A couple questions

[gon]

Hey guys! Looking at my post count you guys can tell I'm new around here. anyway I had some questions.

1. How do you guys memorize algorithms? I've known the Layer by layer method for awhile now, but I've only started to solve the cube the Fridrich method two days ago. But I find it difficult to memorize the OLL and PLL algorithms.


2. When I'm on the F2L step, I always mess up one already inserted pair when I insert another pair and then I have to put it in all over again. How do I avoid this?

Thanks guys.

 

[hawkmp4]

The F2L, PLL, and OLL videos by this guy will be very very helpful.
http://www.youtube.com/user/badmephisto

EDIT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-xbcAMfWwM That's the F2L video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTYvklyOpVM That's a 2-Look OLL video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S61q3FYVFis That's a 2-Look PLL video.
If you've already learned 4LLL, then you can find 1-look videos by badmephisto as well.

EDIT 2:
For future reference, questions should go in the "Speedcubing Help/Questions" forum. It's not a big deal, a mod will just likely move the thread.

Welcome!

 

[Daniel Wu]

1. Learn the algs at you're own pace. Make sure you learn [wiki]4LLL[/wiki] first. Just practice the algs over and over until you have them in muscle memory. Just practice.

2. Badmephisto's F2L video. Also practice.

 

[TheTurtleman9]

Look for patterns in the cube and in the algorithm.

 

[Chapuunka]

Surprisingly, the more algs you learn, the easier it is to learn them. Just repeat them several times and watch for patters and triggers.

 

[denhil3]

Just do the alg over and over again. They all have somethings in common. I do each alg about 5 times then i remember. It's not that hard at all!

 

[gon]

Thanks for all the answers!

 

[TheCubeElite]

I haven't learned my PLLs and OLLs yet, but I'm going to repeat the algs on my cube constantly to help memorize. I plan on walkin around my house with a cube all day long, just doing a couple PLLs at a time. Good luck with learning!

 

[rubiknewbie]

I memorise algorithms by finger-tricks. As I learn more finger-tricks it becomes easier to remember more algorithms and as I remember more algorithms it becomes easier to remember even more algorithms cos I used the past algorithms for reference.

You can't do it without finger-tricks. I have a friend who can't remember algorithms cos he can't do finger-tricks.

For F2L it is just practice until you don't make the same mistakes.

 

[theace]

There are two ways to go about it. Just do it over and over and over again til you don't really have to remember it. Let muscle memory do it's thing. However, if you want to solve one handed (without going through the pain of curing OH Amnesia), I would suggest you try to look for patterns in an algorithm as well. For example, keep track of how an F2L pair moves around layers, notice certain shapes on the yellow layer, plain simple logic, etc. You have to find your own way!

 

[dada222]

Yes, just repeat till you can do it on your own. I'm not a fan of videos though, unless you want to see super awesome fingertricks, but there's a time for everything.

 

[cubekid57]

I find that doing alg over and over again helps me memorize it, that and practicing the lags by setting them up on ur cube and doing it until there is no hesitation. For f2l, I started out intuitively solving f2l pairs using empty slots

 

[Anonymous]

I actually have a "routine" of sorts for memorizing algs, which really helps me. Basically, I try to divide each alg into three sections- two or three starting moves, the "body" of the algorithm, and the three ending moves. I repeat the starting 3 face turns ~10 times, and get them into muscle memory. Then I re-solve the cube, perform the starting 3 face turns, and then slowly perform the next few moves while also looking at the cube itself. Here, I'm looking for patterns- which groups of pieces are being broken up, which are being preserved, etc. After doing this a few times, I try to slowly add the 4th turn, then the 5th turn into muscle memory, while still trying to discern some sort of pattern. Once I can perform all but the last 3 moves from memory, I just intuitively finish the algorithm, because it's easy to figure out which moves will fix the F2L. After a while, the last 3 moves also become muscle memory, but at first, this can make each alg much less intimidating (4 or 5 moves shorter).

I'm not saying that you should do this- I'm just showing you that you shouldn't memorize algs the way everyone else does. Find a blend of methods that works for you, and eventually you'll hit on something that works for you.