CG’s Progression Thread—BIG NEWS!!!—Competition on Saturday (3x3 in 303)

[Cubist-Guitar]

So, I got my package, and have been using it for the past week or so, and my thoughts on how 2x2 has been going

So, the GAN 2x2 is good. After using it for about 100 solves, I realized that the main thing holding me back from true sub 2.6 averages was the fact that my cube was as slow as pitch. After I using it and set it up with my very good lubes (XMT 10 and Adheron Heavy) and setting the magnets to the strongest setting, I started getting more sub 2’s in 100 solves than I ever had. Still did not get a PB single, but got PB everything else, including a 1.80 ao5. I’ve done 500 or so solves, and am consistently sub 2.5. I even got a 2.27 ao100, but kinda regressed to 2.35-ish. Most of my averages are in the mid 2.3s-2.45s, which is really good for me. I think if I practice pickups, one-looking, and having faster algs, I should be nearing 2.3 soon. Also, for the 2x2 experts @baseballjello67 and @Discomantis, on a scale from 1-10, how bad would learning TCLL before EG-2 be?

@NebraskanSpeedsolver, I got my Meilong M 7x7, and am enjoying (Currently, It’s my second favorite event) it a lot, Currently, I average just shy of sub 6, and I’ve only done 10 solves. It feels very good, and I probably need to tighten it some more, and it catches about once a solve. My biggest points of focus will be F2C, as I waste a lot of time looking for pieces and wasting inspection time.

Skewb is fine. I really got it because it’s the only WCA puzzle left that I am not at least OK with my Former main (RS). If I get interested in it, I have a good one that I enjoy the feel of. Also, I dropped my times by 0.5 seconds to 6.5, so that‘s fun. If you like Skewb, that’s totally fine, but it’s not in my top 5 faves yet, so I won’t really practice it much.

Pyraminx is also really good. I think I need to tighten it some more after I disassembled it, but other than that, I average about 7.5-8 seconds, and kinda feel the same about it as I do Skewb.

 

[NebraskanSpeedsolver]

So, I got my package, and have been using it for the past week or so, and my thoughts on how 2x2 has been going

So, the GAN 2x2 is good. After using it for about 100 solves, I realized that the main thing holding me back from true sub 2.6 averages was the fact that my cube was as slow as pitch. After I using it and set it up with my very good lubes (XMT 10 and Adheron Heavy) and setting the magnets to the strongest setting, I started getting more sub 2’s in 100 solves than I ever had. Still did not get a PB single, but got PB everything else, including a 1.80 ao5. I’ve done 500 or so solves, and am consistently sub 2.5. I even got a 2.27 ao100, but kinda regressed to 2.35-ish. Most of my averages are in the mid 2.3s-2.45s, which is really good for me. I think if I practice pickups, one-looking, and having faster algs, I should be nearing 2.3 soon. Also, for the 2x2 experts @baseballjello67 and @Discomantis, on a scale from 1-10, how bad would learning TCLL before EG-2 be?

@NebraskanSpeedsolver, I got my Meilong M 7x7, and am enjoying (Currently, It’s my second favorite event) it a lot, Currently, I average just shy of sub 6, and I’ve only done 10 solves. It feels very good, and I probably need to tighten it some more, and it catches about once a solve. My biggest points of focus will be F2C, as I waste a lot of time looking for pieces and wasting inspection time.

Skewb is fine. I really got it because it’s the only WCA puzzle left that I am not at least OK with my Former main (RS). If I get interested in it, I have a good one that I enjoy the feel of. Also, I dropped my times by 0.5 seconds to 6.5, so that‘s fun. If you like Skewb, that’s totally fine, but it’s not in my top 5 faves yet, so I won’t really practice it much.

Pyraminx is also really good. I think I need to tighten it some more after I disassembled it, but other than that, I average about 7.5-8 seconds, and kinda feel the same about it as I do Skewb.

As for 7x7, what method do you use? I average just a hair above 5 with Yau

 

[baseballjello67]

Also, for the 2x2 experts @baseballjello67 and @Discomantis, on a scale from 1-10, how bad would learning TCLL before EG-2 be?

