Do you have bad solving days? How do you deal with bad times?

[Andrew Ricci]

I get better times.

 

[cubeflip]

curse.

No, just kidding, I don't do that. If I'm not doing well at 2x2 or 3x3, then I'll do big cubes or megaminx or something else to warm up, then go back to 2x2 and 3x3

 

[cmhardw]

Expect for the worst, hope for the best. Bad session means you probably aren't even in the mood for it.

This reminds me of another thing I've been trying recently that's very similar to this.

I once heard someone say that:
"A Professional at something is someone who can perform well even on a bad day."

Whenever I have a particularly bad day, I try to still do as good as I can, and keep a "bad day" record, or "best worst average" record if that makes sense. So for example, I usually average about 15.5 on 3x3. On a particularly bad day I can get averages of around 17.5. I consider times around 17.5 to be my "best worst averages", meaning that even at my worst I can still average 17.5. I do something similar for BLD solve times and accuracy rates as well.

So turn your bad day into a chance to set a better "best worst average" record, which is a sign that you're improving. This makes the whole experience a positive experience, and brings you one step closer to the particular definition of "professional" that I heard someone say to me in the past (for whatever that's worth )

 

[JonnyWhoopes]

I change categories in PPT and start solving with another method. I usually break my PBs for odd methods that way.

 

[Daniel Wu]

Ideally, I'd like to do what Chris does, but I usually end up rage quitting or switching puzzles.

 

[Forte]

I just don't really care that much.

 

[Rpotts]

Yea, the best way for me to avoid bad times is not looking at any of the stats for an extended period of time. You put pressure on yourself by looking at the solve you're rolling off, your current averages, etc. You think, "Well if this solve is subx then my average will be suby, hooray!" *starts solve, makes mistake at very beginning, never recovers*

That's how it is for me.

 

[PandaCuber]

Furiously scramble the cube and try again.

 

[izovire]

at home: I solve a bigger cube a few times... this usually exercises my fingers and mind and seems to work.

at comp. There isn't much I can do except complain to others about how much I suck until I have better times at another comp. A lot of people do this.

 

[Pandadudex96]

kind of suck it up and ditch to watch youtube

 

[Jungleterrain]

If I get a long succession of bad times (as in, higher than my usual average) at home, I usually stop timing myself and go somewhere else where the environment is more relaxing or quieter, and I solve there until I get my "rhythm" back. Then I feel confident in myself and in correcting my sloppiness and continue to time myself, unless it gets too late

 

[Phlippieskezer]

For me, it's all been said; at home:

If I get a long succession of bad times (as in, higher than my usual average) at home, I usually stop timing myself and go somewhere else where the environment is more relaxing or quieter, and I solve there until I get my "rhythm" back. Then I feel confident in myself and in correcting my sloppiness and continue to time myself, unless it gets too late

^ This; if it's just a single solve, then just... "Meh," and move on.

At competition:

There isn't much I can do except complain to others about how much I suck until I have better times at another comp. A lot of people do this.

^ This. I suck at comp. I average 13 at home and 16 at comp. >.>
I don't really do anything particular about it, though...

That being said, I don't care an awful lot. It's frustrating at times when I repetitively get what I consider horrible times, but otherwise I just shrug it off...

 

[Andreaillest]

Reset the timer until I get a good solve. If it persists, put the cube down and do something else.

 

[Cool Frog]

At home: lulz
At competition: LULZ

I find bad solves funny for some reason. (and good ones for that matter)
Also when I do something crazy midsolve.

 

[Akuma]

Rage quit!

 

[MovingOnUp]

Forcing myself to solve until I get a really good time then setting it down so I end on a good "note"

 

[uberCuber]

At home: lulz
At competition: LULZ

I find bad solves funny for some reason.

For some events, this is my reaction. For other events, I reset qqtimer after every solve.

 

[CyanSandwich]

Abnormal average

I'm hoping this is the right forum.

So I normally average 23-24 seconds, with my previous ao5 PB being 20.24 and ao12 being 21.xx (normally get about 5 sub 20 singles in an ao100)

Then I get a 17.19 ao5 and 18.53 ao12, without any skips. (Unless you count skipping half of 2-look OLL for some of them)
After that it was back to normal, or slightly worse. I mean, it's not that amazing, but it's a significant jump.

Anyone else had something similar happen and figure out the cause?
It could've been that I had easy cases, but it seems unlikely that many times in a row. Maybe I just got pumped from getting a few good solves in a row.

 

[kunparekh18]

Re: Abnormal average

Some psychological factor?

Sent from my A75 using Tapatalk 2

 

[god of rubic 2]

Yes. Its just a time when you get into the "zone". Then you have a break, then you are more worse than what you usually average.

Happens all the time.