Is this normal?

[Eleredo]

Hi all. I've been in the cubing scene since March '10.

I've read lots and lots of sites and watched lots and lots of videos.

A bit of history:

I started off with the You Can Do The Cube method and was kind of addicted to it that I didn't want to switch. When I saw, after months, that I only got PB's of 50-60 seconds, I decided to learn another method.

I then learned Petrus and 2LOLL , but shortly after I learnt those, my cube broke. I only got another one after a month or so. I then started solving the cube again with Petrus.

Today, after all those months, I still get lots and lots of 50+'s, which is not normal. I read about people getting 30-40s in like 2 months, and I've been cubing since March and these are my times (just did an average of 12):

1. 43.86 U D2 R2 D L' D2 F' D' F2 B D R L2 U R B' D' B2 U' L2 U2 F2 D' U2 B
2. 43.91 U2 D' F2 U F B U' D R' F2 D2 B' U' B2 R F R2 L' F' B D' B2 U D R'
3. 48.72 B' F' L' F R2 U2 F' U2 F B D' L' B D U2 R' F' R U2 B2 F' D' U2 L' U
4. (58.64) D2 B D L U' B' U D R2 F B R' U D' F2 L2 D' F' B' D' L2 U2 F' D L
5. 53.62 U' F2 D' F R' U B U' D' L' F U' F' L' F B' U2 R2 B' R B2 U' L2 F2 L2
6. 53.29 B' L B2 U2 F D' R2 D L2 R2 F2 D' F R2 B' U' F' R' F' L B' D2 L' B' U2
7. 41.11 B' U2 R B2 D' R' B F D F2 L2 R2 B2 L2 U L' B F' D' U B' D2 R' D F2
8. 55.39 B' U2 B2 L' U D' R2 B' R2 D L2 D R' U' B' D2 R' B D' R' B U2 L' D F'
9. 48.41 R2 U2 R2 F B R L2 F D' L R' F' R2 D' L B' R2 U2 R L' D' F' L' B' L2
10. 40.67 R2 D2 L2 B2 D' U B' U2 D B R L2 F2 R' B' U D2 L D2 R' U B U R2 F2
11. 50.42 U B' R' U B' D' R2 D L R2 B U' D2 L' B R U2 F' D U' R2 L' B' L' U'
12. (35.67) R2 F R' L U2 D R2 L U' B' D2 B2 F' U2 F' B2 R' U B U' L2 D F' U2 B2

number of times: 12/12
best time: 35.67
worst time: 58.64

current avg5: 46.50 (σ = 4.20)
best avg5: 46.50 (σ = 4.20)

current avg12: 47.94 (σ = 5.06)
best avg12: 47.94 (σ = 5.06)

session avg: 47.94 (σ = 5.06)
session mean: 47.81

Don't mind the 35, I had a PLL skip there.

I think these times suck for having practiced that long. Always around 50 and only 6 sub 50's (well, actually 7 but like I already said, the 35 was a PLL skip so that doesn't count)

I've never had a DIY either so I don't know if it is my storebought or the way I solve the cube or whatever. It could also be a combination of the two.

I could keep on practicing, but will it still make a noticeable change to my times after all these months? Are these times normal for having practiced since May? (cause it was then that I switched to Petrus)

Many thanks in advance!

 

[hawkmp4]

How many solves do you do on a typical day?

 

[Eleredo]

Anywhere from 50 to 150 times. Never really keeped track of it, it's a rough guess though, as I don't cube at a specific time, but lots of times throughout the entire day.

 

[BluePi1313]

I'm not normal, I've been using the ortega for half a year now, and I still have a 8-11 second avg (2x2x2 cube)

 

[waffle=ijm]

People get more consistent and faster when they practice consistently while identifying their errors in solves and making sure they fix it. Saying you "practice" isn't good enough.

 

[StachuK1992]

I've been cubing for nearing 3 years, and I'm barely sub20.
Then again, I've changed methods....lots of times.

Don't worry about your times yet - worry about your efficiency.

 

[JeffDelucia]

I think it's because you are using petrus. Its a very intuitive method but requires much more practice than fridrich.

 

[jms_gears1]

I think it's because you are using petrus. Its a very intuitive method but requires much more practice than fridrich.

sigh.

Whether using petrus/ Fridrich/ Roux it doesnt matter.

Basically what waffle said. Figure out whats going wrong and fix it.

Dont limit your inspection. Before you start build the 2x2x2 in your head. And if you cant do that then build the 1x2x2 and figure out where the last piece will be.

As your solving watch out for the pieces that you can extend to a 2x2x3.

Also are you colour neutral? (not that it really matters im just curious)

 

[Anonymous]

Don't Worry

sigh.