LEG-1 -> TCLL -> EG-2 (as long as you're comfortable with Anti-CLL)

 

[Cubist-Guitar]

As for 7x7, what method do you use? I average just a hair above 5 with Yau

Just redux for now. I only use Yau for 4x4.

 

[Cubist-Guitar]

LEG-1 -> TCLL -> EG-2 (as long as you're comfortable with Anti-CLL)

Ok, that isn’t bad. My goal to become really good at one looking, so I can be consistent, so those seems like it will help me the most.

 

[SpeakCuba]

LEG-1 -> TCLL -> EG-2 (as long as you're comfortable with Anti-CLL)

Most LEG-1 algs are pretty bad though, at least to me. Some are great, but I find most to be hard to finger trick , and they don't flow very well.

 

[OtaMota]

Also, for the 2x2 experts @baseballjello67 and @Discomantis, on a scale from 1-10, how bad would learning TCLL before EG-2 be?

Assuming 1 is not bad at all, and 10 is very bad, like 3 or smth. It's fine to learn TCLL without EG-2, as you can just anti-cll for EG2, but TCLL does not have a quick work around like Eg2. It think it just depends on how much time you are willing to spare, if you do not have much time, you can learn Eg-2, as it will have the same recognition system as Eg-1, and half of Eg-2 is basically anti-cll anyway.

If you have more time, you can do TCLL. TCLL will be a bit harder to learn because of a new recognition system, and you will have to think about building layers in a new way compared to Eg-2. I think you would get more payoff with TCLL, as long as you are willing to put in the time for it.

 

[Cubist-Guitar]

Assuming 1 is not bad at all, and 10 is very bad, like 3 or smth. It's fine to learn TCLL without EG-2, as you can just anti-cll for EG2, but TCLL does not have a quick work around like Eg2. It think it just depends on how much time you are willing to spare, if you do not have much time, you can learn Eg-2, as it will have the same recognition system as Eg-1, and half of Eg-2 is basically anti-cll anyway.

If you have more time, you can do TCLL. TCLL will be a bit harder to learn because of a new recognition system, and you will have to think about building layers in a new way compared to Eg-2. I think you would get more payoff with TCLL, as long as you are willing to put in the time for it.

Most LEG-1 algs are pretty bad though, at least to me. Some are great, but I find most to be hard to finger trick , and they don't flow very well.

Thank you for your comments. I will practice Anti-CLL some more, but I will focus on TCLL, starting with Hammer set for + and - set.

 

[Discomantis]

@baseballjello67 and @Discomantis, on a scale from 1-10, how bad would learning TCLL before EG-2 be?

I’d reccomend EG-2 before learning TCLL, however learning TCLL before is not that bad of an approach

 

[Cubist-Guitar]

2x2 was good today.

I got all 12 of these scrambles in a row, beating my PB ao12 by nearly 0.2.

Spoiler: Incredible, almost JDAW6 level solves

Generated By csTimer on 2024-03-20
avg of 12: 1.83

Time List:
2564. 2.06 R' F2 R' U2 R F2 R' F' R'
2565. 1.43 U2 F' R2 F' U R' F' U2 R2
2566. 1.92 F R' U2 R2 F2 U' F R F'
2567. 1.53 F2 U R2 F' R U2 R U2 R'
2568. 1.78 U F2 U F' U2 R' F2 U' R'
2569. (3.18) R' F' U F2 R' U' R' U' R'
2570. 1.83 R U' F' R2 F2 U' F' U' R2
2571. 1.75 F U F2 R2 U F2 R' F2 R'
2572. (1.32) U2 R2 U R' U R F2 U F'
2573. 1.62 R F' U F R' U2 F2 R U'
2574. 2.45 F' R' U2 R' U R' U' R U
2575. 1.93 F' U F U' F R' F2 R' U' F

Spoiler

and this on a (albeit, not very ergonomic 4 mover (my first 4 mover!))

