What makes a Sub-10 cuber?

[Drummerbadboy]

I realize this is an age old topic, but I'm beginning to wonder if there's something I'm missing here -

I started speedcubing with CFOP a little over 3 years ago. I learned every OLL and PLL right away, color neutral. By the same time next year I was averaging Sub-25, the next Sub-20, the next Sub-15. Currently, I average around 12-13 seconds with a good Dayan Zhanchi.

I understand that people cannot possibly continue to improve at the same rate as when they first start, but I have been practicing quite a bit in the last year or so and have noticed a pretty negligible difference in the times I was getting a year ago and the times I'm getting today. When I'm solving, I feel like the only way I can solve any faster is by getting lucky with an easy case or an OLL/PLL skip. I agree that practicing a lot can help, but it seems as though sheer practice alone isn't helping me much anymore. Is it possible to average under 10 seconds using only normal CFOP? Or do you have to memorize a bunch of other algorithms (ZBLL, COLL, Winter Variation, ect.) as well to become Sub-10? Or is there something else that can help in getting past the +10 barrier? Thanks a lot!

 

[guysensei1]

I realize this is an age old topic, but I'm beginning to wonder if there's something I'm missing here -

I started speedcubing with CFOP a little over 3 years ago. I learned every OLL and PLL right away, color neutral. By the same time next year I was averaging Sub-25, the next Sub-20, the next Sub-15. Currently, I average around 12-13 seconds with a good Dayan Zhanchi.

I understand that people cannot possibly continue to improve at the same rate as when they first start, but I have been practicing quite a bit in the last year or so and have noticed a pretty negligible difference in the times I was getting a year ago and the times I'm getting today. When I'm solving, I feel like the only way I can solve any faster is by getting lucky with an easy case or an OLL/PLL skip. I agree that practicing a lot can help, but it seems as though sheer practice alone isn't helping me much anymore. Is it possible to average under 10 seconds using only normal CFOP? Or do you have to memorize a bunch of other algorithms (ZBLL, COLL, Winter Variation, ect.) as well to become Sub-10? Or is there something else that can help in getting past the +10 barrier? Thanks a lot!

Yes it's possible.
No you don't, but they help.

Faster F2l and lookahead and TPS.


Welcome!

 

[ElectricDoodie]

Yes it's possible.
No you don't, but they help.

Faster F2l and lookahead and TPS.


Welcome!

Are you sub-10?

 

[guysensei1]

Are you sub-10?

Not close, but from what I heard, these advice seem to apply.

 

[Hays]

I realize this is an age old topic, but I'm beginning to wonder if there's something I'm missing here -

I started speedcubing with CFOP a little over 3 years ago. I learned every OLL and PLL right away, color neutral. By the same time next year I was averaging Sub-25, the next Sub-20, the next Sub-15. Currently, I average around 12-13 seconds with a good Dayan Zhanchi.

I understand that people cannot possibly continue to improve at the same rate as when they first start, but I have been practicing quite a bit in the last year or so and have noticed a pretty negligible difference in the times I was getting a year ago and the times I'm getting today. When I'm solving, I feel like the only way I can solve any faster is by getting lucky with an easy case or an OLL/PLL skip. I agree that practicing a lot can help, but it seems as though sheer practice alone isn't helping me much anymore. Is it possible to average under 10 seconds using only normal CFOP? Or do you have to memorize a bunch of other algorithms (ZBLL, COLL, Winter Variation, ect.) as well to become Sub-10? Or is there something else that can help in getting past the +10 barrier? Thanks a lot!

I average sub 9 with only the most basic CFOP; I would also say I could be a lot better at 3x3 without learning any new algorithms.

 

[kcl]

I average sub 9 with only the most basic CFOP; I would also say I could be a lot better at 3x3 without learning any new algorithms.

I assume this means you don't know COLL or WV?

 

[Faz]

I assume this means you don't know COLL or WV?

haha I highly doubt it

*doubt he knows that stuff

 

[kcl]

haha I highly doubt it

I would have expected some COLL haha, it helps a lot with big cubes in my experience. Then again I'm only good at small cubes so I should really talk..

 

[Drummerbadboy]

I average sub 9 with only the most basic CFOP; I would also say I could be a lot better at 3x3 without learning any new algorithms.

Wow, guess I've got some practicing to do! I'm sure being super fast at big cubes can't hurt either haha

 

[Escher]

It's simply a case of integrating your recognition with your execution to a reasonable degree, at that level. From what I have seen its that 2-3 second difference in f2l speed that differentiates good times from great times; only when you see sub-8 cubers are you usually blown away by their last-layer - prior to that it's about getting a solid 6 tps in f2l and learning to be consistent with it and able to cope with bad scrambles.

