[Help Thread] CFOP Discussion

[mafergut]

Do I need to learn all the OLLs for sub-20? I'm trying to improve my cross but nothing seems to work.My PLL execution is pretty slow too.(up to 6 seconds) Any links for tutorials on Advanced Cross and PLL execution?
And- is it necessary to be dual / full colour neutral? Because it doesn't seem to be worth doing,seeing as only one or two moves are saved being colour neutral/ dual colour.

You don't really need to learn all 57 OLLs for sub-20 but maybe some of the easier cases can be helpful and easy to learn gradually. I started that way and ended up learning all the cases but in fact some cases are not much better than the 2L option. I mean, we are talking about maybe 1 second improvement at most, depending on your TPS.

For advanced cross look up badmephisto advanced cross on google. He has some nice video tutorials that helped me a lot. For PLL execution try to search for videos on how the top guys execute them and try to pay attention at the fingertricks they use and apply them to your algs. Other than that it's just a question of drilling your algs over and over.

And, regarding CN it's not just that, in average the difference is not big. It's that, having 6 options instead of 1 you have a lot more chances to have a good cross, maybe even an x-cross or at least a cross + easy 1st pair. And, in my case, when the solve starts well it usually ends with a good time. I'm only dual CN right now (white/yellow) but I'm trying to become full CN (my times with the other 4 colours is now like 4-5 seconds slower). Is it worth it? I think it's relative. It will help your averages a bit but probably not your PB single. Anyway, it's something that does not take a lot of effort and will help you get used to it for other events were being fully CN is a must, like 2x2 or skewb. I, for some reason, tried to be full CN but ended up favoring white / yellow and, when I realized it, I was way slower with the others so I stopped even trying, but I'm going for it again right now. I think it's never too late but it's easier if you go for it sooner rather than later.

 

[Killbox]

You don't really need to learn all 57 OLLs for sub-20 but maybe some of the easier cases can be helpful and easy to learn gradually. I started that way and ended up learning all the cases but in fact some cases are not much better than the 2L option. I mean, we are talking about maybe 1 second improvement at most, depending on your TPS.

For advanced cross look up badmephisto advanced cross on google. He has some nice video tutorials that helped me a lot. For PLL execution try to search for videos on how the top guys execute them and try to pay attention at the fingertricks they use and apply them to your algs. Other than that it's just a question of drilling your algs over and over.

And, regarding CN it's not just that, in average the difference is not big. It's that, having 6 options instead of 1 you have a lot more chances to have a good cross, maybe even an x-cross or at least a cross + easy 1st pair. And, in my case, when the solve starts well it usually ends with a good time. I'm only dual CN right now (white/yellow) but I'm trying to become full CN (my times with the other 4 colours is now like 4-5 seconds slower). Is it worth it? I think it's relative. It will help your averages a bit but probably not your PB single. Anyway, it's something that does not take a lot of effort and will help you get used to it for other events were being fully CN is a must, like 2x2 or skewb. I, for some reason, tried to be full CN but ended up favoring white / yellow and, when I realized it, I was way slower with the others so I stopped even trying, but I'm going for it again right now. I think it's never too late but it's easier if you go for it sooner rather than later.

Thanks for your advice.I think I'll go into being dual color neutral.Maybe it'll improve my averages.I tried doing a couple solves on yellow( my primary color is white) and I'm just 5-7 seconds slower on average.
I've watched all of badmehisto's videos on cross and they don't seem to be helping much.Any other tips?

 

[Killbox]

Check out this youtube series on PLL fingertricks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqgw0MsnbWM&list=PLRZHt_6umybxXK7SMTT4UvC9me0lpwStF.
You don't need to learn all the OLLs for sub-20 but it will certainly help. In fact I recommend learning the OLLs progressively as most cases have really easy and fast algs.

These videos although good ;use different G and V perms than mine, which are really the only ones I need help in.
Edit:The Ns are different too.

 

[Om]

How to improve my speed in 3x3? ?help!!