Spoiler: 4 Move PB+Redemption for that 3 mover from a couple days ago

Generated By csTimer on 2024-03-20
single: 0.66

Time List:
2540. 0.66 R2 F R2 U F' U2 R' F' R'

 

[Garf]

You're grinding 7x7 right? What's your PB?

 

[bldcuber314]

Expecting my package tommorow, so I anticipate that this will be my final ao100 with my Dayan 2x2 M. I feel like I am getting good at 2x2, and I got a best ao5 today to boot. I have done 2000+ solves over the past month, and I am consistently sub 3, and at times, sub 2.75, which is a big goal. (The ao2000 was 2.91). Hopefully I can get even better with the GAN.

Spoiler: Last Dayan ao100

Generated By csTimer on 2024-03-09
avg of 100: 2.66

Time List:
1918. 2.26 F2 R2 U2 R U' F' R F' U2 R'
1919. 3.12 R2 F2 U R' U R' U2 F R
1920. 2.00 F2 R' U2 F U' R U R' U2 F'
1921. 2.97 R' F U' R U' F' R' U F'
1922. 3.77 R2 F' R' F2 U F U' F' R'
1923. (1.45) R U' F2 U' R U2 R2 U2 R'
1924. (4.00) R' F' R2 F' R F2 R' F2 U2
1925. 2.70 R2 U2 F' U F U' R U2 R'
1926. 2.77 F2 R F R2 F U' R' F U F'
1927. 2.81 U' R F' U2 F2 U' F2 R' U2
1928. 2.48 F' U2 R U' F2 R2 U F' U
1929. 2.94 F U2 F R' U' F U R U'
1930. 2.51 F U' F2 R' F' U2 F R' F'
1931. 2.87 U2 R F2 R U' R U' R' F'
1932. 2.81 R2 F2 U R U R' U F R'
1933. (1.78) R U2 R' F R' U' F U F'
1934. 2.37 U2 F' R F R2 F R2 F' U2
1935. 2.31 F' R' U R U R' F2 R' U F'
1936. 2.31 F R' U2 F U' R2 F' R' F'
1937. 2.16 F2 U' F' R' F2 U F' R2 U2
1938. 2.12 U F' U2 R2 F' U' F' U' F'
1939. 2.92 R2 F2 R F2 U' F U2 F' U'
1940. 2.69 U R F R2 U' F' R' U' F
1941. 1.98 U' F' U2 R F2 R' U2 R U2
1942. 3.14 U R U' R U2 F U' R2 U'
1943. 2.56 R' U' F' R U2 F' R' F' R2
1944. 2.75 U F' R' F U' R U2 R' U2
1945. 3.18 R' F R' F' U2 F' U R U
1946. 2.86 U2 F' R2 F U F R2 F' R
1947. 2.35 R2 F2 U' F' R2 U2 F U F2
1948. 2.63 F R' U F' R U R F2 R'
1949. 2.69 U' R2 F U F U' F U' F
1950. (3.93) U F2 U' R2 F' U R' U F
1951. 2.72 F2 R' U F' R2 U' R U2 F'
1952. 3.07 R U' F R' F R F' U2 R'
1953. 2.38 F2 U' R F2 U2 R U' R' U2
1954. 2.64 R F U2 R' U R2 U F' R'
1955. 3.16 F' U2 R2 U F2 U' F2 U' F2
1956. 3.11 R F2 R F U F' U2 F' R
1957. 2.52 R' F' U F' U2 R2 F U' R2 U'
1958. 2.70 R2 U' R2 U R2 U R' F2 R
1959. 2.38 U R' U' R U' R U' F2 R2
1960. 2.35 F' U2 R F R' U R' F' U R'
1961. 3.68 U' F R' F U F' R F2 U2
1962. (1.24) F U2 F' R' F' R' U R2 F'
1963. (4.18) U R F2 U2 F' U R F2 U'
1964. 3.12 U' F2 U' F2 U F' R2 U2 F'
