[Help Thread] Can anyone help me be Sub 15?

[SpeedCubingLord]

Guys so I average around 17 seconds, and I want to be sub 15. Go to my you tube channel called the cubing emperor for a few solves, Just please help. Here is my normal ao12:

Generated By csTimer on 2024-04-02 (solving from 2024-03-19 16:41:55 to 2024-04-02 18:18:58)
avg of 12: 17.622

Time List:
4. 18.680 D2 R2 F U2 B D2 R2 B L2 B2 L2 U B2 L2 R U' F' U' B2 D2 L2 @2024-03-19 16:41:55
5. (22.645) L2 F L' U' B2 R2 D F2 R2 F2 L2 F2 U2 R F D2 R' U F' U @2024-03-19 16:42:26
6. 17.160 L' D B' R2 D2 U2 B D2 F' L2 B' U2 R2 F' R D F D' U' B2 R @2024-03-29 15:21:58
7. 15.291 R2 F2 D' R2 D2 F2 L2 F2 U B2 D R F' D B' F2 R B2 R' U @2024-03-29 15:22:35
8. 18.600 B' U2 F2 U' R2 F2 R2 B2 D B2 D' F2 L' F' L2 R' U R' U2 L' R' @2024-03-29 15:23:57
9. (10.944) B' L D2 F U2 D B D L B2 D' B2 D F2 U' L2 D R2 U F2 @2024-04-02 17:38:13
10. 19.713 D U2 F2 R2 F2 L2 R2 U' F2 L2 D R' B U2 B2 U' B2 F' U2 R F2 @2024-04-02 17:39:32
11. 19.633 L B2 D' F L F2 B L U' L' F2 L2 F2 U2 R2 F2 R' B2 R2 F2 U2 @2024-04-02 17:40:58
12. 16.777 B L2 F2 U2 B L2 D2 U2 F2 D2 F L2 R U' B2 D' F D2 R U' F2 @2024-04-02 17:42:08
13. 16.506 U B2 R2 F D2 R U' F2 U' B2 D2 B2 L2 B' R2 B U2 B @2024-04-02 17:47:07
14. 18.713 F L F2 R2 D F2 D B2 F2 L2 F2 D B2 U F' L R' F U B2 @2024-04-02 18:10:26
15. 15.145 L2 D2 B2 D2 B U2 F' D2 B' F' D2 U2 L F' D R U F2 L' F' @2024-04-02 18:18:58

 

[1x1 wr holder!]

yeah I was around here a couple of months ago, and I went from a 17 average too now a 16.4 average (still dropping), and I frequently get sub 15 averages. what I found makes the most difference in times is your cross/f2l mindset. as I see it, there are about 3 mindsets to have. One is planning first pair during inspection. Another is just making the cross as fast as you can and then doing f2l. And the last, my favorite, is doing your cross at a speed where it is fast but just slow enough that you are watching out for possible first pairs.

once you see the edge and corner piece that you want to use as your first pair, tap into your muscle mem slotting and look for another corner/edge whilst executing the f2l pairing/insert. repeat until you finish f2l.

along with the f2l, just make sure you know full oll and pll. the reason I'm not consistently sub 15 is really because I don't know all the oll's. some of those two look cases can really bite.

 

[Averageof12]

A. Do a LOT of 2-Gen practice.
B. Make sure you know full OLL and PLL.
C. Doing some 3x3 stages on 4x4 is helpful. (Timed)
D. This isn't required, but it might help if you learn around 5-6 algs of winter variation. Thats what I did (I still don't know full) and I get around 12-13 second averages. once you want to get faster, Learning full would be helpful.