I started cubing 2 month ago and i learned cfop. Now i m using all advanced method like cross on bottom, advanced f2l and 2 look oll and pll also using finger tricks and look ahead. But my time is 1 minutes long... Please help... I use yj yulong stickerless...

 

[theawesomecuber]

What do you mean when you say "using finger tricks and look ahead."? It's a common misconception that everyone is either using look ahead, or they're not using look ahead. Look ahead isn't like a method, that you learn. It's more of a skill that you can improve. Every single cuber uses look ahead, to varying degrees. Beginner cubers might just see a certain piece while doing the last move of inserting another piece, while advanced cubers can see several moves ahead, while turning at a high TPS.

For tips, I don't think you should worry too much about look ahead at all. That's not something you should really worry about until you're approaching the 20 second barrier. You should work on making efficient crosses, being able to solve every F2L case without thinking about it, and quick recognition of OLL and PLL.

You can get to sub 30 seconds relatively easily just by working on these things. Hope this helped .

 

[Notorious]

Looking for tips on Fridrich

I decided to start cubing seriously about a week ago. I've been able to solve the cube with the beginners method for almost 3 years but this week I learned the fridrich. I'm using intuitive F2L, 2 look OLL, and 2 look PLL. I have all the 2 look algorithms memorized and I can solve the cube with the Fridrich without having to look at the algorithms. I'm curious on what I can do to get faster. I've been practicing for 3 days with the Fridrich and my fastest time is 1:20 while my fastest time with the beginners is 1:13. I'm wondering what can I do to improve my time and if I'm doing anything wrong? I understand the Fridrich method very well but I'm not that fast at it. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

 

[DGCubes]

First, if you don't have a speedcube, you should absolutely get one. It really doesn't matter which one, but some good, cheap ones are the YJ GuanLong and QiYi Thunderclap. As far as your actual speed, almost everyone slows down at first when they switch to a new method; don't worry about it. If you keep practicing, you'll get the hang of it and you'll get much faster. Intuitive F2L is one of the hardest concepts to grasp, so I'd recommend you watch some walkthrough solves so you can see how to make pairs more efficiently. Good luck!

 

[Notorious]

Haha I actually just ordered the Moyu Weilong v2 the other day and I've been waiting for it to get here. Thank you for the tips also. I'm pretty comfortable with F2L and I've been practicing a lot. The video I watched on it really simplified it and I understand it perfectly now. I definitely need to watch some more intermediate/ advanced tutorials on it. It takes me anywhere from 40 seconds to a minute just to solve the cross and the first 2 layers and then the last layer takes about 25 seconds.

 

[SpeedcuberJH]

Alright I need some tips guys...

So here are my times

Cross >4 Seconds
F2L >12 Seconds
LL >12 Seconds
So yeah
I average around 22-24 seconds on an average of 5
I'm guessing my ll is pretty bad though, I think my cross is really good since I find it really easy and for my f2l im not really sure.

 

[puzzl3add1ct]

Alright I need some tips guys...

So here are my times

Cross >4 Seconds
F2L >12 Seconds
LL >12 Seconds
So yeah
I average around 22-24 seconds on an average of 5
I'm guessing my ll is pretty bad though, I think my cross is really good since I find it really easy and for my f2l im not really sure.

Your cross and LL is pretty bad imo. Try to be able to do cross bld in under 8 moves consistently. Watch a lot of walkthrough solves from fast people to improve your efficiency in your cross.
For LL just keep spamming algs and improve you recognition. Try learning full PLL if u haven't already. 1 alg every 2 days wouldn't hurt. Hope this helps.

 

[Kudz]

IDK if it's called xcross, but I've been trying to a track pair when there is an ez cross. I don't really want to become CN unless I really don't improve after a fixed time. Oh, and yeah, slow turning(like really slow) has dropped my times a LOT. I just finished my ao50, and it was a sub-18, so really thanks for your tips :tu

cross+1 = cross plus one done pair on U
xcross = cross+1 pair in it's slot
You just track pairs now. This is must those two above are extremely useful and make solves faster. Non-CN ppl will have trouble finding them. That's why CN is useful, it can give crazy solves. You know 6x bigger probability of good (x)cross.

