• Welcome to the Speedsolving.com, home of the web's largest puzzle community!
    You are currently viewing our forum as a guest which gives you limited access to join discussions and access our other features.

    Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community of 40,000+ people from around the world today!

    If you are already a member, simply login to hide this message and begin participating in the community!

Too young to learn algorithms?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Anonymus

Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2014
Messages
0
YouTube
Visit Channel
I am an 11 year old boy that is new to speed cubing. I started learning 2 look oll, 2 look pll and basic f2l about a month ago. I for some reason cannot memorize new algorithms(particularly the olls bow-tie and chameleon) they just don't register and I have practiced them for 4 days. I was wondering if anyone had a less awkward algorithim (I use Lw' U') (L U) (R U') (Rw' F) and R' F) (R B') (R' F') (R B)) or maybe I am just too young for this and I should practice beginner or some kind of easier things and lay off cfop or 3x3.
 

PJKCuber

Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2014
Messages
951
Location
Pune,India
WCA
2014KULK02
I am an 11 year old boy that is new to speed cubing. I started learning 2 look oll, 2 look pll and basic f2l about a month ago. I for some reason cannot memorize new algorithms(particularly the olls bow-tie and chameleon) they just don't register and I have practiced them for 4 days. I was wondering if anyone had a less awkward algorithim (I use Lw' U') (L U) (R U') (Rw' F) and R' F) (R B') (R' F') (R B)) or maybe I am just too young for this and I should practice beginner or some kind of easier things and lay off cfop or 3x3.

You are never to young. I'm a 13 year old who averages 24 seconds after 2 months of cubing. Use algdb.net for algorithms. Try out every algorithm and then choose. PS Rami Sbahi, the 2x2 World Record holder is 12 or 13 I think.
 
Last edited:

slinky773

Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2013
Messages
399
Location
Buffalo Grove, Illinois
WCA
2014LEEY01
YouTube
Visit Channel
Have you heard of Yo-Yo Ma? Jacqueline Du Pre? Maxim Vengerov? All of them were child prodigies in their musical instruments (cello, cello, and violin, respectively) and became widely known throughout the world of music. They all practiced up to 7 hours a day practicing and perfecting pieces, e.g. Haydn Cello Concerto in C, Kabalevsky Cello Concerto in G minor, Elgar's Cello Concerto, Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, Mozart Violin Concerto, Bach Suites, Bach Sonatas… For purpose of analogy, these were all basically long, complex algorithms. These musicians had to perfect every note, just like we drill and drill PLL, OLL, COLL algorithms. Too young? Everyone has muscle memory and the ability to make motions innate. If we didn't, you wouldn't know how to walk. In fact, at a young age, you should actually be the best at learning these kinds, since adults generally learn things through muscle memory and the like slower than the young, I believe. Don't think you're too young. Practice, practice, practice.
 
Last edited:

Anonymus

Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2014
Messages
0
YouTube
Visit Channel
Thanks for the algorithms link I will practice them and see what ones feel nicest to my hands. This second part is unrelated but f I practiced enough and learned 2 look oll and pll and advanced f2l could I get a 30s average?:cool:

Have you heard of Yo-Yo Ma? Jacqueline Du Pre? Maxim Vengerov? All of them were child prodigies in their musical instruments (cello, cello, and violin, respectively) and became widely known throughout the world of music. They all practiced up to 7 hours a day practicing and perfecting pieces, e.g. Haydn Cello Concerto in C, Kabalevsky Cello Concerto in G minor, Elgar's Cello Concerto, Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, Mozart Violin Concerto, Bach Suites, Bach Sonatas… For purpose of analogy, these were all basically long, complex algorithms. These musicians had to perfect every note, just like we drill and drill PLL, OLL, COLL algorithms. Too young? Everyone has muscle memory and the ability to make motions innate. If we didn't, you wouldn't know how to walk. In fact, at a young age, you should actually be the best at learning these kinds, since adults generally learn things through muscle memory and the like slower than the young, I believe. Don't think you're too young. Practice, practice, practice.
Inspiration right there...
 
Last edited by a moderator:

David10000

Member
Joined
May 18, 2014
Messages
35
This second part is unrelated but f I practiced enough and learned 2 look oll and pll and advanced f2l could I get a 30s average?:cool:
Of course you can. Just keep practicing.
EDIT: On second thought, don't listen to me. I'm a noob.
 
Last edited:

cmhardw

Premium Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2006
Messages
4,115
Location
Orlando, Florida
WCA
2003HARD01
YouTube
Visit Channel
Sometimes a certain algorithm can be harder to learn than others. When all else fails, brute force repetition can help you make sure you learn the algorithm.

Also, don't bother at all with memorizing the turns as they are written in notation. Memorize the turns in groups of 2 or 3 and memorize visually what they do to certain pieces on the cube itself. This may help, but if it doesn't, just do the algorithm over and over and over and over again.

When all other techniques fail, brute force repetition can help.
 

Rocky0701

Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2013
Messages
2,007
Location
Overland Park, Kansas
WCA
2014MCEV01
YouTube
Visit Channel
You actually have more of an advantage being younger, when you are like 15, you'll be much faster than you would be if you would have started at like 13-14. It gives you a head start to get fast. It would be like being bilingual at birth VS learning a second language later in life. Good luck!
 

Anonymus

Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2014
Messages
0
YouTube
Visit Channel
For some reason I felt restricted to one person's algorithm. I found a nice one that use no B or D moves which is what screws me up. I am planning to compete in Toronto on august 9 for 2x2 and 3x3 (it costs $2 extra per event so even though I get 20 seconds in 2x2 I am still competing.) currently for 3x3 I average about 1 minute but am quickly speeding up ( 'bout a second or more a day) do you think I can make it?
 

natezach728

Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2013
Messages
497
Location
Burbank, California
WCA
2012SORI01
YouTube
Visit Channel
You are never too young to learn algorithms. I started when I was 11, about 2 years ago. Now I'm almost 14, I'm averaging 10 seconds. Learning algs will become easier, all of us have found our own ways of memorizing them - for me, its just drilling algorithms and then timing them to make sure i can do them fluidly.
 

DeeDubb

Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2014
Messages
1,432
Location
South Korea
WCA
2014WHIT07
YouTube
Visit Channel
Be able to get a 30 sec average by august 9th so that I don't get eaten by the others.

It'll be tough. Don't worry about being "too slow" at a competition. There's always someone way faster than you and someone way slower than you. So, just go, and have fun, meet cubers, and don't worry, they won't judge you for being slow, unless they are just rotten human beings, but who cares what those people think anyway?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top