[Help Thread] Finger Tricks Discussion and Help

[qwr]

Yes, M is more difficult. Keep practicing

 

[LukasCubes]

Does anyone else find the M move hard to do fast? I am right handed and I have watched the finger trick video. I have tried using the ring finger (hopeless), and the forefinger (OK but awkward and it takes time for the finger to recover for the next time, esp when it has to do a U). I ended up using the thumb, which is also OK but slow as the grip changes too much. Just now, I thought of doing this, using M'3 instead of M, using in turn the pinkie, ring and middle finger. It's also slow but seems OK, and I like the flow when doing it, i.e not as jerky as when I have to do an M, using whichever finger. What do you think? For example, for U-PERM, I can do

M'2 U' M'3 U'2 M' U' M'2

Using M'3 for U-Perm A is a little less satisfactory, as the right hand is used for all the turns until the M'3. Any advice? Are there alternatives ways of doing these U-Perms, hopefully they also have M' turns, which is fun to do.

M2' U' M U2 M' U' M2' is the better alg, saves some time, more time if your cube turns better.

 

[qwr]

as suggested you can try the RU U perms but I suggest practicing M moves more

 

[Melvintnh327]

you can either use r' R or l L' for M moves.
Either one will work.

 

[Cubing Forever]

you can either use r' R or l L' for M moves.
Either one will work.

umm....but that's slow.

Does anyone else find the M move hard to do fast? I am right handed and I have watched the finger trick video. I have tried using the ring finger (hopeless), and the forefinger (OK but awkward and it takes time for the finger to recover for the next time, esp when it has to do a U). I ended up using the thumb, which is also OK but slow as the grip changes too much. Just now, I thought of doing this, using M'3 instead of M, using in turn the pinkie, ring and middle finger. It's also slow but seems OK, and I like the flow when doing it, i.e not as jerky as when I have to do an M, using whichever finger. What do you think? For example, for U-PERM, I can do

M'2 U' M'3 U'2 M' U' M'2

Using M'3 for U-Perm A is a little less satisfactory, as the right hand is used for all the turns until the M'3. Any advice? Are there alternatives ways of doing these U-Perms, hopefully they also have M' turns, which is fun to do.

You should try to do M moves by pushing the DB edge using your ring finger. It's hard at first but believe me, it'll get easier.
The best way to implement a fingertrick into your solves is to just brute-force it into your solves.

 

[Dan the Beginner]

as suggested you can try the RU U perms but I suggest practicing M moves more

Yes, I really like twirling the middle layer and watch how it finishes a solve . (That's why I designed my customised Beginner method so that the solve always ends with the a U-Perm, H-Perm or Z-Perm.) I must drill these 2 U-Perm algorithms with M-moves, but it is quite hard for me, to use the ring finger to push back. This is going to take some time. Point taken and thanks for everyone's advice. The other two algorithms that I use often, the Z-Perm and H-Perm, are not a problem. They gave me my highest TPS.

 

[Dan the Beginner]

umm....but that's slow.


You should try to do M moves by pushing the DB edge using your ring finger. It's hard at first but believe me, it'll get easier.
The best way to implement a fingertrick into your solves is to just brute-force it into your solves.

Thanks, I will be training that ring finger from now on.

 

[tsmosher]

Thanks, I will be training that ring finger from now on.

For what it's worth, Im pretty sure I use my middle finger. Perhaps not as effective, but it works for me.

 

[Cubing Forever]

Thanks, I will be training that ring finger from now on.

Oh wait... I meant middle. Sorry for the wrong advice.

 

[Dan the Beginner]

For what it's worth, Im pretty sure I use my middle finger. Perhaps not as effective, but it works for me.

I am confused. Please explain. I normally use my left middle finger (and the thumb) to hold the cube, so that the forefinger is free to do U' with these M algorithms (which have mostly U', U, M and M'). I can use the left ring finger to push the middle layer from underneth to do the M, though it will take a lot of practise. This is what JPerm in his fingertrick video teaches. If however I do as you suggested, using the middle finger, it seems very hard to adjust my left hand grip (you mean using the thumb and forefinger to hold the cube??).