Edit: To do this you'll want to concentrate on solving 2 pairs at once with no pauses, and having absolute confidence in your lookahead. Try just practising the 1x2x3 of <R, U> scrambles blindfolded at first, then practising doing the whole thing fast itself. As you progress you'll find yourself becoming much, much more slick at 3rd and 4th pairs and that good solves will usually be defined by how good the 1st and 2nd pair was; at least, that's good evidence of having improved at what you'd be trying to improve.

 

[SolveThatCube]

I realize this is an age old topic, but I'm beginning to wonder if there's something I'm missing here -

I started speedcubing with CFOP a little over 3 years ago. I learned every OLL and PLL right away, color neutral. By the same time next year I was averaging Sub-25, the next Sub-20, the next Sub-15. Currently, I average around 12-13 seconds with a good Dayan Zhanchi.

I understand that people cannot possibly continue to improve at the same rate as when they first start, but I have been practicing quite a bit in the last year or so and have noticed a pretty negligible difference in the times I was getting a year ago and the times I'm getting today. When I'm solving, I feel like the only way I can solve any faster is by getting lucky with an easy case or an OLL/PLL skip. I agree that practicing a lot can help, but it seems as though sheer practice alone isn't helping me much anymore. Is it possible to average under 10 seconds using only normal CFOP? Or do you have to memorize a bunch of other algorithms (ZBLL, COLL, Winter Variation, ect.) as well to become Sub-10? Or is there something else that can help in getting past the +10 barrier? Thanks a lot!

Wow. I only been cubing for a little over a year (maybe 16 months) and I avg 11 seconds using CFOP with full OLL and PLL and a bit of everything else.
I guess it really just depends, you'll get there. DON'T GIVE UP.

 

[DeeDubb]

Wow. I only been cubing for a little over a year (maybe 16 months) and I avg 11 seconds using CFOP with full OLL and PLL and a bit of everything else.
I guess it really just depends, you'll get there. DON'T GIVE UP.

Your PB ao5 is 10.91, and you call 11 seconds your average? I guess I'm sub-20 after all!

 

[ElectricDoodie]

Wow. I only been cubing for a little over a year (maybe 16 months) and I avg 11 seconds using CFOP with full OLL and PLL and a bit of everything else.

What does this mean. I'm pretty sure this is the part that OP is asking about, that you left so vague.

 

[SolveThatCube]

What does this mean. I'm pretty sure this is the part that OP is asking about, that you left so vague.

There is so much I didn't feel like listing it but:
WV
VLS
VHLS
ELL
COLL
ZBLL
OLLCP

 

[Lazy Einstein]

Your PB ao5 is 10.91, and you call 11 seconds your average? I guess I'm sub-20 after all!

I've only gotten about 4 sub-11 averages so I don't really avg 10 seconds.

This response doesn't make sense.

 

[GuRoux]

Wow. I only been cubing for a little over a year (maybe 16 months) and I avg 11 seconds using CFOP with full OLL and PLL and a bit of everything else.
I guess it really just depends, you'll get there. DON'T GIVE UP.

i think you're suppose to classify your speed by what you average globally: something like your average average of 100

 

[DeeDubb]

I've only gotten about 4 sub-11 averages so I don't really avg 10 seconds.

Hmm.. I think it's a definition issue here.

Getting an average of 5 UNDER 11 seconds does not mean you AVERAGE 11 seconds, at least in my view (and many other views that I read here).

Your best average is not what you would average if you randomly picked up a cube and did an Ao5. For you, with a PB ao50 of 12.86, I would say you average maybe 13-14 seconds.

 

[Lazy Einstein]

GuRoux is pretty much right.

Example:

Solves: 786/786

avg of 100
current: 23.746 (σ = 2.47)
best: 23.309 (σ = 1.92)

Average of session: 23.887 (σ = 2.48)

I am reluctant to call myself sub-24 globally but I am pretty close.

 

[ElectricDoodie]

I've only gotten about 4 sub-11 averages so I don't really avg 10 seconds.

What? That's even worse!
He said you shouldn't consider yourself 11 average (which I agree), and then you say that you wouldn't consider yourself 10 average. Of course not!

 

[SolveThatCube]

Hmm.. I think it's a definition issue here.

Getting an average of 5 UNDER 11 seconds does not mean you AVERAGE 11 seconds, at least in my view (and many other views that I read here).

Your best average is not what you would average if you randomly picked up a cube and did an Ao5. For you, with a PB ao50 of 12.86, I would say you average maybe 13-14 seconds.

What??? If I pick up a cube and do an ao5, I get 11.xx! My best ao50 is 12.86 because I've only ever done 2 averages of 50. The other one was 12.89.
I AVERAGE 11 SECONDS.