[Help Thread] 3x3 Cross Help and Discussion

[PCwizCube]

It might be helpful to memorize solving two cross pieces, do that like 5 times. Then move onto 3 pieces, that will be much harder than two. Do that like 10 times. Then try to memorize all 4 pieces.

It was hard for everybody, when I first tried memorizing the cross pieces, I found it incredibly difficult to do too, it would take me at least a couple of minutes. But that was a long time ago, I kept on practicing and I can do it in like less than 5 seconds now

 

[SaberSlash49]

It's a bit disheartening to me that you can plan your cross so quickly, SaberSlash, as my average solves are already slightly faster than your PB

I think some people are just poor at visualizing 3d images in their mind. I took a sort of IQ test before that tested that, and I did fairly poorly on it. I just wonder if this is something that will always be a problem for me, or if I can overcome it.

Actually, I just went and looked for one of those tests, and found this Spatial IQ test. It told me "Your score on the test was much lower than average."

Call me Saber. Also, I also failed that test miserably, so we could say we're even?

My personal best is more like 36.44, and my average is somewhere around 45 seconds...

 

[josmil1]

like it was said before, practice. Look for the best possible solution, you are probably making too many unneccesary turns. Look on youtube for badmephisto's cross explanation it helps A LOT!! look for good pieces and place them in, the other pieces that are more complicated usually should take3-4 moves.

 

[rubiknewbie]

You need to cut down number of moves to less than 10 for cross.

Once you can do that, I can testify this: practice works. You don't have to learn a lot to make your cross faster, you just need to practice a lot until it becomes natural.

I switched from cross at top to cross at bottom. It works once you practice enough.

 

[theretardedcuber]

solving the cross blindfolded definitely helped me
i avg 3-5 seconds and under 10 moves

 

[Inf3rn0]

I think looking and thinking a way you can do the cross without doing it, then executing blindfolded helps. Like someone said before maybe try with 2 pieces at first to get started.

On test i got "Your score on the test was slightly above average, meaning you have a solid foundation of spatial skills. "

 

[rahulkadukar]

Watch badmephistos video

 

[Cride5]

Actually, I just went and looked for one of those tests, and found this Spatial IQ test. It told me "Your score on the test was much lower than average."

Call me Saber. Also, I also failed that test miserably, so we could say we're even?

My personal best is more like 36.44, and my average is somewhere around 45 seconds...

I got: "Wow! Your score on the test was the top of the charts, meaning you have an excellent repertoire of spatial skills." ... guess that'll be all those months of EOLine practice :rolleyes:

.. but you could probably improve your spatial awareness skills by doing some blockbuilding/FM solving. I'd recommend a look here.

 

[Tim Major]

I'm no expert at the cross, but I can easily plan out my cross in about 20~ seconds, and I'm still practicing. I'd suggest following the tips on Macky's site..

" * Learn your color scheme by heart. From the center colors of any two adjacent sides, you should be able to immediately tell the colors of the other sides.
* Taking as much time as needed for each scramble, form the cross in 7 or less moves. You should be able to do this over 99% of the time.
* Repeat 2, but solve the cross blindfolded. Practice until there are no mistakes.
* Repeat 2, gradually decreasing the inspection time until you can always read the cross in 15 seconds. Once you get faster, you don't need to always follow the 7-move rule. Some solutions will be slightly longer but easier to execute.
* The transition from cross to F2L is important! This is where even fast cubers have to stop most often ("cube amnesia").
* Slow down during the cross to prepare for the first corner-edge pair of F2L. You may want to avoid using finger tricks for the cross to help look ahead.
* Solve without preinspection. This forces you to slow down and lets you move from cross to F2L more smoothly.
* Form the cross in such a way that, when it is completed, it ends up where you want it during F2L. This eliminates a cube turn before F2L and also helps the transition. (There are a few top speedcubers who do not do this.) " - Shotaro Makisumi "Macky"

I myself, have worked on my cross using this method. Another useful thing to imagine where the pieces would be is either a cube applet or practicing the cross using the same scramble until you get it perfectly and able to do it blindfolded.

If this is not already stickied it should be. These combine all tips I've found on the internet, plus adds more. This is very handy. My cross takes around 7 seconds right now, then f2l 10-11 seconds, and LL in 10 seconds. This should get me to sub 25. Thanks.

 

[Ranzha]

My cross is relatively good.
Using cube applets (like Werner and Walter Randelshofer's) help you look ahead much easier than with one in your hands.
This one is easy to maneouvre and whatnot.

Also, I got above average on the spatial test.

