Computer-Real Cube Confusion

fanwuq

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I practice computer 4x4x4 more than any other type of speedsolving. I'm at around a 70s average with around 20s centers, 25s edges, 20s 3x3x3, and 4s OP, 2.5s PP. I have a problem with real cubes. I get around 110s average with 22s centers, 55s edges, 25s 3x3x3, and 5.5s OP, 3s PP. I practice this a lot, yet my centers are still much worse than others with about the same total time. The strangest part is that on the simulator, my look-ahead on the edges are pretty great (I've even got a 17s edges once), but on the real cube it just fails. The best edges I've gotten on the real cube is only 34s. This has bothered me for quite a while. Why does this happen? The transparency doesn't seem to be an issue because after closing the gaps on jfly's simulator, I can still do pretty decently.
The above real cube times for the real cube are done with an Eastsheen. I'm about 10 seconds worse on a Meffert's. Even stranger is that as I get better at computer cubes, I get worse at real cubes. The worse part is not the turning speed, but rather than lookahead. After a computer session, I can actually turn faster, but I can't look ahead at all.
 
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I wonder if maybe in using the simulator you get used to a style that is very *turn quickly* *pause to recognize* *turn quickly* *pause to recognize*. As you get used to this, you would tend to use the same approach on a real 4x4x4, but you would not have the same turning speed as on the computer cube which adds time. Also, it's possible that in doing this you have longer pauses on a real cube?

I'm guessing here, but I've noticed in 3x3x3 that usually when I am hovering at sup-15 averages, I tend to be rushing too quickly in my turning. If I slow down my turning just a bit, to allow for slightly better look ahead, then I can often get a sub-15 average out of the session.

Hope this helps,
Chris
 
it's called practice. I'm willing to bet if you put the amount of time in on real 4x4 than computer 4x4, you would get faster.

But I would expect that practicing one would at least help the other a bit because they are very similar. The effect actually seems to be negative for me.

Edit: I suspect there is a problem with my lookahead technique during the edges. I always have to look on both sides unless the next edge happens to be on U or F layer. I think Chris is partly right, but that is not the whole problem.

See this example solve and tell me what is wrong with it:


I'll try to get a real cube solve up too. Maybe tomorrow or next week.
 
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Actually, I personally don't think that the skills transcend for everyone. There's plenty of people who have much better computer times than IRL times. I just happen to be one of the opposite. I find the two take quite different skills in order to look ahead well. After getting down the turning/typing, the lookahead for me is quite different. I don't feel I have too much of a problem controlling hi-games, but I just can't seem to look at the cube the same way. Michael may disagree, but I really don't see too much of the skills transcending for everyone. Try not touching hi-games for a few days and see where your times go ;)
 
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