[Help Thread] Algorithm Memorization Discussion

I'm doing the same right now. I memorize two algoriths a day. First, I see what movements I have to use and the best way to do them (how I should move the hands, etc) then I practise it a lot and when I can do it easily I continued with the next algorithm.
 
I just do the alg ~15 times while looking at the alg on my comp/a piece of paper. I also try to find some nice triggers/fingertricks while doing this.

After that I just repeat the alg sometimes, do a few solves (using the alg if I got the case) and repeat the alg a few times again.
And after a few hours (or after sleeping if I did it before sleeping) I try to do it again. If I manage to do it then, I usually remember it.
 
Just do it over and over again, it's not like there is some magic secret no one is sharing. Look for finger tricks and try to perform it as fast as possible. It usually takes me about 5-10 minutes to memorize it and about a week to have it flow smoothly in a solve.
 
What I did for PLL was follow F2L pairs, this works great for T-perm and a few others. For most algorithms I would just speak what I was doing out loud. For example: "So, I take this out and bring this into that spot. Then I match up these two colors. etc." Do that a few times while looking at the alg. Then do it tons of times without looking at the algorithm.
 
Like most of these guys are saying, repeat x number of times until you feel comfortable. I usually do this right before bed, right now, I'm learning about one coll alg a night until I learn a whole set, then practice them in solves. Anyway, I'll repeat it so many times, then I'll set up the case, set it by my bed and go to sleep. If I can do the alg first thing in the morning, I was successful
 
what helped me out the most in memorizing algorithms was actually performing them on a solved cube... for example... on a solved cube, if you do the solve for Sune, you get Anti-Sune, then just do the solve for Anti-Sune to sovle the cube again. But it doesn't work like that for all algorithms. Take the T permutation for example, from a solved cube, if you do the solve for the T perm, you get the T perm scramble, then just do the solve again to solve the cube. Not only did this help me memorize the algorithms, but it helped me recognize what color combinations to look for... i hope this helps and good luck....
 
I'm not learning what you are.. but what I do to memorize algs lately is as people said.. group them into triggers, and figure out a way to recognize them.. like a simple little thing that reminds me which alg fits which case..

And learning algs in pairs, when they're similar cases or mirrors helps a lot too...
As people said.. Just do the alg slowly over and over until your hands memorize the alg, then try doing it faster.. And when it comes up in a solve, even if it takes you a few seconds to remember the alg or recognize it, perform it..

That's pretty much all I do..
Doing all that I managed to learn 2 Look OLL and 2 look PLL in about 3 or 4 days, then full PLL in 2 weeks or so..
Now I'm working on OLL's.. I'm up to 20 now, I learn them when I have the time to, at very odd rates.. I learned 4 yesterday for example.. and some days I'll just learn one..
It all depends on what you're learning.
For PLL's for example.. Try to learn both A/N/R/J etc perms at the same time, I find that it's easier that way, or at least learn them one after the other.
Personally I left G perms until the end..

Anyway, I'm rambling on.. good luck! :o
 
I personally am memorizing PLL. All i do is pick up the algorithm, perform it around 25 times in front of the TV, than close my eyes and see if I remember it. Then for the rest of the day I perform it every hour or so and voila!

Also, it helps having a sentence for tough to memorize algs. Heres how one of mine starts. Front Clock Turn Down...
 
For PLL- a sentence?

U-Perm:

Turn the right layer twice, followed by the top layer a quarter turn, and then the right layer a quarter turn clockwise, then turn the top layer clockwise again and the right layer counterclockwise...

How does that work? I think muscle memory works better.
 
i learned them in chunks as they are split up on Macky's site. It makes it easier to remember algorithms by the fact that they are related to Sune or something like that.

Also, you have to ALWAYS do the OLL you're trying to learn. If you don't remember it then look it up.
 
I'm learning them right now, first thing I do before learning an alg (I have Dan Harris' printed off sheets from cubestation.co.uk).. I check the wiki and about 4 or 5 websites to see if there are any better algs.. once I have the best alg, I perform it until my hands remember it, then I ALWAYS do it in a solve even if it slows me down

Another thing that I find helps a lot is to learn similar algs in bunches like the P OLL's or the C/T/L shapes etc etc, it seems to help with recognition because if you see a P shape for example, and you know all 4 of them, then you start to look which one it is.. but if you only know 1,2 or 3 of them and the case is the one you don't know, you've wasted a few seconds trying to figure out which case it is, only to discover you don't even know it, and you do a FURU'R'F.. Hope that makes sense!
 
Zaxef said:
I'm learning them right now, first thing I do before learning an alg (I have Dan Harris' printed off sheets from cubestation.co.uk).. I check the wiki and about 4 or 5 websites to see if there are any better algs.. once I have the best alg, I perform it until my hands remember it, then I ALWAYS do it in a solve even if it slows me down

Another thing that I find helps a lot is to learn similar algs in bunches like the P OLL's or the C/T/L shapes etc etc, it seems to help with recognition because if you see a P shape for example, and you know all 4 of them, then you start to look which one it is.. but if you only know 1,2 or 3 of them and the case is the one you don't know, you've wasted a few seconds trying to figure out which case it is, only to discover you don't even know it, and you do a FURU'R'F.. Hope that makes sense!
Click to expand...


Agreed...as much as I appreciate the attempt to group them differently by some (say, by difficulty), recognition is crucial and you should learn all cases that look similar at the same time.
 
How to memorize algorithms? tips etc.

I've been cubing for 2 years. I've learned the beginner method, now i'm learning the fridrich so theres so many algorithms. any tips, faq, etc etc?
 
Phases' two cents:

Intuitive F2L.
For last layer learn 2 look OLL and 2 look PLL, I use almost all of the ones listed here, they were pretty easy to learn.

If those don't cut it check the wiki here, it has tons. Don't get overwhelmed, just pay attention to the 2 look cases first.

..but, I'm by no means an expert here. ;)
 
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