1965. 1.96 U R' U R U2 F2 R U' F'
1966. 3.26 U' F' R2 U' F R U' R' U'
1967. 2.96 F' U F2 U F' R F2 U2 F2
1968. 2.65 F' U R' F2 R2 U' R' U' F'
1969. 2.95 F' R F U' R F R' F2 U'
1970. 2.82 R2 F2 U' R' U' R2 F2 U R
1971. 2.85 F2 R' U F U' R2 F2 R' U2 R'
1972. 2.79 F' U F2 R U' R2 U' F U
1973. 2.51 F' U' R U' F2 R2 U F2 R2
1974. 2.07 F' R F2 U F U2 R' F' R'
1975. 3.24 R' U2 F2 U F R' F R F'
1976. (1.86) U R2 F' U' R' U R2 U F' R2
1977. 2.76 F' U F R2 F2 R2 F U2 R2
1978. 2.78 R F' U' R2 U' R F2 U' F' R'
1979. 2.60 F' R2 U2 R' F U2 F U F'
1980. 2.00 R2 U2 F U2 F U' F2 U' F'
1981. 3.01 R' F2 R U2 R2 F2 R' U R'
1982. 2.91 R2 F R' F2 U F U2 R2 U'
1983. 3.00 R' F U2 R2 U' R2 F U F
1984. 2.64 R' F U' R' F2 R U' F2 R2 U'
1985. 2.75 U F U' R2 U2 F' R' F2 U
1986. (4.40) R2 U2 F R' F2 U2 F' U2 R'
1987. 2.82 F U R' F' U R' U2 R F2 R'
1988. 2.70 U' F' R U2 R' U R' F2 U F'
1989. 2.63 F R' F R F2 R2 U' R' F'
1990. 2.84 U' F' U F2 U F2 U F' R
1991. 1.99 U R2 F2 U' R' U2 R U2 R'
1992. (4.05) U F' R F U' R U2 F' U'
1993. 2.17 F R2 U' R' F2 R' F R F2
1994. 1.93 R U2 F' U' F U2 R2 U' R
1995. (1.63) R U' R2 U R' F' U F2 U'
1996. 2.49 F' U2 F' U' R2 F2 U F' R'
1997. 2.23 F R' F R' U F' R' U2 F'
1998. 2.27 F2 R' F' R' F U F2 R2 U'
1999. 1.93 F' R' F2 U2 F' U R2 F U2
2000. 2.29 U R2 U R' F2 U F R2 U2
2001. 2.27 F2 R U' R F2 R F2 U' F
2002. 2.21 R2 F2 R' U F' R' U' R' U2
2003. 2.80 R' F' R2 U2 F' R F2 R2 U2
2004. 2.81 U' R' F R2 F R F2 U2 F'
2005. 3.04 R' U2 F' R F2 R2 F' U' R'
2006. 2.73 R2 U2 R2 U R U' F2 R2 U2
2007. 3.11 F R F2 U' R2 U R' F R
2008. 3.25 U' F2 R' U F2 U R F2 U
2009. 2.12 U F' U F' U2 F' R2 F2 R2
2010. 2.58 U R F2 U2 R U2 R' F U2
2011. 2.32 R U R' F U2 R U' F2 R'
2012. 3.12 R F R2 F U' F U2 F' U
2013. 2.42 U' R' F U' R' U F2 R2 F' R2
2014. 2.76 U2 R2 F2 R U F' U F' R2
2015. 2.36 U2 R F2 R U2 R' F2 R2 U
2016. 2.70 U' R U F' R2 F R2 F U2
2017. 3.32 U R2 U' R U' F2 U' R2 F'

The Dayan 2x2 is awesome. I'm having some issues with pops and corner twists, but my turning might just be too rough.

 

[Cubist-Guitar]

The Dayan 2x2 is awesome. I'm having some issues with pops and corner twists, but my turning might just be too rough.

You are using the V1 M, right? That’s the one I was using. If you tighten it, it should be better. I used a lot of lube to make it as smooth as possible, but it was very slow. It wasn’t bad, and probably better than the MGC regular that I tried.