Whether using petrus/ Fridrich/ Roux it doesnt matter.

Basically what waffle said. Figure out whats going wrong and fix it.

Dont limit your inspection. Before you start build the 2x2x2 in your head. And if you cant do that then build the 1x2x2 and figure out where the last piece will be.

As your solving watch out for the pieces that you can extend to a 2x2x3.

Also are you colour neutral? (not that it really matters im just curious)

Do you disagree that Petrus takes longer to master? I'm not sure either way, I'm just asking you.

As for the OP: I actually think that ~50 seconds is acceptable if you started in March. I'm about sub-20 (just on the cusp) and I've been cubing for eight months, but four months into it I doubt I was sub-40. Just do what everyone's saying- focus on your weaknesses. Don't worry about your times, they're just fine for now.

 

[chris410]

Video record yourself and look at your pauses and note where you are in the solve then ask yourself, why did I just pause? Also, make sure your algorithms work for your turning style. The wiki has plenty of alternative algorithms that my work for you. Of course, practice and developing your lookahead along with efficiency come into play.

In summary, there is no "magical" secret to gaining speed besides identifying your weak points via breaking down your solves and determining where you are losing time and practice however "smart" practice. Do not simply solve over and over, when you record a time that is outside your norm, ask yourself why. Do not compare yourself to others, some people are simply faster than others, the goal whether you are fast or slow is to have fun. Good luck!

 

[Samania]

Maybe you just need a good old break. Go watch Harry Potter or something, that's what I would do

 

[hawkmp4]

Do you disagree that Petrus takes longer to master? I'm not sure either way, I'm just asking you.

It would seem that it takes longer to get very good at Petrus or Roux. But we're not talking about sub-11 times here. It shouldn't matter what method (for the most part) one is using when you're only sub-50.

 

[Joker]

Inspect for as long as you want. Enough to make the 2x2 block. Seriously, if it takes you 15 min, do it anyhow. It seems that your execution for your algs may be slow. So try to get the cases down well.
Having said that, go slow and look ahead. Limit the pauses, and that should cut some more time off.
We can help you more if you uploaded a video of solves.

 

[uberCuber]

I've been cubing for 4 months, and am very close to sub-25 (probably will be once my F-II gets here and I finally stop using rubik's brand)

BUT, this is only because I use Fridrich, by far the easiest speedsolving method to master. Like others have said, Petrus is more difficult to master. Just go slowly, practice lookahead, and practice planning out the whole 2x2x2 in inspection. Don't expect to improve overnight, don't be impatient, and you'll be fine

 

[freshcuber]

I learned the same beginners method as you and now I'm transitioning into Fridrich and I'm doing well. If you think Petrus is what you want to go with then stay with it but going with Fridrich might be an easier transition and then once you're more comfortable with your cube and you've built up some knowledge revisit Petrus.

 

[HelpCube]

Video record yourself and look at your pauses and note where you are in the solve then ask yourself, why did I just pause? Also, make sure your algorithms work for your turning style. The wiki has plenty of alternative algorithms that my work for you. Of course, practice and developing your lookahead along with efficiency come into play.

In summary, there is no "magical" secret to gaining speed besides identifying your weak points via breaking down your solves and determining where you are losing time and practice however "smart" practice. Do not simply solve over and over, when you record a time that is outside your norm, ask yourself why. Do not compare yourself to others, some people are simply faster than others, the goal whether you are fast or slow is to have fun. Good luck!

Exactly what i was going to say, +1

 

[Eleredo]

Thanks for the replies.

It seems that I'm faster while listening to music.
Just discovered that:

Session average: 46.20
1. (56.13) B R B R' B' F2 D2 R B2 R D' R F D2 U R' F B2 D2 U' L U F' L' F
2. (38.34) R' B2 R2 D' L F R D2 F2 L2 R2 U2 L' U' R U' F U' L U R' D2 R2 D' L'
3. 48.18 R2 U R D' U2 L D' L U' R2 B' R' D' R' D' R' B2 R' U' R' L F' D' L' R
4. 44.85 B' F U' B' U' R2 D' F R2 U L D B2 D' F' U F D F' D F' L F' B' D2
5. 39.12 U F B' R' D' F' L2 B' D2 B' L2 U B2 L' F2 D B' R F2 D2 B R F2 B' D2
6. 54.64 R2 F2 U2 R F B D' B' D U' L' B2 U' D F U B2 R2 U' F D2 U2 B R' F'
7. 42.03 L2 R' F R' L D L2 B2 L' F2 U2 D' F U' D' B2 D' L2 U D' R' D' L' D L
8. 48.81 D2 L' B L D' L U' L B2 L' B2 U2 F B2 L2 D R' U R2 B2 L' F U2 L2 D
9. 48.37 L2 D2 U' B D R2 D' L2 B2 D F' U' L D2 R D2 B L2 D' L2 F' R' D2 B2 F'
10. 52.46 D2 R2 L F' U2 D2 L' U' B' F' D B2 D2 U' L D2 L2 D2 F2 B' D' R F U2 D2
11. 45.92 L U B' U2 D B2 D' L R2 D2 R' B' R2 D F' L' B2 R2 L' F D' F B' D' U2
12. 47.85 D U' L2 B D2 F D2 U F2 L' D2 B' L' B2 R2 B2 L' R' U R2 F2 B' R U' R2
13. 39.26 L' F D2 L R D' L F2 U B D' U F' D' U2 B' L2 D U2 F L R B' L R'
14. 42.83 F' R2 U' D' L F R2 F2 U' F' D2 B' L2 B2 F' L' F2 B U D' R' F' L B2 U
15. 43.19 L' R' B2 R2 L2 D R' B' D2 F R2 B L2 U' F B2 D R' L2 U2 F D F2 R2 L2
16. 44.91 R U F' U2 R D U' F2 L2 U' F U' F D' U2 L2 D L R B' U' F2 D2 B' L2
17. 43.80 L' R B2 F L2 D U2 L2 F' L2 U D2 L2 U2 D F' B2 U2 F B2 D' B D U' L
18. 53.82 B D' B R2 L' B' U' D2 R' L D U' F' D2 L U' F U2 B R' F' R2 B' U2 F2
19. 44.26 R2 U L B2 D' U2 B F' R' U' D2 L D2 B' U' D R' D2 L2 F U F' D B2 F2
20. 42.20 D F2 B' L U B R2 F' B' U2 R2 F L D U F R' F2 D' L U2 R U' B U'
21. 48.63 D2 F B' D2 R B' L2 D' U F2 D' R' U' D' R' D' B L U2 B2 F L F' B2 L'
22. 48.82 U2 L' R2 U' R' D R' D L B2 R2 B' R' B2 F' U R L' F2 B' L2 F2 U R2 U2

stats: (hide)
number of times: 22/22
best time: 38.34
worst time: 56.13

current avg5: 47.24 (σ = 2.11)
best avg5: 43.27 (σ = 0.40)

current avg12: 45.24 (σ = 2.32)
best avg12: 45.24 (σ = 2.32)

session avg: 46.20 (σ = 4.27)
session mean: 46.29

Only 4 50+'s in 22 solves, 15 sub 50's and 3 sub 40's. :O

 

[nck]

Inspect for as long as you want. Enough to make the 2x2 block. Seriously, if it takes you 15 min, do it anyhow. It seems that your execution for your algs may be slow. So try to get the cases down well.
Having said that, go slow and look ahead. Limit the pauses, and that should cut some more time off.
We can help you more if you uploaded a video of solves.

At 50seconds, I'll say he is having difficulties in solving the cube itself rather than tracking pieces. There is no use practicing looking ahead at this stage.

Instead I would recommend first inspecting the cube as long as you want and try to build 2x2x2 with less moves. Then do the same thing for expanding 2x2x3.
This allows you to focus how to solve efficiently rather than turning fanatically because the timer is running. There is really no point in practicing if you are solving the cube very inefficiently.

A break down of your solves and how many moves each step takes can help us to help you improve. For example, if you are using like 20 moves for the 2x2x2 then it can really tell you how to improve.

Unless your doing something terribly wrong, I see no reason why you are not improving if your solving that much each day.

Personally, I started with Petrus as well before I switched to other methods. It was hard to learn for me as my only resource was Petrus's website. However I got to ~40 quite easily with only <20 solves per day.

 

[Eleredo]

Maybe my blockbuilding is inefficient.
An example solve of how I make blocks:

Scramble: U2 B L2 U2 D L2 U2 R L F' U' L2 F2 R L F2 D' F2 L2 R2 F' U2 L' F L2

2x2x2 block: y' u b R L2 B' U L D2 U R U'
2x2x3 block: x' y B R' U2 R' B L U2 L' R' F' U2 F

 

[olekosun]

Maybe my blockbuilding is inefficient.
An example solve of how I make blocks:

Scramble: U2 B L2 U2 D L2 U2 R L F' U' L2 F2 R L F2 D' F2 L2 R2 F' U2 L' F L2

2x2x2 block: y' u b R L2 B' U L D2 U R U'
2x2x3 block: x' y B R' U2 R' B L U2 L' R' F' U2 F

Waaaaaay too many moves.
You can get 2x2x3 block immediately by just doing B2 L F' R2 F U R' U.