 

[Gecko777]

i average 12, and i use full pll and half of oll. learn both of those, along with optimal cross(8 moves or under every time) and f2l

 

[randomness...]

im a 14 second solver, and use pretty much the same thing mentioned in the previous post, along with some random Wv's, Coll, and various other algs.
I would recommend finding a turning style that suits you, and a solving style that suits you.
maybe you're like me and like F,L,U gen stuff, or M'U

yeah I was around here a couple of months ago, and I went from a 17 average too now a 16.4 average (still dropping), and I frequently get sub 15 averages. what I found makes the most difference in times is your cross/f2l mindset. as I see it, there are about 3 mindsets to have. One is planning first pair during inspection. Another is just making the cross as fast as you can and then doing f2l. And the last, my favorite, is doing your cross at a speed where it is fast but just slow enough that you are watching out for possible first pairs.

once you see the edge and corner piece that you want to use as your first pair, tap into your muscle mem slotting and look for another corner/edge whilst executing the f2l pairing/insert. repeat until you finish f2l.

along with the f2l, just make sure you know full oll and pll. the reason I'm not consistently sub 15 is really because I don't know all the oll's. some of those two look cases can really bite.

essentially this, but if you learn a wide amount of algs, you can use this in LL or even last slot

 

[TheSpeedSkewber]

A. Do a LOT of 2-Gen practice.
B. Make sure you know full OLL and PLL.
C. Doing some 3x3 stages on 4x4 is helpful. (Timed)
D. This isn't required, but it might help if you learn around 5-6 algs of winter variation. Thats what I did (I still don't know full) and I get around 12-13 second averages. once you want to get faster, Learning full would be helpful.

I am sub 14 and the only criteria i fit is B.

What is the purpose of 3x3 stage on 4x4? Surely that would cement bad lookahead habits because of the cube?

 

[Averageof12]

doing 3x3 stages on 4x4 helps improve lookahead. the common misconception is that lookahead is harder on big cubes. This is not true. because the cube is bigger, lookahead is easier. (this is a good tip for 4-7x7). the same can go for 3x3 on 4x4.

 

[SpeedCubingLord]

Thanks guys these are great tips! I'll reach out if need more help.

 

[SpeedCubingLord]

doing 3x3 stages on 4x4 helps improve lookahead. the common misconception is that lookahead is harder on big cubes. This is not true. because the cube is bigger, lookahead is easier. (this is a good tip for 4-7x7). the same can go for 3x3 on 4x4.

So you mean that the bigger pieces make lookahead easier, so I can practice,

 

[randomness...]

just doing bigger solves helps because you are subconsciously tracking more pieces while making the center, I believe (I can be wrong)

What is the purpose of 3x3 stage on 4x4? Surely that would cement bad lookahead habits because of the cube?

I think they meant just using a 3 scramble on 4x4, instead of doing the full 4x4 solves

 

[Cubinginatree]

A. Do a LOT of 2-Gen practice.
B. Make sure you know full OLL and PLL.
C. Doing some 3x3 stages on 4x4 is helpful. (Timed)
D. This isn't required, but it might help if you learn around 5-6 algs of winter variation. Thats what I did (I still don't know full) and I get around 12-13 second averages. once you want to get faster, Learning full would be helpful.

I fit none of the criteria and I global mid 13. B is the only one of these that I would recommend. I'm in the process of learning OLL but I would recommend learning it as soon as possible. What is the point of doing LOTS of 2-gen practice? If any thing F2L should be prioritized. Also what does 3x3 on 4x4 do? Just because the cube is bigger does not mean it leads to easier lookahead.

Here is my tips for sub 15:
- Learn both OLL and PLL and be very comfortable executing and recognizing both.
- Know Advanced F2L and be fast moving through one pair to the next.
-Have and cross 8 moves or less and use inspection well.

 

[artless1der]

Brody can bro

https://m.youtube.com/@BrodytheCuber

 

[Averageof12]

2-gen improves F2L and lookahead. I would recommend and avrage of 14 for R, U and also for L, U.
also I do think that 8 moves or less cross is essential.

 

[Justincubes]

Interesting (yet slightly stupid sounding) tip: use a giant 3x3. Not too big, but something you can still comfortably turn. I don't reccomend buying one just to do this, but I bought the QiYi 90 cm 3x3, and I can still get decent TPS on it, but my lookahead is way better on it

 

[JDAW6]

A. Do a LOT of 2-Gen practice.
B. Make sure you know full OLL and PLL.
C. Doing some 3x3 stages on 4x4 is helpful. (Timed)
D. This isn't required, but it might help if you learn around 5-6 algs of winter variation. Thats what I did (I still don't know full) and I get around 12-13 second averages. once you want to get faster, Learning full would be helpful.

