Can't go below 30.84...

[JeffDelucia]

if you don't have any interest in learning anymore algs. Roux method is capable of sub-15 using only 2 algs.

Recruiting are we?

 

[AngeL]

Wow srs.
DON'T LEARN ALGORITHM F2L.

Actually, you should. The reason it comes after full OLL and PLL is because you should already know Intuitive. You learn the algs for cases that you don't already do optimally. You don't so much learn the algs as much as look at them and see what they accomplish, then integrate that into your intuitive.

Finally!!
What your saying is certainly what I need !
Thanks!

No problem For future reference if you find yourself hitting a similar wall in the future, check out the How To Be Sub-20 thread, it pretty much has all the advice you need for being, well, sub-20, lol.

 

[Systemdertoten]

I actually use a "hybrid" F2L, I figured out "intuitive" by myself, but then I looked at an algorithm cheat sheet and the algorithms where basically the same or were less optimal than the ones I already used :confused:

so i use a couple of algorithms in F2L, and I solve other cases using other algorithms I found while learning intuitive F2L.

I have found some trouble with looking ahead Even though I can easily do the F2L case with my eyes closed, when I try it with my eyes open, I run into 2 problems:

• I find myself looking at the current case.
• when I can ignore the current case, I can't see any other case, since I'm already moving the cube.

:confused:

 

[denhil3]

Okay, even though everyone here is technically giving you the right answer, the reason you're not seeing improvement is you're not practicing the right way. You've hit the wall of what you can do without good lookahead and smooth turning.

So, GO SLOW AND LOOK AHEAD. What that means is, stop trying to solve quickly. Turn slowly enough that you can stop looking at your current F2L pair, and start looking for and planning the next while you execute.

If you're having trouble with this, try solving F2L pairs with your eyes closed. Scan the cube to find the pieces, close your eyes, then pair up and insert. Once you can do this easily, open your eyes and while you're moving your hands, scan the cube for the next pair and figure out what moves will insert THAT pair. Once you can do this really well, you'll start to see those sub-30 times.

that's awesome. Thanks alot.

 

[AngeL]

I have found some trouble with looking ahead Even though I can easily do the F2L case with my eyes closed, when I try it with my eyes open, I run into 2 problems:

• I find myself looking at the current case.
• when I can ignore the current case, I can't see any other case, since I'm already moving the cube.

:confused:

Well, the first problem is just practice. Never allow yourself to look at the current pair and eventually it becomes habit.

The second problem means you're still turning too fast. Slow down even more to the point that there's never a pause in your solve and practice at that speed. You'll slowly start to be able to turn faster and faster without pauses.

Also, keep in mind that you also need to scan the part of the cube that isn't moving. When I'm doing F2L, I generally scan the parts of the cube I'm not in the middle of moving, and if I don't see anything I look at the rest.

 

[FatBoyXPC]

There is also a "How to be Faster at the Fridrich Method" thread somewhere, along with the contents of that post saved into a word document in another thread. Just use the google search bar on the forums to google what I said, you'll find it quite easily. If not I saved the word document just in case.

You should use the qqtimer or any other time that lets you do breakdown solves and have a breakdown for your F2L and finish the cube (at minimum), and let us see your times. So many people here can help you out and tell you what your times should be. Please realize if you have a 10+ second last layer then you need F2L done in less than 20 seconds consistently (which really isn't that hard if you just slow down).

To help your lookahead at F2L you can do a few things. First, find some of the nice tutorials on youtube and posted in here. I know that there have been a few nice threads about it. You could also make an F2L trainer cube (pretty much remove all LL stickers). This lets you focus on specific cubies and not worry about your LL pieces (basically getting rid of the clutter and see the pieces that matter). You can also use a metronome to help you turn at a consistent rate. Put the metronome at 60bpm (that's one beat per second) and then make one turn for every tick of the metronome. This forces you to slow down and you'll realize you have all the time in the world to look ahead while you are anxiously waiting for the next beat. This helped me quite a bit, and you should have an end goal of 3tps (180bpm). I saw the math somewhere that somebody posted about an average of 3tps. 7 moves for cross, 28 moves for F2L (they averaged 7 moves for each slot), I think OLL and PLL were 12 and/or 14 moves a piece. Either way that's 63ish moves on average and at 3ps is nearly sub20. That's not counting the easy OLL cases, 3 move F2L's, F2Ls that have a somewhat high move count but are extremely fast (like sexy move x3 for a specific case), etc.

