The One-Answer Question Thread [closed]

[xificurC]

Hello everyone

I'd like to hear some tips to improve in solving the Rubik's cube. So first some general information:
I use F2L with 4LLL (orient edges, orient corners, permute corners, permute edges). I have a Rubik's Storebought and I don't use fingertricks yet. Also the cube isn't lubed or modded in any other way. I knew how to solve the cube since I was around 10yo but I only got back to solving it and learning new methods a few months ago (maybe 5?). I've learned/tried many methods (Petrus, Roux, Heise, Sexy, F2L) and I found F2L the most comfortable for me. I use F2L only for about 10 days.

Now for some times: I made 5 quick solves and measured the times for each step. Here are the avg times:
Cross: 7 secs
F2L: 39 secs
LL: 24 secs (one OELL and one PELL skip)
All: 70 secs

Own comments:
I deleted about 1 solve in each case when I misjudged the case or screwed up an alg. Other than that the times are OK. I always solve the white cross since otherwise I still get lost.

Up for the questions:
To solve the cross in 7 secs (which IMO is slow) I need >15 secs preparation time. When I'm solving it I HAVE TO look (meaning I'm solving it on top and then turning, otherwise I get lost). So, what's a good practice to get better at this? Practicing is one thing but what should I try, look for fewest moves, solve blindfolded or simply be as quick as possible?

What do you think about the times? Are they good enough considering I use no fingertricks?

What system do you use for recognition? I haven't hit in a nice tutorial yet. Let's say we talk about F2L, how do you look for your pieces? And when do you look for them?

Is it useful to practice fingertricks on a cube like this? Everytime I try to do it it's slower than turning with full wrist because usually the turn isn't complete and even more often the turn is unsuccessful on the first attempt because the cube fails at cutting.

Thanks in advance

 

[penfold1992]

firstly... lube ur cube so you can turn it with just one finger. this will possibly speed your times by 20s or more.
secondly.. F2L cases? i dont understand what you mean by that because F2L is intuative (at least for me) i didnt learn any cases (except for 1 or 2 tricky cases)

about the cross... im no expert on this as i suck on getting like sub 3 second times with it but you should learn to solve it on the bottom. just force yourself to do it. make sure you only use up to 10 moves otherwise its in-efficient. so practise cross on botton and few moves even if it does make your times slower.

you could get yourself a DIY cube (i recommend the AV for you as its very accurate in the turning) however you should be able to get sub 40s with a store cube.

 

[cincyaviation]

firstly... lube ur cube so you can turn it with just one finger. this will possibly speed your times by 20s or more.
secondly..
about the cross... im no expert on this as i suck on getting like sub 3 second times with it but you should learn to solve it on the bottom. just force yourself to do it. make sure you only use up to 10 moves otherwise its in-efficient

1. Implying that lube is needed for that.
2. I doubt it will.
3. 8 moves.

At the person 2 posts above me. Try solving your cross on bottom, it isn't absolutely necessary for now, but it will be much harder to make the transition when you are faster. Also, solving the cross blindfolded will help with you planning the whole thing in advance. Just take as much time as you need until you can solve it without looking, then try to get faster at it. As for seeing F2L cases, it would be nice to know if you are using algorithmic or intuitive F2L. If you are using intuitive, just do a solve, and when you find both of the pieces that you are looking for, see if you can close your eyes and solve them.

 

[choza244]

what stickers should i buy for an AV 5.6cm or 5.7cm?? thanks

 

[TheMachanga]

I need a new way to orient corners for BLD, I use to do setup, orient one corner, undo setup. Thanks in advance.

 

[vcuber13]

why wont it let me change the colour scheme on the sq-1 sim?

 

[Andrew Ricci]

what stickers should i buy for an AV 5.6cm or 5.7cm?? thanks

.1 cm should not make much (any) of a difference.

 

[xificurC]

Thanks for the answers, guys. I'm not about to buy a new cube yet, maybe I'll change my mind in a few months. Same goes for stickers / lubes etc. Or is there a lubricant you can use and is easily found at a normal store?

