Cross on top vs bottom/side

[Robert-Y]

I do both top and bottom. If the cross is easy, I do it on the bottom, if it's hard, I do it on top.

 

[Derrick Eide17]

In case you haven't noticed, our new world record holder for 3x3x3 average, Erik, uses Fridrich and usually builds the cross on *top*. So I think it's time to revisit this, as probably very few fast cubers do this and I've even seen it be called stupid, which it apparently kinda isn't. Have a look at Erik's solves in the Benelux Open finals, the round after his world record:
http://www.speedsolving.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10194
The only time he didn't build the cross on top was also the only time he had a really bad solve (the third one).

Besides pointing that out, I'd also like to check my feeling that few use it, so if you're a sub30 Fridrich solver, please tell in the above poll where you usually build the cross. Choose what describes you best. Erik for example would be "cross on top" even though he doesn't do it 100% of the time and even though he only builds most of the cross on top and finishes it on the bottom with a double layer turn (as far as I can tell so far).

Nakajima's head just exploded when he read that

 

[Stefan]

In case you haven't noticed, our new world record holder for 3x3x3 average, Erik, uses Fridrich and usually builds the cross on *top*.

Nakajima's head just exploded when he read that

Nah, I'm sure he holds no grudge against Erik and understands that I only used it as an opportunity to get people's attention for building cross on top. Who knows, maybe he'll give it a shot himself now if he hasn't before. I myself intend to study both of them, this is actually part of my plan to quit sucking at 3x3x3 speed.

But to make it clear, here's a better highlighting:

In case you haven't noticed, our new world record holder for 3x3x3 average, Erik, uses Fridrich and usually builds the cross on *top*.

 

[Lucas Garron]

http://archive.garron.us/solves/2008/erik_7_08.htm

 

[Gparker]

http://archive.garron.us/solves/2008/erik_7_08.htm

wow, ive always wanted to know that

 

[Stefan]

http://archive.garron.us/solves/2008/erik_7_08.htm

That's was exceptional cross, though, so it doesn't really tell us much.

Btw, is there a page listing your reconstructions (and perhaps those of others)? Sometimes I want to check something but can't find them.

(Oops, sorry for accidentally editing your post, need to get used to the moderator interface)

 

[Lucas Garron]

Btw, is there a page listing your reconstructions (and perhaps those of others)? Sometimes I want to check something but can't find them.

They're going to be moved to http://alg.garron.us/solves/ eventually. I still can't decide whether to write the database before or after moving them.

 

[not_kevin]

Grr... I do crosses on L, D, and/or U (I liek has cube rotations). But, since most of my solves start cross on U, I filled that in.

I average around 16. I'm trying to get a sub-15, but I can't, for some reason.

 

[Hadley4000]

I usually build the cross on the left, and solve on the bottom.

I thought I was crazy, till I saw Andrew Kang doing the same thing. Then I was like, "Oh, I guess it's my lack of skill that's keeping me slow and not my cross building method."

 

[LarsN]

I always build the cross on the left. Then I finish f2l with cross on the left aswell. Just like the current European champion.

 

[Sin-H]

I also do the cross on top most of the time and I think that I can say that I'm a pretty good cuber. Milán also does it on top

 

[Unknown]

I do my cross on top, but before putting the last cross piece in its correct position, I do a cube rotation. So while I put the last cross piece in its position, I can look for for the first F2L pair.
My average is about 25-30 seconds.

 

[Dene]

Ugh, and I spent ages practising 3x3 (by ages I mean like 30 solves, deary me that was boring) yet failed to pay attention to my cross building. Today, I promise.

EDIT: Ok I did some cross practise, and it seems that I do a majority of crosses on D, although I have a tendency to change to F near the end of the cross. I occasionally use L. Rarely the other 3 faces. I averaged high 1.xx in that session.

 

[pjk]

I've thought about this. As Stefan H mentioned, he does cross on top, and so does Milan, as well as Erik. Do you think time is being lost in the transition of rotating the cross to the bottom once it is solved, or is that time gained by the look-ahead of the cube you get during the transition? It is tough to tell. In theory, cross on bottom is the most efficient way to solve since that is how the cube will be placed when the cube is solved (assuming you're using Fridrich), and assuming that you can get just as good of a look-ahead while building the cross on bottom.

 

[Kian]

I think the most likely conclusion we will reach here is that the differences are negligible. It's going to be extraordinarily difficult otherwise. I think the evidence points to personal preference first.

 

[Stefan]

Do you think time is being lost in the transition of rotating the cross to the bottom once it is solved, or is that time gained by the look-ahead of the cube you get during the transition?

It's not only the look-ahead, also what's easier/faster twisting-wise.

I'll definitely learn and practice this, and also Nakaji's style (I think he uses Uw quite a bit) and maybe others. And then determine what's best for me.

 

[alv746]

cross on side

well i still only avg 35 seconds but i prefer to build my cross on the side. that way i can still see my cross, and have a slight look ahead for f2l

 

[TheMachanga]

I do the first 3 edges on top, then the last one on bottom. 22 avg. (I haven't updated my signature in a while.

 

[Zorai_Kun]

IMO, doing the cross on either the bottom/top BOTH have disadvantages. If you're doing it on the top, you won't see opportunities that you would've seen if you did it on the bottom, and vice-versa.

The whole point to this is that you get to see the cube from different angles, and what you may see from one side, you may not notice on another. And after all, with a few seconds of inspection, you won't get too much insight except a definite solution.

 

[SuperNerd]

I build crosses on top, but do F2L on left.