I fit none of these criteria and I avg 10

I suggest you learn full pll while slowly learning oll
Also. Try to learn lookahead and make sure to plan full cross in inspection

 

[SpeakCuba]

Guys so I average around 17 seconds, and I want to be sub 15. Go to my you tube channel called the cubing emperor for a few solves, Just please help. Here is my normal ao12:

Generated By csTimer on 2024-04-02 (solving from 2024-03-19 16:41:55 to 2024-04-02 18:18:58)
avg of 12: 17.622

Time List:
4. 18.680 D2 R2 F U2 B D2 R2 B L2 B2 L2 U B2 L2 R U' F' U' B2 D2 L2 @2024-03-19 16:41:55
5. (22.645) L2 F L' U' B2 R2 D F2 R2 F2 L2 F2 U2 R F D2 R' U F' U @2024-03-19 16:42:26
6. 17.160 L' D B' R2 D2 U2 B D2 F' L2 B' U2 R2 F' R D F D' U' B2 R @2024-03-29 15:21:58
7. 15.291 R2 F2 D' R2 D2 F2 L2 F2 U B2 D R F' D B' F2 R B2 R' U @2024-03-29 15:22:35
8. 18.600 B' U2 F2 U' R2 F2 R2 B2 D B2 D' F2 L' F' L2 R' U R' U2 L' R' @2024-03-29 15:23:57
9. (10.944) B' L D2 F U2 D B D L B2 D' B2 D F2 U' L2 D R2 U F2 @2024-04-02 17:38:13
10. 19.713 D U2 F2 R2 F2 L2 R2 U' F2 L2 D R' B U2 B2 U' B2 F' U2 R F2 @2024-04-02 17:39:32
11. 19.633 L B2 D' F L F2 B L U' L' F2 L2 F2 U2 R2 F2 R' B2 R2 F2 U2 @2024-04-02 17:40:58
12. 16.777 B L2 F2 U2 B L2 D2 U2 F2 D2 F L2 R U' B2 D' F D2 R U' F2 @2024-04-02 17:42:08
13. 16.506 U B2 R2 F D2 R U' F2 U' B2 D2 B2 L2 B' R2 B U2 B @2024-04-02 17:47:07
14. 18.713 F L F2 R2 D F2 D B2 F2 L2 F2 D B2 U F' L R' F U B2 @2024-04-02 18:10:26
15. 15.145 L2 D2 B2 D2 B U2 F' D2 B' F' D2 U2 L F' D R U F2 L' F' @2024-04-02 18:18:58

1: Do 2-Gen solves. They help, over time, with lookahead and TPS.
2: Make sure you know Full PLL. I would say a good time to start learning full OLL is when you average ~13 seconds, so full OLL is not necessary at all. 2-Look OLL will be good for now.
3: Do untimed/casual solves. Take your 3x3 and just do casual solves. This method allows you to find new solutions you haven’t before. It sure has helped me a lot.
4: Do timed F2L. Use a CsTimer session where you have a scramble with cross solved. Then time just the F2L. Make sure to focus on your lookahead.
5: Do untimed F2L. Do solves where you turn at the lowest speed you can whilst still looking ahead. This is what I mean: When you do untimed F2L, make sure you have little pauses. If you have large/too many pauses, then slow down until you have minimal pauses. Say you start at even just 1 TPS. Once you can consistently have pauses/few pauses in your F2L at 1TPS, then increase that to 2, and so forth.
6: Do not rotate a lot, especially during F2L. If you do rotate a lot during F2L, try to minimize those. A lot of pairs that you may rotate for can be solved just as fast rotarionless. And make sure you do not rotate to solve a PLL case. Just do U/U’ moves instead.
7: Winter variation isn’t worth it, at least not for your level, so don’t bother learning it.
8: Do deliberate practice. I’ve already mentioned a few here, but if you see your cross/F2L, algs, or whatever it may be needs work, then do untimed/casual solves working on those problems. So for example, if your cross is bad, try to do untimed solves where you come up with better cross solutions. (For cross, make sure you know the “trick” when you insert the pieces misaligned and then do D moves to align it again). Or if you see some of your last layer algs are slow, drill them out using Jperm’s trainer.

All in all, it also takes practice, and not just mindless solves. It will take a while, but you can definetly improve. You can also look at solutions of faster cubers, and seeing what they do.