centers on my Eastsheen and is it worth being color neutral on 4x4 centers?

 

[Robert-Y]

Yes, I think it's definitely worth being colour neutral

 

[fanwuq]

Yes, I think it's definitely worth being colour neutral

After a bit of practice, I've been getting a lot of 17s, so I guess that's better.
I think my main problem lies in the 4th center. That's when I pause to determine my color scheme. First 2 opp centers are easy, around 4-8 seconds. The 3rd is really fast. I pause to think about the 4th and I suck at Guimond for 2x2, so last 2 aren't that great either.

 

[Escher]

Yes, I think it's definitely worth being colour neutral

But only if you practice a LOT if you aren't colour neutral on 3x3. I started off being colour neutral on 4x4 for centres, but in the end i just kept with being opposite colour neutral like I am on 3x3. That said, I still rotate the cube so I have yellow on L, and I still sometimes mess up
Anyway,
- if you cant be bothered to get colour neutral centres, be opposite colour neutral for the first two.
- get a set order for solving centres after this (I used to go red, green, purple, blue), then once you are comfortable with that, be able to do it starting on the opposite colour.
- After you've done that, you should be able to start with any colour after the first two centres, whichever way round you've done them.

- Practice! I suggest doing an average of 100 of centres (scramble, solve centres, scramble) every day, if you have the time.
- Slow turn. That is, turn constantly. It'll force you to look ahead way more than you are doing now.
- Make the first centre on the bottom, if you can. You'll have a greater awareness of the opposite centre pieces.

- Practice solving the last two centres in as few moves as possible. Once you are used to the different patterns, you will be able to lookahead into the edge pairing stage, and you'll save a few seconds not having to look for the first pair. You might also be able to save a one or two moves from the last two centres, too.

I average about 15s for the centres, sometimes more, sometimes less. Hope this helped a bit.

 

[fanwuq]

I don't see how color neutral can make things worse. In fact, other than 3x3, I'm completely color neutral for any other puzzle. I really regret starting only with the white cross just because people told me to do that when I first started. Only big cubes, because the 3x3 is only a small portion of the whole solve, I can be color neutral for it occasionally although most of the time, I still do yellow or white first.

 

[Robert-Y]

Yes, I think it's definitely worth being colour neutral

After a bit of practice, I've been getting a lot of 17s, so I guess that's better.
I think my main problem lies in the 4th center. That's when I pause to determine my color scheme. First 2 opp centers are easy, around 4-8 seconds. The 3rd is really fast. I pause to think about the 4th and I suck at Guimond for 2x2, so last 2 aren't that great either.

Ah yes, I used to have the same problem. What I did was I looked at a corner to help determine which centre to do next after the third centre. If you just keep practising, you wont have to think about which centre to do next, you will just know straight away. Maybe it's just me but I only started being fully colour neutral in December (just a guess) (i.e. when I didn't have to rely on looking at a corner anymore). For the last two, just keep practising.

EDIT: btw, I was just talking about being colour netural for 4x4x4 centres.