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Bulkocuber's progression | angry face
- Thread starter bulkocuber
- Start date
bulkocuber
Veteran
New PBs in 3x3 hehe
and a decent 14.25 ao100 
And a 9.93 full-step PB2, my first full-step sub-10. I'm feeling the improvement, I'm getting more and more sub-13s.
Now it's finally time to work on Look-ahead
: I don't even know where to start, but I guess I'll do something.
13.64
(10.67)
(17.18)
10.79
12.75
(10.67)
(17.18)
10.79
12.75
11.58
13.44
13.94
14.16
14.52
13.06
14.90
12.84
13.64
(10.67)
(17.18)
10.79
13.44
13.94
14.16
14.52
13.06
14.90
12.84
13.64
(10.67)
(17.18)
10.79
And a 9.93 full-step PB2, my first full-step sub-10. I'm feeling the improvement, I'm getting more and more sub-13s.
Now it's finally time to work on Look-ahead
: I don't even know where to start, but I guess I'll do something.
bulkocuber
Veteran
Look-ahead is so satisfying! And the feeling when you don't pause throught the entire solve!
I'm doing untimed solves trying not to pause at all, but also timed solves where I turn slower than usual solves but faster than the untimed solves. In timed solves I average 0.5 seconds slower than usual (usual=my average before I started working on look-ahead).
Some good solves I got while practicing look-ahead:
9.63 full-step single (0.05 away from PB)
10.79 LL skip (34 moves)
So the question is: Is this kind of practice (with good f2l habits) enough to improve quickly at look-ahead? Or am I missing something?
I'm doing untimed solves trying not to pause at all, but also timed solves where I turn slower than usual solves but faster than the untimed solves. In timed solves I average 0.5 seconds slower than usual (usual=my average before I started working on look-ahead).
Some good solves I got while practicing look-ahead:
9.63 full-step single (0.05 away from PB)
10.79 LL skip (34 moves)
So the question is: Is this kind of practice (with good f2l habits) enough to improve quickly at look-ahead? Or am I missing something?
Bh13
Veteran
Slow solves I would say are good for general lookahead improvement, but you might want to do targeted practice to improve lookahead in specific areas. For example, drilling F2L case recognition from all angles will help with F2L lookahead (so for example recognizing cases where an edge is in a back slot without having to rotate the cube)
Another good thing to work on is 2-sided PLL recognition (and to some extent 2-sided OLL recognition). This prevents unnecessary AUFs and can help shave off some time from your last layer
The other big step I can think of is planning cross + first pair in inspection - usually this is a lot better with untimed solves because you have unlimited time to figure out where your first pair will end up. This will help save time at the start of your solve and allow a smooth transition between the first pair and the rest of your F2L
Another good thing to work on is 2-sided PLL recognition (and to some extent 2-sided OLL recognition). This prevents unnecessary AUFs and can help shave off some time from your last layer
The other big step I can think of is planning cross + first pair in inspection - usually this is a lot better with untimed solves because you have unlimited time to figure out where your first pair will end up. This will help save time at the start of your solve and allow a smooth transition between the first pair and the rest of your F2L
bulkocuber
Veteran
Wow
9.57 3x3 PB single by 0.01 (which is ridiculous)
Here is the recon:
F U L B2 L U2 R2 U2 R F2 U2 L' B2 R2 D' F R' U2 B2 D' U'
y' // inspection
U' R' (F B') L D // cross
R' U R U' R' U' R2 U2 R' U2 R U' R' // 1st & 2nd pairs
U' L U' L' // 3rd pair
U L' U' L U2' L' U L // 4th pair
U R U2 R2' U' R2 U' R2' U2' R // OLL
U' R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F' U // PLL
57STM / 9.57sec =5.96TPS
[view at CubeDB.net]( https://cubedb.net/?puzzle=3&scramb..._U_R-_F-_U__//_PLL&stage=pll&crosscolor=white )
The interesting about this solve is that it is full-step and it isn't as lucky as you would espect from a PB single. I'm especially proud of that cancellation between pair 1 and pair 2, thank to the power of look-ahead. In fact, this is probably my best solve ever, not only because of the time, but look-ahead was incredible, with almost 6 TPS (which I think is TPS PB)
9.57 3x3 PB single by 0.01 (which is ridiculous)
Here is the recon:
F U L B2 L U2 R2 U2 R F2 U2 L' B2 R2 D' F R' U2 B2 D' U'
y' // inspection
U' R' (F B') L D // cross
R' U R U' R' U' R2 U2 R' U2 R U' R' // 1st & 2nd pairs
U' L U' L' // 3rd pair
U L' U' L U2' L' U L // 4th pair
U R U2 R2' U' R2 U' R2' U2' R // OLL
U' R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F' U // PLL
57STM / 9.57sec =5.96TPS
[view at CubeDB.net]( https://cubedb.net/?puzzle=3&scramb..._U_R-_F-_U__//_PLL&stage=pll&crosscolor=white )
The interesting about this solve is that it is full-step and it isn't as lucky as you would espect from a PB single. I'm especially proud of that cancellation between pair 1 and pair 2, thank to the power of look-ahead. In fact, this is probably my best solve ever, not only because of the time, but look-ahead was incredible, with almost 6 TPS (which I think is TPS PB)
bulkocuber
Veteran
I just noticed that if I had inserted the 3rd pair with L U2 L' and solved last pair it would have given me an OLL skip and F perm, but that's ok, I probably would have locked up on that F perm.