 

[Cubist-Guitar]

You're grinding 7x7 right? What's your PB?

5:40.75. I average about a little over 3 minutes on centers, 2:30 on edges, 15s on parity, and the rest of my 6:10 minute average is 3x3.

 

[Garf]

5:40.75. I average about a little over 3 minutes on centers, 2:30 on edges, 15s on parity, and the rest of my 6:10 minute average is 3x3.

I'm 3:30s with a sub-3 single. It takes me around 1:40 for centers, 1:30 on edges and the rest on 3x3.

 

[Cubist-Guitar]

I'm 3:30s with a sub-3 single. It takes me around 1:40 for centers, 1:30 on edges and the rest on 3x3.

I saw your sub 3 single today, and I am very impressed. Cutoff for Penn Champs is 4:30, so my goal is just to be better than that.

 

[Garf]

I saw your sub 3 single today, and I am very impressed. Cutoff for Penn Champs is 4:30, so my goal is just to be better than that.

I believe in you. Just make sure that you slow down enough so that you can look ahead and have little to no pauses. And watch example solves. That helped me get faster from your level.

 

[Cubist-Guitar]

I haven’t done a single OH solve in 21 days, and this is what happens the first solve I do

PB Single
Generated By csTimer on 2024-03-26
single: 18.58

Time List:
156. 18.58 L' F U' B D F L' U B U' R2 U L2 D' F2 L2 F2 B2 U2 L2

Also got 7x7 PB’s and a Pyraminx PB that I haven’t broken in nearly 2 months.

7x7 (25. 4:53.75 L2 Uw' Rw2 3Lw' 3Bw' 3Lw' B' Bw2 D2 3Rw2 3Lw2 U' 3Fw Bw 3Rw Uw2 Rw2 3Dw2 F' 3Lw 3Fw' L2 Lw' U2 Fw' L' R B' F2 3Lw2 Bw2 Fw2 B' 3Bw Rw2 Uw Bw' 3Dw2 Bw' B' Lw Dw Lw 3Lw Bw2 Fw' 3Dw 3Bw2 Dw 3Dw Uw2 B2 3Rw' R2 F2 Dw U 3Uw' 3Fw2 Rw' L2 F' 3Dw U2 D2 F' R Lw Bw' U Lw2 Bw B2 L2 3Dw' Uw F2 3Rw 3Uw' 3Dw' Bw2 Uw2 3Bw' Bw2 3Dw' 3Uw2 U2 D Rw' Lw F' Fw2 L' Dw' 3Uw' L2 3Fw U D2 3Dw)

Pyraminx: (217. 3.24 R U' R' B' U' B L' U' R' b)

Only 22 seconds off from my 7x7 goal (4:30 single).

 

[Cubist-Guitar]

I have not done a lot of 2x2 because recently, I have had more time for big cubes (4x4+) (And I am putting off EG-2 like @Discomantis) I have gotten pretty good big cube averages, and have gotten to the point where some might say I am good.

4x4 PB single (42.82) has not changed, but PB2-PB7 have been broken, and I have 5 sub 45’s. I also dropped my average from 53-55 to 50.5-52 (about a 3 second drop), with a sub 50 ao5.
Clock PB single has gone from 1:25.11 to 1:18.47, and I am regularly getting sub 1:30s (I got one an average of 1/4 of my times since Monday, and 5 out of my last 10 solves.)
7x7 has been a steady progression. I average 5:15 with Redux, have 2 sub 5’s (including a 4:53), and I sometimes get a really bad solve around 5:45. AFAIK, I average the same as @NebraskanSpeedsolver with Redux about two weeks ago, so I am hoping something clicks and I magically start averaging sub 5 with Redux.

 

[Cubist-Guitar]

Thinking about learning 7-Simul for a comp in May. Until now, all of the videos didn’t really make sense, but watching the “Tommy teaching Tymon” video inspired me. Any tips from those who are good at 5x5 on learning it? I understand that there are several versions of 7 Simul, and I don’t know any other 5x5 method besides Flip.