I do F2L intuitively except one case. I search for the pieces and check if they need to be repositioned/twisted etc. Recognition might have been the wrong word. I wanted to ask how you search for the pieces. Let's say I solve the cross on bottom and find a corner. Then I search for the corresponding edge. But sometimes it takes me way too long to find it.

And finally, yes, thank you, I will try to solve the cross on the bottom blindfolded

 

[cincyaviation]

Thanks for the answers, guys. I'm not about to buy a new cube yet, maybe I'll change my mind in a few months. Same goes for stickers / lubes etc. Or is there a lubricant you can use and is easily found at a normal store?

I do F2L intuitively except one case. I search for the pieces and check if they need to be repositioned/twisted etc. Recognition might have been the wrong word. I wanted to ask how you search for the pieces. Let's say I solve the cross on bottom and find a corner. Then I search for the corresponding edge. But sometimes it takes me way too long to find it.

And finally, yes, thank you, I will try to solve the cross on the bottom blindfolded

What you ask for is called looking ahead. The reason you want to be able to do all your F2L cases without looking is so that while you are doing that, you can be looking for the next piece/pieces that you are going to solve. It helps you to do this if you turn slowly.

 

[James Ludlow]

about the cross... make sure you only use up to 10 moves otherwise its in-efficient

8 moves.

7moves

 

[y3k9]

Im looking for a good zz and fingertricks tutorial.

 

[xificurC]

Alright, thanks a lot, I'll keep these advices in my mind

The last question: is there some spray or lubricant that can be found in a common store? I know I read about something easy to find at a gas station?? If so, maybe a picture of it?

 

[y3k9]

Alright, thanks a lot, I'll keep these advices in my mind

The last question: is there some spray or lubricant that can be found in a common store? I know I read about something easy to find at a gas station?? If so, maybe a picture of it?

Any walmart will sell crc, if they dont have walmarts where you live Id look in any large superstore that has an auto section.

 

[hawkmp4]

about the cross... make sure you only use up to 10 moves otherwise its in-efficient

8 moves.

7moves

102 cases require 8 moves. I can't find the analysis, but Macky's page states it at the very bottom.
http://www.cubefreak.net/speed/cfop/cross.html

 

[xificurC]

Any walmart will sell crc, if they dont have walmarts where you live Id look in any large superstore that has an auto section.

I live in Slovakia and I don't think we have anything called "crc", at least I dunno what are you talking about

 

[AvidCuber]

Any walmart will sell crc, if they dont have walmarts where you live Id look in any large superstore that has an auto section.

I live in Slovakia and I don't think we have anything called "crc", at least I dunno what are you talking about

Just get any kind of silicone spray. The most popular is "CRC Heavy Duty Silicone", but if you can't find that, then just get any kind of silicone spray. Jig-a-Loo also works. Just don't use anything like WD-40, Liquid Wrench, cooking oil, petroleum jelly, or any other oil based products.

 

[y3k9]

Any walmart will sell crc, if they dont have walmarts where you live Id look in any large superstore that has an auto section.

I live in Slovakia and I don't think we have anything called "crc", at least I dunno what are you talking about

Getting lube in other countries can be hard, look around in all stores that have an auto section, and look for the place where there is tons of spray cans, you should find something, if not silicone spray something else. Oh and btw the way crc is short for crc heavy duty silicone spray. Now, does anyone know of any good zz or fingertricks tutorials?

 

[souljahsu]

what's the best square-1?

 

[AvidCuber]

what's the best square-1?

A lot of people like MF8 (I do too), but I've heard that the new Cubetwist one is good too.

 

[Andrew Ricci]

Any walmart will sell crc, if they dont have walmarts where you live Id look in any large superstore that has an auto section.

I live in Slovakia and I don't think we have anything called "crc", at least I dunno what are you talking about

Getting lube in other countries can be hard, look around in all stores that have an auto section, and look for the place where there is tons of spray cans, you should find something, if not silicone spray something else. Oh and btw the way crc is short for crc heavy duty silicone spray. Now, does anyone know of any good zz or fingertricks tutorials?

Camcuber has a good fingertrick tutorial.