Last edited:
bulkocuber
Veteran
Beat this.
24 PBs in one day (2 days ago):
3x3: single, mo3, ao5, ao12, ao25, ao50, ao100, ao200, ao500, ao1000
2x2: ao12, ao25, ao50, ao100, ao200, ao500
4x4: single, mo3, ao5, ao12, ao25, ao50, ao100, ao200
I'm very happy with my sub-12 (11.99) 3x3 ao5 and sub-14 (13.99) ao100.
24 PBs in one day (2 days ago):
3x3: single, mo3, ao5, ao12, ao25, ao50, ao100, ao200, ao500, ao1000
2x2: ao12, ao25, ao50, ao100, ao200, ao500
4x4: single, mo3, ao5, ao12, ao25, ao50, ao100, ao200
I'm very happy with my sub-12 (11.99) 3x3 ao5 and sub-14 (13.99) ao100.
Last edited:
bulkocuber
Veteran
PB everything on 3x3 today:
9.11 PB single
11.37 PB mo3
11.93 PB ao5
12.39 PB ao12
12.91 PB ao25
13.29 PB ao50
13.55 PB ao100
I can now say that I average 13, and I got 4 sub-10s today: 9.79, 9.54, 9.30, 9.11.
During the last month, my practice hasn't been consistent: I cube a lot at the weekend and I do almost nothing on the other days of the week. This is because I've got lots of things to do (piano, athletics, math olympiad, school, ...) and I don't usually find the time for cubing, BUT I discovered that if I study/do math exercises/... more at the weekend, I can cube just a little on the other days. And this should also benefit cubing, since practicing 4 hours 2 days a week is worse than practicing half an hour every day (and a little bit more on saturday and sunday).
9.11 PB single
D L2 D2 B2 L2 D B2 U2 L2 U L D L' F2 D' B L' R B D
L D R' D2 R' D2 // cross
L' U L // 1st pair
R U' R' U R U R' // 2nd pair
y U' R U' R' y U2 L' U' L // 3rd pair
R' F' R U R U' R' F // 4th pair
U r U R' U' r' R U R U' R' // OLL
U R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U // PLL
58STM / 9.11sec =6.37TPS
[view at CubeDB.net]( https://cubedb.net/?puzzle=3&scramb...R2_U-_R-_U__//_PLL&stage=pll&crosscolor=white )
Fun fact: I actually broke my PB single twice today, the first time with a 9.54 full-step.
L D R' D2 R' D2 // cross
L' U L // 1st pair
R U' R' U R U R' // 2nd pair
y U' R U' R' y U2 L' U' L // 3rd pair
R' F' R U R U' R' F // 4th pair
U r U R' U' r' R U R U' R' // OLL
U R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U // PLL
58STM / 9.11sec =6.37TPS
[view at CubeDB.net]( https://cubedb.net/?puzzle=3&scramb...R2_U-_R-_U__//_PLL&stage=pll&crosscolor=white )
Fun fact: I actually broke my PB single twice today, the first time with a 9.54 full-step.