Also look at all the youtube tutorials about optimizing F2L. Also do not forget that record yourself solving and watch the video. You'll notice a lot of pauses that you take and such. After you can be done critiquing yourself, it's time to show the rest of the forum your videos if you feel you have optimized your F2L.

I'm going to go ahead and tell you though that to get your somewhat fast times, you should shoot for an F2L of 15 or lower. Minimizing cube rotations, learning how to insert pairs into the back slots, learning the algorithms for that back, etc. are all things that can help you drop small increments of your F2L time (which we all know that nickel and dime over and over adds up!).

 

[Systemdertoten]

I have been practicing my "looking ahead" and my average is now ~36 seconds, and my PB is 29.58 sec. (not lucky)

I feel I will have sub-30 averages by next week.

 

[dillonbladez]

I have been practicing my "looking ahead" and my average is now ~36 seconds, and my PB is 29.58 sec. (not lucky)

I feel I will have sub-30 averages by next week.

YEAAAAAH NOW YOU GOTS ITT!!
Congratz I sure felt happy when I was sub-30. It was really exhilarating.
Don't forget though, once you hit sub-20, you will still have to look-ahead, so don't stop. Also, try roux, or some other block-building method. This will probably make it easier for you to do more advanced techniques (eg. X-Cross).

 

[iChanZer0]

Yeah i'm about mid 20s and use the same method as you

 

[Systemdertoten]

I'm actually surprised it only took a day and a half to grasp the concept of "looking ahead" and pull my times down

 

[dongqh608]

WOW!!! congrats.

 

[AngeL]

WTF, lol. I explain looking ahead and all of a sudden you catch up to my times. At least I still have a slightly faster PB

Nice work though, keep it up!

 

[dongqh608]

WTF, lol. I explain looking ahead and all of a sudden you catch up to my times. At least I still have a slightly faster PB

Nice work though, keep it up!

are you using full PLL?

 

[waffle=ijm]

lol Roux

 

[jms_gears1]

no no ZZ-TOP GOGOGOGOGO

 

[AngeL]

WTF, lol. I explain looking ahead and all of a sudden you catch up to my times. At least I still have a slightly faster PB

Nice work though, keep it up!

are you using full PLL?

Nope, I'm slowly working on it, though.

I'm not actually complaining or anything, just trying to demonstrate how fast he improved. I should be faster by now, but I don't have that much free time to dedicate to cubing, unfortunately, which means my PLL learning is a bit slow...

 

[Systemdertoten]

Relax everything's fine. Than you so much for the "looking ahead" tips!
I've applied looking ahead to my V-cube 5 solves and my average got MIGHTY fast! ( Previously 5:20, now 4:42 )

My speeding times mean that I don't have to move to Roux!!

Spoiler

Sorry Waffle!

Spoiler

I think I'll still take a look at Roux, anyway

 

[AngeL]

Do it! Roux is amazing. Don't get frustrated with Blockbuilding, though. It takes freaking forever to get the hang of.

 

[Systemdertoten]

Nay, blockbuilding is actually pretty simple to me; I've tried roux a couple of times (with algorithm cheat sheet) and my times are similar...

the only issue with blockbuilding ( and any method I use ) is the fact that I never learned how to use the 15 sec. inspection time, so I can't look ahead during the cross. (or building the first 1x2x3 block)

 

[Systemdertoten]

New PB: 24.85
6 move cross
Perfect look ahead
tough OLL
Pll skip