 

[bwatkins]

I took my cross from 12-15 seconds to around 7s in a week when I made a practice cube with stickers only only on the centers and 4 edges to form a cross. It made it a bit less distracting plus it forced me to practice only the cross and not get bored and keep solving the whole cube. I still have a long way to go, but it got me over the hump and my cross improved by leaps and bounds. I'm working on Dan and Macky's advice of being able to do the cross without looking at it, but that's a work in process.

Sorry to bump this is you feel it isn't necessary, but i find it interesting. I' did a bit of searching on how to improve my cross because i average about 35 s with my cross taking about 15s so i feel its a pretty big problem...

Have any of you tried the method stated above, or what unusual of specific things did you try that helped drastically?

 

[josmil1]

We have the same average but my f2l really sucks...Its a matter of preference to style of practicing...Personally i use to do the cross at 12 seconds now its down to about 5, i just looked for the best possible solution in the fewest amount of moves. Try planning out the steps to making a optimal cross solve. Look at badmephisto's cross tutorial videos they really help.

 

[Zarxrax]

Everyone says you should memorize the solution and be able to do it blindfolded. As much as I keep practicing that, I still don't really get any better at it. Even when I know where each cross piece is and I do all the moves without any interruption, I still get slow crosses that are like 5-8 seconds. I just don't get it. Are there some fingertricks for the cross or something?

 

[Edward]

Everyone says you should memorize the solution and be able to do it blindfolded. As much as I keep practicing that, I still don't really get any better at it. Even when I know where each cross piece is and I do all the moves without any interruption, I still get slow crosses that are like 5-8 seconds. I just don't get it. Are there some fingertricks for the cross or something?

That's exactly what I thought. Keep going at it. You'll get it. From doing this my cross went from 5 seconds to like ~1-2 seconds.

 

[4Chan]

I know something that helps drastically:

EOLine step of the ZZ method.

Having to track 2 specific pieces, and the orientation of up to 10 pieces was difficult at times, but ultimately improved my short term memory for the pieces.

However, at this point of my cubing career, my crosses were so developed that this didn't help me very much.

 

[bwatkins]

Everyone says you should memorize the solution and be able to do it blindfolded. As much as I keep practicing that, I still don't really get any better at it. Even when I know where each cross piece is and I do all the moves without any interruption, I still get slow crosses that are like 5-8 seconds. I just don't get it. Are there some fingertricks for the cross or something?

That's exactly what I though. Keep going at it. You'll get it. From doing this my cross went from 5 seconds to like ~1-2 seconds.

when you say "memorize the solution" you mean that you've worked it out in your head and you should be able to solve that particular cross blindfolded? So during inspection you've figured it out and should be able to execute flawlessly, and and as second nature, am i correct?

 

[nlCuber22]

when you say "memorize the solution" you mean that you've worked it out in your head and you should be able to solve that particular cross blindfolded? So during inspection you've figured it out and should be able to execute flawlessly, and and as second nature, am i correct?

That's how I understand it, and that's exactly what I do. It seems the most logical way to get a fast cross. So I'd say you are correct.

 

[SuperNerd]

I took my cross from 12-15 seconds to around 7s in a week when I made a practice cube with stickers only only on the centers and 4 edges to form a cross. It made it a bit less distracting plus it forced me to practice only the cross and not get bored and keep solving the whole cube. I still have a long way to go, but it got me over the hump and my cross improved by leaps and bounds. I'm working on Dan and Macky's advice of being able to do the cross without looking at it, but that's a work in process.

I might do this as well with one of my new cubes, and I would also do one edge pair so that I can easily look ahead for that pair while doing the cross. I'd try smooth turning, and get faster and faster, until my times were something like 3-4 seconds, then add another edge pair and practice with that, until I finish F2L.

 

[cincyaviation]

say you solve it in 7 moves, and it takes 4 seconds, and someone sitting next to you takes 12 moves, and they get it in 2 seconds, see the point? actually, that was confusing, i dont even see the point, well the point is, keep it finger tricky and flowing, dont concentrate on finding just the fewest moves

 

[JL58]

I am very color biased. I IMPROVED (NOT increased...:fp) my cross times by:

1. doing it always on white (down) with red in front
2. taking as much inspection time as needed to find a 7-move or less solution (covering 99% of cases - if I remember) and doing it blind, including point #5
3. playing with D/D' to minimize the move count as some edges will not naturally insert at the proper place from where they are
4. potentially adding one U/U' move before the last side turn (RFL or B) to force the insertion of yellow cubies (leaving F2L cubies on top). This move is not part of the 7 move goal
5. always, always finishing with red on front to start F2L from a known position.

The absolute color/space reference (red in front, for me) has tremendously improved my time, even at the expense of the lost finger friendliness.