11.37 PB mo3
1. 12.09
2. 11.51
3. 10.52
2. 11.51
3. 10.52
11.93 PB ao5
1. 12.20
2. (14.89)
3. 12.09
4. 11.51
5. (10.52)
2. (14.89)
3. 12.09
4. 11.51
5. (10.52)
12.39 PB ao12
1. 11.20
2. 12.31
3. 11.97
4. 14.38
5. 12.82
6. 12.66
7. 12.75
8. (10.91)
9. 11.57
10. (15.14)
11. 12.99
12. 11.25
2. 12.31
3. 11.97
4. 14.38
5. 12.82
6. 12.66
7. 12.75
8. (10.91)
9. 11.57
10. (15.14)
11. 12.99
12. 11.25
12.91 PB ao25
13.29 PB ao50
13.55 PB ao100
I can now say that I average 13, and I got 4 sub-10s today: 9.79, 9.54, 9.30, 9.11.
During the last month, my practice hasn't been consistent: I cube a lot at the weekend and I do almost nothing on the other days of the week. This is because I've got lots of things to do (piano, athletics, math olympiad, school, ...) and I don't usually find the time for cubing, BUT I discovered that if I study/do math exercises/... more at the weekend, I can cube just a little on the other days. And this should also benefit cubing, since practicing 4 hours 2 days a week is worse than practicing half an hour every day (and a little bit more on saturday and sunday).
bulkocuber
Veteran
PB ao5!
11.66
Times:
1. 12.28 R F L' U R2 U L U L' U2 F' R2 F L2 F L2 B'
2. (16.52) L D2 F' L2 F R2 B R2 B2 L2 U2 B2 L' B L2 D2 U' F' R2 F
3. 11.45 F' D' L2 U R2 B2 U R2 F2 D2 U' F R' F2 D' R F2 U2 R
4. 11.26 U2 L' D2 R2 F D2 L2 F U2 R2 B' U2 B2 L' D' U' L B' F' D'
5. (11.21) D' F2 D L2 D' U' F2 R2 U' L2 R U' B' D2 R D' B' F R2
And PB mo3!
11.31
Times:
1. 11.45 F' D' L2 U R2 B2 U R2 F2 D2 U' F R' F2 D' R F2 U2 R
2. 11.26 U2 L' D2 R2 F D2 L2 F U2 R2 B' U2 B2 L' D' U' L B' F' D'
3. 11.21 D' F2 D L2 D' U' F2 R2 U' L2 R U' B' D2 R D' B' F R2
11.66
Times:
1. 12.28 R F L' U R2 U L U L' U2 F' R2 F L2 F L2 B'
2. (16.52) L D2 F' L2 F R2 B R2 B2 L2 U2 B2 L' B L2 D2 U' F' R2 F
3. 11.45 F' D' L2 U R2 B2 U R2 F2 D2 U' F R' F2 D' R F2 U2 R
4. 11.26 U2 L' D2 R2 F D2 L2 F U2 R2 B' U2 B2 L' D' U' L B' F' D'
5. (11.21) D' F2 D L2 D' U' F2 R2 U' L2 R U' B' D2 R D' B' F R2
And PB mo3!
11.31
Times:
1. 11.45 F' D' L2 U R2 B2 U R2 F2 D2 U' F R' F2 D' R F2 U2 R
2. 11.26 U2 L' D2 R2 F D2 L2 F U2 R2 B' U2 B2 L' D' U' L B' F' D'
3. 11.21 D' F2 D L2 D' U' F2 R2 U' L2 R U' B' D2 R D' B' F R2
bulkocuber
Veteran
More PBs today!
PB mo3: 10.78
PB ao5: 11.63
PB ao12: 12.27
PB ao25: 12.62
PB ao50: 12.94
And a 13.07 PB ao100 which is great. I'm probably sub-13.5.
PB mo3: 10.78
9.30
11.77
11.28
the 9.30 was PB fail, since I locked up on last pair (which was a free pair) and did the OLL really slowly because I was tired, and got a PLL skip
11.77
11.28
the 9.30 was PB fail, since I locked up on last pair (which was a free pair) and did the OLL really slowly because I was tired, and got a PLL skip
PB ao5: 11.63
(14.92)
(10.37)
12.36
11.29
11.25
(10.37)
12.36
11.29
11.25
PB ao12: 12.27
(14.29)
12.52
12.95
11.60
(11.01)
11.51
13.47
13.63
12.09
11.35
11.50
12.03
12.52
12.95
11.60
(11.01)
11.51
13.47
13.63
12.09
11.35
11.50
12.03
PB ao25: 12.62
PB ao50: 12.94
And a 13.07 PB ao100 which is great. I'm probably sub-13.5.
gsingh
Legend
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- Dec 28, 2021
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bro that is some fast improvment
bulkocuber
Veteran
3x3 PB single!! 8.72, first sub-9!
