Some questions on different kinds of cubes

[skittlez350]

I learned how to solve a rubiks cube about two years ago with a rubik's brand storebought. It sucked, but I lubed it and it was better than before. That was when I was introduced into speedcubing. My friend had gotten me a cube for my birthday, he had no idea what it was, but I found out the cube was a ghosthand(not sure if 1 or 2). The cube felt good, way better than the Rubik's brand, but kept locking up, popping, and was not too good of a corner cutter. But I still decided to learn CFOP, and while im still working on it right now, I was averaging 42 then. My friend lent me his zhanchi, which was pretty much amazing and I started to average 35, and after giving it back to him, I just ordered myself an ultimate lubix zhanchi yesterday(im not too good at modding). However, I then made an account on this website, and keep seeing posts on how someone should not jump from beginner cubes like rubiks brand and ghosthands to a dayan cube, because it will ruin their accuracy and hurt them in the long run. It confused me, and am not sure if I bought the right cube, so can someone explain to me if I will be fine with the zhanchi or not? And what is the big difference between expert, intermediate, and beginner cubes? Thanks in advance.

P.S : This is my first day on this website, and pretty much my first time on any forum, so sorry if I made any major mistakes. Thanks.

 

[ben1996123]

someone should not jump from beginner cubes like rubiks brand and ghosthands to a dayan cube, because it will ruin their accuracy and hurt them in the long run.

they're wrong. get whatever cube you want.

 

[cubernya]

they're wrong. get whatever cube you want.

I'll second that

 

[skittlez350]

Thanks for clearing it up. I appreciate it.

 

[balloon6610]

It' ok really Zhanchi is my second speed cube that i bought after a guhong which i use storebought before a guhong. And i don't have any problem at all, When you get use to the cube you will learn to control it

 

[skittlez350]

Thanks

 

[Rubiksboy1]

Yeah, I've never heard this, and it doesn't seem to make sense.
I had an old Rubiks, worse than the new kind, then a normal Rubiks, now I have a Lubix Ultimate ZanChi. I would say that I'm intermediate (30-35 seconds), and it's given me no problems.

 

[MiSenIn]

many people use ShengShou 3x3x3 Magic Cube as the begin.

 

[Ninja Storm]

That point is VERY debatable. To prevent flaming, I won't respond to people disagreeing with me.

Rubik's brand cubes do not corner cut very well. They can do ~20 degrees normally, and can't reverse cut at all. By using a cube that can't corner cut as well, your fingers get used to having accurate turning, lest your times suffer. This is especially important on bigger cubes, where corner cutting is nearly non-existent.

At your speed, you should be transitioning from an intermediate cube, to starting with a better cube. However, it would be good to continue practicing with your other cubes, to make sure you're not ACTUALLY using the 45 degree corner cutting a Dayan cube can bring.

 

[Ickathu]

That point is VERY debatable. To prevent flaming, I won't respond to people disagreeing with me.

Rubik's brand cubes do not corner cut very well. They can do ~20 degrees normally, and can't reverse cut at all. By using a cube that can't corner cut as well, your fingers get used to having accurate turning, lest your times suffer. This is especially important on bigger cubes, where corner cutting is nearly non-existent.

At your speed, you should be transitioning from an intermediate cube, to starting with a better cube. However, it would be good to continue practicing with your other cubes, to make sure you're not ACTUALLY using the 45 degree corner cutting a Dayan cube can bring.

i.e., keep using the ghost hand for a while or tighten the zhanchi a lot so it doesn't cut as much. Some cutting is fine, but even advanced speedcubers (sub10) don't use or need all that corner cutting.

 

[emolover]

many people use ShengShou 3x3x3 Magic Cube as the begin.

No they don't.

 

[Kattenvriendin]

I agree with both hehe.

Get the cube YOU want and like, but make sure you try to corner cut as little as possible. I started out with a ZhanChi, still use that same ZhanChi. I am practicing with the left index still to get it up to par that a flick will make a quarter turn. Not there yet, but it will come, but in the mean time the turn that comes after cuts like the bananas of course, which DOES slow you down.

Maybe a trick to use is to try and solve the ZhanChi as quietly as possible. The louder the cube is when solving, the more you cut, so I found out with mine. If I cut less the cube is a lot more silent and only has the usual turning noises instead of the loud clicks that you get when cutting.

You can do this with your current cube already. Cut, listen to that sound, and then don't cut but do it neatly. Big difference. Same thing on the ZhanChi.

Have fun with your new cube!!

 

[Cubic]

My 32 year old cube doesn't cut at all. It's very stiff compared with the newer Rubik's cubes I've tried.

All three of my new cubes feel very different. They are looser, but don't feel like they will break if I force them to corner cut.

I have never heard of not moving from a Rubik's to a different (speed) cube, but then being such a newbie, I avoided reading any forums when I started as they are filled with people who know so much more, are riddled with terminology, and would have really baffled and disheartened me!

----

If corner-cutting is to be avoided, why do so many reviewers drool over cubes that cut 45 degrees or more?!

Cubic

 

[sneaklyfox]

Actually a bit of corner cutting makes the solving go faster. Think of it as aiming for optimal speed. A bit of corner cutting is probably faster because your moves flow into each other like a rounded corner instead of a sharp corner. The speed is fastest where you cut a bit and where there is still so little resistance it doesn't slow the move down. You really shouldn't be using the 45 degree corner cutting ability because there's a fair bit of resistance at that point so it would slow the moving down, but IF you do turn less accurately than optimal, at least it won't completely lock up on you which would take longer to realign. Does that explain it?

And I read that it's bad to learn corner cutting because bigger cubes don't have much corner cutting. I figure that solving a 3x3 is different from solving a bigger cube. And also your big cubes aren't all going to feel the same either so just get used to each cube and know what works best for which.

 

[Cubetastic]

The only reason that I believe you shouldn't get a Zhanchi or a very good cube when you first start is if you're not sure you'll stick with cubing as a hobby.

 

[sneaklyfox]

The only reason that I believe you shouldn't get a Zhanchi or a very good cube when you first start is if you're not sure you'll stick with cubing as a hobby.

But a good cube costs about the same as a bad cube. So no reason to get the bad cube.

Besides, if you have something nice to play with, more chance you'll want to stick with cubing as a hobby. If I bought a crap cube, I wouldn't want to play with it.

 

[Cubic]

But a good cube costs about the same as a bad cube. So no reason to get the bad cube.

A really bad cube costs about £1 here. Less if you buy it in a 99p Store rather than Poundland!

I tried lubing a really bad cube, and it still feel like I'm scraping bricks together. Before I bought my Dayans (didn't really know what I was buying, to be honest) I considered buying a new Rubik's branded cube, but they were, in most shops, MORE expensive than 'speedcubes'. I am delighted with the Dayans, and with the 4-5 hours' practice I'm currently putting in, I think it was money well spend.

 

[waffle=ijm]

both hardware and cubing know-how affect times. just don't mix up what is holding you back. like don't think that your cube is holding you back because you only know x-algs for x-method because frankly you won't "need" another cube for quite a long time with a zhanchi.

 

[sneaklyfox]

I just know that I bought a horrid Rubik's brand for $15 (can't do finger tricks and even hurts my wrists) and got a Dayan Guhong for less than $13. I mean, yeah, I could get a dollarstore cube $1 but that's silly.

 

[drewsopchak]

Cuber not the cube.