Big cubes help!

[MCRcuber]

Hello guys, lately i have realised that i (pardon my language) SUCK at big cubes. I have been watching a lot of youtube videos lately and other people have been saying that they are bad at big cubes but they do better than me.
What am i doing wrong? I average 1:40 on 4x4 and about 4 minutes on 5x5. I know i can do a lot better, but i do not know what i can do to get better. I use reduction method for 4x4, and the same for 5x5. I know most PLL's and 2-look OLL. What i think i am slowest at is pairing edges.
Cubes i use:
4x4-Shengshou 4x4 VIII
5x5-Ghost Hand 5x5 (dont know what version)
Thanks guys!

 

[Jaycee]

I average ~ 1:50 at 4x4. The things I think we should do.

-Look-ahead. So much.
-TPS.
-Improving centers efficiency.

 

[MCRcuber]

Alright cool. I find it hard to look ahead and still maintain a good time. I also solve my centers and edges in about 1 minute. Then the rest in about 35 seconds

 

[PandaCuber]

HOW DO YOU GUYS GET SUB 2!? I average around 3 minutes and cant get sub 2. If anything im terriblyy slow.

 

[MCRcuber]

For4x4? Well i used to get 2 minute solves but then:
1) I got a Shengshou 4x4
2) Practiced EVERY day with my friends
3) Learned a new edge pairing method
But i am still very slow! I want to get 1:15 solves. And for 5x5 i would like 2 minutes or even 2:50!!

 

[PandaCuber]

For4x4? Well i used to get 2 minute solves but then:
1) I got a Shengshou 4x4
2) Practiced EVERY day with my friends
3) Learned a new edge pairing method
But i am still very slow! I want to get 1:15 solves. And for 5x5 i would like 2 minutes or even 2:50!!

Yeah i got a shengshouh aswell.
Can you share your edge pairing method?

 

[MCRcuber]

Yeah well what i do is right after i make the centers i slice the middle layer to the left. Then I look at the edge that is on the upper part of the middle, and i find its pair. I then place it in the correct area so that when you slice back it makes a pair. But you DONT slice back. Look at the peice above where you just put that one and find its pair. Do the same thing and repeat till you slice and make THREE pairs. Then i turn the cube so that those pairs are on the bottom. Then i do that again. After that you should have 6 pairs, or more if you got lucky. After this you will solve two pairs at a time. Hopefully you know how to do this. If not, i will explain. If you dont undertand i could probably make a video, but its pretty straightfoward after a little practice.