R2 F L2 B2 R2 D2 F' R2 B' R2 U2 F2 L' U' R2 B' F' U' R F' U
D R' B' F' L' // xcross
R U R' y' U L U L' // 2nd pair
F' U' F U' R U R' // 3rd pair
U' R' U' R U R' U2' R // 4th pair
U' R U R' U' R' F R F' // OLL
R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F' U // PLL
51STM / 8.72sec =5.85TPS
[view at CubeDB.net]( https://cubedb.net/?puzzle=3&scramb..._U_R-_F-_U__//_PLL&stage=pll&crosscolor=white )
D R' B' F' L' // xcross
R U R' y' U L U L' // 2nd pair
F' U' F U' R U R' // 3rd pair
U' R' U' R U R' U2' R // 4th pair
U' R U R' U' R' F R F' // OLL
R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F' U // PLL
51STM / 8.72sec =5.85TPS
[view at CubeDB.net]( https://cubedb.net/?puzzle=3&scramb..._U_R-_F-_U__//_PLL&stage=pll&crosscolor=white )
bulkocuber
Veteran
Another PB single: 8.47
I was happy to beat the 8.72 because I was afraid that I had overinspected.
After that solve I got two PB fails in a row
, that ended up being two low 11s, that gave me a 10.20 mo3 PB (could have been close to sub-9 at least) and a 11.59 ao5 PB (that could have been a low 10 average). In particular, the second PB fail was one of the luckiest solves I've ever got: 2/3 free pairs that I was able to look ahead to, OLL skip and H perm. Although I didn't look at the timer, I knew it was very fast (probably on pace to get a sub-8) and my hands were shaking so badly during H perm, so I messed up it.
I was happy to beat the 8.72 because I was afraid that I had overinspected.
After that solve I got two PB fails in a row
, that ended up being two low 11s, that gave me a 10.20 mo3 PB (could have been close to sub-9 at least) and a 11.59 ao5 PB (that could have been a low 10 average). In particular, the second PB fail was one of the luckiest solves I've ever got: 2/3 free pairs that I was able to look ahead to, OLL skip and H perm. Although I didn't look at the timer, I knew it was very fast (probably on pace to get a sub-8) and my hands were shaking so badly during H perm, so I messed up it. 10.20 mo3:
1. 8.47 L2 U2 B' R2 U F2 B R2 U2 B2 R F2 U2 B2 U2 B2 U2 R F2 B' R'
2. 11.02 L2 D2 B2 L2 D' B2 F2 L2 D' L2 R2 D F' R' B D2 B2 U L2 D2 F
3. 11.10 F R L' B' U' L2 U' R F B2 R2 B2 L2 B U2 L2 U2 B' U2 B
11.59 ao5:
1. 12.65 D2 B2 F2 D F2 D' B2 D R2 D F2 U2 R' F2 U F' L U' L' R F
2. (14.82) B L B2 R2 D2 B D2 B' L2 B R' F D' R' B2 U' R' F2
3. (8.47) L2 U2 B' R2 U F2 B R2 U2 B2 R F2 U2 B2 U2 B2 U2 R F2 B' R'
4. 11.02 L2 D2 B2 L2 D' B2 F2 L2 D' L2 R2 D F' R' B D2 B2 U L2 D2 F
5. 11.10 F R L' B' U' L2 U' R F B2 R2 B2 L2 B U2 L2 U2 B' U2 B
1. 8.47 L2 U2 B' R2 U F2 B R2 U2 B2 R F2 U2 B2 U2 B2 U2 R F2 B' R'
2. 11.02 L2 D2 B2 L2 D' B2 F2 L2 D' L2 R2 D F' R' B D2 B2 U L2 D2 F
3. 11.10 F R L' B' U' L2 U' R F B2 R2 B2 L2 B U2 L2 U2 B' U2 B
11.59 ao5:
1. 12.65 D2 B2 F2 D F2 D' B2 D R2 D F2 U2 R' F2 U F' L U' L' R F
2. (14.82) B L B2 R2 D2 B D2 B' L2 B R' F D' R' B2 U' R' F2
3. (8.47) L2 U2 B' R2 U F2 B R2 U2 B2 R F2 U2 B2 U2 B2 U2 R F2 B' R'
4. 11.02 L2 D2 B2 L2 D' B2 F2 L2 D' L2 R2 D F' R' B D2 B2 U L2 D2 F
5. 11.10 F R L' B' U' L2 U' R F B2 R2 B2 L2 B U2 L2 U2 B' U2 B
**PB yo!**
L2 U2 B' R2 U F2 B R2 U2 B2 R F2 U2 B2 U2 B2 U2 R F2 B' R'
y R D' F R' D F' D // cross
U L' U L U' L' U' L // pair 1
U2 R' U R // pair 2
U' L U2 L' U' y' R' U' R // pair 3
y' U' R U' R' // pair 4
U' F R U' R' U' R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R F' U2 // PLL
50STM / 8.47sec =5.9TPS
