[Unofficial] [video] 3x3 average - any obvious tips much appreciated :)

[David Marshall]

Hi, I've been cubing a couple of months and the 46 second solve in the video below is not far off my best time so far, I feel my f2l is fairly slow but gradually improving with practise and I am currently using the 2 look OLL & PLL. Eventually I want to learn full OLL & PLL but I want to improve my speed of execution with the current algorithms I know first to prove to myself that it's worth it. I know that plenty of practise in a methodical way is needed but was wondering if anyone would have any tips for me or areas to focus on first based on their experience and what they see in the video below.

[youtubehd]NMQi4QM4XKo[/youtubehd]

 

[nqwe]

Avoid doing Dw2 in the F2L part.
Cross could be done in less moves.

 

[David Marshall]

Thanks, working on the cross and F2L are definitely my priorities, looks so slow and hesitant watching it back!

 

[Solstix]

I'd suggest working on your turning style as nqwe said. Flicking with index and middle for U / U2's, and ring and pinky for D / D2's. Make sure that you do R2 / L2's as those, instead of R, R. Also take as long as you need to spot the cross. It's better to see it slowly than to not see it, and you'll get better and faster at finding it with practise.

 

[Kyooberist]

I would say a faster turn speed. I use intuitive f2l, one OLL algorithm and 2 PLLs. I have a high turn speed. This gets me 30 second solves.

 

[Muesli]

I would say a faster turn speed. I use intuitive f2l, one OLL algorithm and 2 PLLs. I have a high turn speed. This gets me 30 second solves.

No, not turning speed. You need to alter your style. Try and become more finger tricky. You have a dayan, the cube can turn really nicely so take advantage of that.

 

[uniacto]

yea, your turning style needs to be worked on a bit. I would say that you could turn smoother and more "fluidly", if that makes any sense. Not so choppy.

 

[jskyler91]

I hate always doing this, but check out my vids in my sig there are a lot of things which you would benefit from on my youtube channel. Start with the cross tips and fingertricks. Then do the advanced fingertricks, then my f2l algs. Then whatever lol, but make sure to check them out in that order so you understand everything. You especially need to relearn how to turn the cube and how to avoid regrips and/or cube rotations. My advanced fingertricks vids talks a lot about that. But ya, you need time, practice and a lot of changes.


Also:

yea, your turning style needs to be worked on a bit. I would say that you could turn smoother and more "fluidly", if that makes any sense. Not so choppy.

I dont know if his a choppiness is as much the issue as it is his lookahead. Feliks was and is still to a point a choppy fast tps cuber and so its not necessarily bad to be one, but you tend to have more success in terms of learning look ahead and speed increase if you do learn to go slower and lookahead. Just thought I would add that, I realize there are good reasons on both sides.

 

[David Marshall]

Many thanks guys, all useful tips and I will check out those YouTube vids. I will get there with the finger tricks and speed, it's partly as I am 28 now and wiring it all into my brain will take a bit longer than if I did it 15 years ago

 

[wasianrubiks]

I use beginner's method (no f2l) and I average around 25 seconds, its just getting lots of practice in and figuring out finger tricks and styles that work for you

 

[jskyler91]

I use beginner's method (no f2l) and I average around 25 seconds, its just getting lots of practice in and figuring out finger tricks and styles that work for you

This is very true, we can say all we want and there are some general tips that are a good idea, but in the end you have to make your own way that works. Everyone learns and improves in different ways. For instance, I am a very disciplined cuber who improves by learning new algs, practicing like crazy and exploring the cube. Others improve by just increasing their tps, some just simply solve and solve. You have to find what works for you.