F2L issues

[hawkmp4]

Okay...so, I can solve pretty much any case F2L without hesitation when I recognize it.
Key words- WHEN I recognize it. I've found myself staring blankly at the cube while the clock ticks on trying to match up a C/E pair. just FINDING them. Once I've found them there's no problems... Can anyone provide me with some insight on what's going on, or ways to improve?
(Note: I reserve the right to smack any person that says improve your look-ahead... that's VERY easy to say but doesn't help much at all...)

 

[pcharles93]

You should try intuitive first. Improve on look ahead. Practice more with the algorithms. Algorithms should be incredibly fast to recognize and execute.

 

[hawkmp4]

I do use intuitive, sorry I should have mentioned that. And algorithms AREN'T the problem, one i 'see' the pair i can solve it fine.
How do I improve on look ahead?

 

[ajmorgan25]

Solve slowly and practice. There's no real "Oh, that's how!" trick.

 

[PCwizCube]

How to improve on looking ahead:
Make EVERY MOVE of your ENTIRE F2L the same speed. No pauses in between just the same speed. Start out by moving each face slowly so you can see your next C/E WHILE you're solving your current one. You can use a metronome to help you train this. I would recommend starting with 60 beats per minute (1 turn per second), and then GRADUALLY increase the frequency. Keep on looking ahead, and keep each move consistent. Aim for a little more than 2 beats per second, looking ahead, no pauses in between each turn, and you can probably get a sub 40 second average that way (depends on your F2L move count and the rest of your steps in solving the cube).

Macky's site has a good explanation about looking ahead: (see F2L tips)
http://www.cubefreak.net/speedcubing_tips.html

Trust me, looking ahead WILL help you a lot. It's very boring at first, but after a few days of working on it, you will see a difference. I thought it was ridiculous at first, but I tried it out, and after a few days, my times were going down.... and I'm faster than you... That's what the sub 20 second solvers do

 

[badmephisto]

thats just a practice thing. there is nothing really that we can say that will make it easier for you there

 

[brunson]

I think a lot of my problem (other than being old) is not practicing correctly. But lately I've been focusing on slowing down, looking ahead and turning at a constant speed. I've been rewarded with knocking about 10 seconds off my averages.

I know what it's like to be in your position, I was stuck there for three months. These people that are telling you to slow down and look ahead know what they're talking about. Listen to them.

 

[jonny guitar]

^ I agree with everybody here however I will add that there is a plateau (that brunson speaks of) which takes a bit of time to get over. I was kinda stuck at the "staring" stage for a few months too untill I leaped over it in a matter of days....it just clicked.

I spent a lot of time just doing cross and 2L2 and then repeating -- I know my LL very well so no use spending any time on it when practicing. I alternated between slow look aheads, regular speeds, and fewest moves; all of these help your overall game in different ways.

Practice and repitition really is the only way to improve yourself here.

** Practice correctly to maximize your time. Spend 90% of your practice time improving the specific areas that need work and 10% reviewing what you know **

 

[blgentry]

Hawk,

I have the same problem. I call it "cube lock". Staring that the cube trying to find a pair, any pair, oh God where's the Pair??!?!?

This happens in varying degrees. Sometimes it's a complete lock for literally 2 to 3 seconds. Other times, it's just a clunky or slow recognition time from pair to pair.

I'm getting less cube lock now than I used to, and things are smoothing out a bit. I *have* found that doing slow F2L solves can make my next "normal speed" solves faster. I think the best advice I've read yet is to execute your F2L insertions without watching them. Your hands and peripheral vision will do the insert, while *you* concentrate on finding the next pair that you are going to work on. I think I got this advice from Dan Knights' pages. He recommended doing this to the extreme: If you can't see it while you are doing the insert, *stop* and look for a pair. Then continue your insert and move to the next pair.

All this said, I'm not a whole lot faster than you, unless you count my personal best. I keep practicing and getting small improvements each week.

Brian.

 

[Robert]

If you quote spam it will stay there

 

[hawkmp4]

Well...I've practiced with a metronome a bit... and I just got a new PB. 37.48s! Thanks guys. It helped a lot.