(For the M', I have no problem. The more dextrous and stronger right hand will be pushed slightly forward towards the back of the cube and lower to make it easy to do the many M' or M'2s using the little and ring finger. This is when and why a strong grip using the left middle finger is necessary. I find using the weaker ring finger hard for the left hand grip, and I though that ring finger should be free for D moves, no?)

 

[tsmosher]

I use my right hand for all M moves. My left hand for all U moves. So, the right middle finger presses the DB edge up from below (with your finger pressing from the D layer upward).

M U2 M' would be (for me): right middle finger presses DB edge up 1/4 turn ending at the back of the top of the cube (M), left index and middle fingers do a double flick of U' (U2), right ring finger (or middle finger) grabs the new DB edge from the back and pulls it toward me 1/4 turn ending at the bottom of the front of the cube (M').

 

[Dan the Beginner]

I use my right hand for all M moves. My left hand for all U moves. So, the right middle finger presses the DB edge up from below (with your finger pressing from the D layer upward).

M U2 M' would be (for me): right middle finger presses DB edge up 1/4 turn ending at the back top of the cube (M), left index and middle fingers do a double flick of U' (U2), right ring finger (or middle finger) grabs the DB edge from the back and pulls it toward me 1/4 turn (M').

Ah, I see! You meant the right middle finger. Thanks. There are so many ways of doing this. I think you mean you also use your left forefinger to do a U, with a back flick. If so, that is too advanced for me. I tried that but I think it will have to wait until I can get more basic fingertricks down first..

 

[CubeRed]

I am confused. Please explain. I normally use my left middle finger (and the thumb) to hold the cube, so that the forefinger is free to do U' with these M algorithms (which have mostly U', U, M and M'). I can use the left ring finger to push the middle layer from underneth to do the M, though it will take a lot of practise. This is what JPerm in his fingertrick video teaches. If however I do as you suggested, using the middle finger, it seems very hard to adjust my left hand grip (you mean using the thumb and forefinger to hold the cube??).

(For the M', I have no problem. The more dextrous and stronger right hand will be pushed slightly forward towards the back of the cube and lower to make it easy to do the many M' or M'2s using the little and ring finger. This is when and why a strong grip using the left middle finger is necessary. I find using the weaker ring finger hard for the left hand grip, and I though that ring finger should be free for D moves, no?)

I think he means to use the right hand middle finger to do the M gen moves. Although it is fine to use ring and pinky for M gen moves, it will take off some strain to use ring and middle for M2s. It will also help M moves in algs. (Such as the U perm you mentioned. ) If you think ring and pinky is better then ring and middle you can still use it. Experiment and decide.

 

[Dan the Beginner]

I think he means to use the right hand middle finger to do the M gen moves. Although it is fine to use ring and pinky for M gen moves, it will take off some strain to use ring and middle for M2s. It will also help M moves in algs. (Such as the U perm you mentioned. ) If you think ring and pinky is better then ring and middle you can still use it. Experiment and decide.

Lots of experimentation. Thanks.

 

[qwr]

I use left hand for M and M' moves and right hand for U and U' flick/push. The alternating hands I think makes the algs more ergonomic.

 

[Cuberinacuber]

I find this hard too, so I use M' 3

 

[Dan the Beginner]

I find this hard too, so I use M' 3

You too! It's slow, but fun to do.

I am now persisting with the left ring finger, to see how it works out, before trying anything else. Problem is it takes many days for me to get just comfortable with each change. This will take time as pushing back with the rings finger is not natural (just like a U with the left forefinger).

 

[hellocubers]

I use my ring finger. It's actually good.

 

[Dan the Beginner]

Here's something I just found that's really useful. It is a video by Chris Olson. This has very clear explanations, demos in slow motion and it also has back views to show some tricks. In addition, it often show alternative ways of doing the same move, which is great as not everyone is the same. It should be very useful to other Beginners struggling here, or to the experts to show people they teach.

The M move instructions start from 12:37 into the video. Please don't forget to click "Like".

 

[AnDang]

I have great difficulties doing the M2 moves by my right hand, and it seems virtually impossible to do so quickly by my left hand. M moves are absolutely impossible, and I usually do r' R instead. How do you do the M2 moves quickly? Please provide a detailed description if possible.