 

[CornerCutter]

I decided to start cubing seriously about a week ago. I've been able to solve the cube with the beginners method for almost 3 years but this week I learned the fridrich. I'm using intuitive F2L, 2 look OLL, and 2 look PLL. I have all the 2 look algorithms memorized and I can solve the cube with the Fridrich without having to look at the algorithms. I'm curious on what I can do to get faster. I've been practicing for 3 days with the Fridrich and my fastest time is 1:20 while my fastest time with the beginners is 1:13. I'm wondering what can I do to improve my time and if I'm doing anything wrong? I understand the Fridrich method very well but I'm not that fast at it. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Just keep practicing your F2L and LL and you will be able to get sub-1:00 soon. The F2L take some practice to conquer. My average was 58sec 4 months ago with 3look OLL and 2lookPLL. How long does it take you to do the cross?

 

[Zain2zMunshi]

Hey guys, I recently made a video with my top 5 tips and tricks to get faster.
I average 16 seconds

Here is the video, hope you enjoy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sObtvlr1lhM

 

[rishirs321]

I decided to start cubing seriously about a week ago. I've been able to solve the cube with the beginners method for almost 3 years but this week I learned the fridrich. I'm using intuitive F2L, 2 look OLL, and 2 look PLL. I have all the 2 look algorithms memorized and I can solve the cube with the Fridrich without having to look at the algorithms. I'm curious on what I can do to get faster. I've been practicing for 3 days with the Fridrich and my fastest time is 1:20 while my fastest time with the beginners is 1:13. I'm wondering what can I do to improve my time and if I'm doing anything wrong? I understand the Fridrich method very well but I'm not that fast at it. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

I also had problems with f2l and got slower times when using that method, so sometimes i decided to switch back to beginners. But when I got the hang of it, I got many sub 1:00 times (with rubik's brand ).

 

[puzzl3add1ct]

Hey guys, I recently made a video with my top 5 tips and tricks to get faster.
I average 16 seconds

Here is the video, hope you enjoy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sObtvlr1lhM

Great video overall but I disagree with your first tip. I could get sub 15 times with my Rubik's brand easily which are the Same times I get with my thunderclap.

 

[CornerCutter]

Hey guys, I recently made a video with my top 5 tips and tricks to get faster.
I average 16 seconds

Here is the video, hope you enjoy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sObtvlr1lhM

Nice video.:tu Your F2L is great compared to mine. I have to work on #3(look ahead, if I remember correctly).

 

[Weird Cuber]

Help improving on 3x3

Right now I average 23-27 seconds with cfop and need help improving. I use 2 look oll and full pll. I am currently memorizing full oll. Here is my time breakdown: cross=3sec f2l=13 LL=8. I have been cubing for about 1.5 months.

 

[Myachii]

You really don't need to know full OLL at this stage. Full OLL is the go-to thing that most speedcubers use as a reminder that they could be that little bit faster with it memorised. You want to keep this as a backup strategy until you're at least averaging 16-17 seconds. Otherwise, you'll find yourself averaging 20 seconds and stuck again, and this time you won't have the option to learn extra algorithms, making improvement frustratingly slow.

I can't really say anything that hasn't been said a million times before. 8 seconds is fine for the last layer at your stage, just drill the algs you already know. Cross could be a bit better but isn't really an issue. F2L is just looking ahead and trying to get that stage alone under 10 seconds.

There are loads of resources, videos and guides available for you to use with just a few clicks. Here's a starting point.

Explore the web!

 

[MoyuFTW]

To get sub 20, usual splits are around cross 3, F2L + Cross 13, OLL 3, PLL 3. It will be a lot easier for us to help you, if you video an average of 5 rather than say you're split times.

 

[Weird Cuber]

Thanks, I don't have a camera though, I will still write the olls down as that will help me memorize it without meaning to. I have a competition in 2 weeks. (portland alpha) I am going to just practice a lot.