F2L Help; locating the correct peices

[JeffreyPang911]

Hey,

I am a new cuber here... just picked up this hobby 3 or 4 days ago.

I am averaging about 2.5 minute solves for a 3x3x3 but the thing that is slowing me down the most is the F2L.

I am used to solving by 2x2x2 then expanding to a 2x2x3 block then the f2l, but I sometimes do whatever I can find quickest. The problem is that I always seem to try to find a peice, for example, Ill think in my head "I need a green/orange edge" so I will take a while to actually find the peice.

So, what do you look for when you pick up and solve a cube first? Would it be better if I just started on a cross? I just want to know what I need at right away, instead of trying to figure out as I solve.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[abr71310]

Ohh, I know what you're doing wrong, sort of...

You never look for specific pieces, since you tend to focus on everythign but that piece -- I know EXACTLY what you mean, since I try and find the last Corner-Edge pair to finish my F2L, to find out 20 seconds later they were right beside each other the entire time.

A suggestion (I'm a noob too!! ) I would make is practice "look-ahead" -- the way to do this is to go even slower than you are now (load up an online metronome) and move to a "rhythm", so that you never stop turning pieces; in this sense, it allows you to visualize your next moves better, and even helps in anticipating where pieces will end up (I found that doing about 5 solves of these per day really improves how you're able to suddenly find pieces somewhere on a cube!).

You seem to sort of know a petrus method, since it does involve (first step) building a 2x2x2... xD -- for Fridrich F2L you SHOULD build the cross first, but if you understand how the blockbuilding works build the 2x2x2 on the bottom, then insert and blockbuild the other two parts of the bottom cross (NEVER build it on top unless you honestly cannot see the pieces).

In the 15-second pre-inspection (rofl, haven't been to a comp yet ) I always try and solve the cross mentally, or at least most of it before I start; while I execute the moves I knwo for the cross I look for the first corner-edge pair I have to insert, and by the time I have finished the cross, I should have already found at least two corner-edge pairs that have to go together...

After that, it's just a matter of whichever is easier to start with, or whichever gives you the nicest setup for the next pair; notice my PB is about 7 seconds lower than my lowest average... that happened because I saw ALL FOUR pairs at the same time after I finished my cross.

 

[JeffreyPang911]

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah, I get the blank out, and realize the piece is right in front of me sometimes. Right now I'm learning to do it without a 15 second check.

Another thing, I am also trying to do the keyhole method when finishing off the f2l. so I am kind of using both petrus and Fridrich. Eh.

Just wondering if there was a strict rule, which one was faster, ect.

 

[abr71310]

To be honest, it's whatever you're better at.

When I tried Petrus again (I used to use it when I used LBL, interchange-ably), I got about 1:10 average of 5 -- With Fridrich I've yet to see any of my averages over 45 again...

If you're better at visualize how SPECIFIC pieces move, rather than entire layers (or corner-edge pairs), and you can build blocks effectively, use Keyhole/Petrus or a blend of the two -- always maximize your strengths!!

Try to use a metronome to get into a steady rhythm of constant look-ahead. I found it effective when I did it for about 10 solves / day, since the averages I took after that were always sub-40 (which is rare for me).

Note that the metronome effect will really only do things to your F2L (not so much on your LL, if you know it well enough).

 

[GaroMaster1337]

in addition to all that was said above, your recognition will improve over time with practice, don't worry (but yes slow/metronome solving does help a lot)