[view at CubeDB.net]( https://cubedb.net/?puzzle=3&title=...R-_U-_R_U_R-_F-_R_U_R-_U-_R-_F_R_F-_U2_//_PLL )
L2 U2 B' R2 U F2 B R2 U2 B2 R F2 U2 B2 U2 B2 U2 R F2 B' R'
y R D' F R' D F' D // cross
U L' U L U' L' U' L // pair 1
U2 R' U R // pair 2
U' L U2 L' U' y' R' U' R // pair 3
y' U' R U' R' // pair 4
U' F R U' R' U' R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R F' U2 // PLL
50STM / 8.47sec =5.9TPS
[view at CubeDB.net]( https://cubedb.net/?puzzle=3&title=...R-_U-_R_U_R-_F-_R_U_R-_U-_R-_F_R_F-_U2_//_PLL )
cuberswoop
Veteran
Do you plan your x-crosses or do they just happen?
bulkocuber
Veteran
Sometimes I plan them if it's easy and I see a fast way of doing them, but the Xcrosses in my PBs are never planned, because of course if I plan an Xcross I get a bad solve, and if I don't plan them, I get PBs.
Damn.....seems like you improved very quick. Now I’m wondering if I too should have done a progression series like you. Do you have any tips on how to practice? I do only megaminx and I’m only at around a 2:15 average after starting in October
bulkocuber
Veteran
I don't have a megaminx and I know almost nothing about it. And I'm probably not the best person to ask how to practise because deliberate practice is like 10% or less of my practice. I just do lots of solves and on Sunday I always get a bunch of PBs.
Spamming solves is a great way to improve quickly, but once in a while you have to make sure you have good habits
gsingh
Legend
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- Bay Area, California
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how much do you practice per day?
bulkocuber
Veteran
My practice depends on how many tests I have at school (usually 2/3 every day, but I've experienced 5-tests days
): from Monday to Friday I cannot cube so much (sometimes I can do 3 solves, sometimes I can practice for almost an hour), except for Saturdays and Sundays where I can practice for up to 3 hours a day.
bulkocuber
Veteran
Sorry, I didn't update the thread last week, but I'm back with lots of PBs
Today I celebrate six months of cubing, which for me is probably the hobby that has lasted the most. It's not an important achievement, but let's see where I've arrived in the first 6 months of cubing:
I'm very happy with the sub-11 ao5
My global average is close to 12.4, so I just need to cut 2.4 seconds to reach my big goal (being globally sub-10), how much is it going to take me? My prediction is ~2-3 months (
).
I can still remember me struggling to do R2s and L2s six months ago (I don't know about you, but that was a real problem for me
, I would always do either R or R3), but now my knowledge of the cube is pretty advanced.
Special thanks to those of you who liked my posts giving me motivation
I definitely didn't need a post like this
Today I celebrate six months of cubing, which for me is probably the hobby that has lasted the most. It's not an important achievement, but let's see where I've arrived in the first 6 months of cubing:
I'm very happy with the sub-11 ao5
10.61
10.77
10.62
(15.42)
(10.36)
10.77
10.62
(15.42)
(10.36)
).I can still remember me struggling to do R2s and L2s six months ago (I don't know about you, but that was a real problem for me
, I would always do either R or R3), but now my knowledge of the cube is pretty advanced.Special thanks to those of you who liked my posts giving me motivation
I definitely didn't need a post like this
