Garf's Progression Thread - Beating Hard Levels in GD (Hardest is Bloodbath)

Garf is (and you are)...


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So I just asked chatgpt how I get faster at 7x7... here's it's advice:

How should I progress in learning to become sub-3 on 7x7


ChatGPT
Becoming sub-3 on a 7x7 Rubik's Cube is a challenging but achievable goal with consistent practice and the right approach. Here's a structured plan to help you progress efficiently:
  1. Master the Basics: Ensure you have a solid understanding of the beginner and intermediate methods for solving the 7x7 cube. This includes solving the centers, pairing edges, and solving the last two layers (OLL and PLL).
  2. Learn Advanced Techniques: Familiarize yourself with advanced techniques such as reduction methods like Yau or Hoya. These methods focus on solving the cube in stages rather than layer by layer, which can significantly reduce solving times.
  3. Practice Algorithms: Practice algorithms for edge pairing, last layer algorithms, and other advanced techniques regularly. The more comfortable you become with these algorithms, the faster you'll solve the cube.
  4. Efficient Fingering: Work on your finger tricks and cube manipulation to ensure smooth and fast solves. Efficiency in finger movements can greatly improve your solving speed.
  5. Develop Look-Ahead: Work on your look-ahead skills, which involve being able to anticipate the next steps in the solve while executing your current moves. This is crucial for reducing solve times.
  6. Analyze and Improve: After each solve or practice session, analyze your performance. Identify areas where you can improve, whether it's efficiency in algorithms, look-ahead, or finger tricks. Focus on addressing these weaknesses in your subsequent practice sessions.
  7. Consistent Practice: Consistency is key to improvement. Set aside regular practice sessions, even if they're short, to keep your skills sharp and gradually improve your solving times.
  8. Participate in Competitions: Consider participating in Rubik's Cube competitions. Competing against others can provide motivation and opportunities to learn from faster solvers.
  9. Stay Updated: Stay updated with the latest techniques and strategies by watching tutorial videos, reading guides, and engaging with the cubing community online. You may discover new methods or algorithms that can help you improve.
  10. Stay Patient and Persistent: Becoming sub-3 on a 7x7 cube takes time and dedication. Stay patient with yourself, celebrate your progress along the way, and don't get discouraged by setbacks. Persistence is key to achieving your goal.
By following these steps and staying dedicated to your practice, you can work towards achieving sub-3 solves on a 7x7 Rubik's Cube. Keep challenging yourself and enjoy the journey of improvement!


User

You
What are some good fingertricks for 7x7 that I should apply?


ChatGPT
Efficient finger tricks are essential for speeding up your solves on larger cubes like the 7x7. Here are some finger tricks that can help you improve your solving speed:
  1. Double flicks: Instead of doing one slow turn, practice doing two quick flicks with the same finger to turn a layer faster.
  2. Wide moves with multiple fingers: For wide moves, especially on larger cubes, use multiple fingers to push or pull the layers simultaneously. This can help increase speed and reduce strain on individual fingers.
  3. Regrips: Minimize regrips during solves. Try to plan your moves in a way that allows you to execute them smoothly without needing to regrip the cube frequently.
  4. R U R' U': Instead of doing separate moves for R, U, R', and U', practice doing them in one continuous motion by rolling your fingers smoothly over the layers.
  5. Sledgehammer: Use the sledgehammer move (R' F R F') and its mirrored version (L F' L' F) efficiently to quickly pair and align edges.
  6. Practice One-Handed Solves: Practicing one-handed solves can improve your dexterity and fingertricks overall, as it forces you to rely on efficient finger movements.
  7. Algorithm Execution: Focus on executing algorithms smoothly and efficiently, minimizing pauses between moves. Practice algorithms slowly at first, then gradually increase speed while maintaining accuracy.
  8. Cube Rotation: Minimize cube rotations during solves by learning to execute algorithms from different angles. This can save time and improve fluidity in your solves.
  9. Hand Positioning: Pay attention to your hand positioning on the cube. Experiment with different grips to find what works best for you in terms of comfort and efficiency.
  10. Consistency and Practice: Consistently practice these finger tricks to build muscle memory and improve your execution speed over time.
Remember, mastering finger tricks takes time and practice, so be patient and persistent in your efforts to improve. Additionally, watch tutorial videos and observe how experienced cubers execute finger tricks to learn and adapt their techniques to your own solving style.


User

You
How the hell do I do one handed on 7x7?


ChatGPT
Performing one-handed solves on a 7x7 Rubik's Cube is indeed challenging due to its size and weight. However, with practice and some adjustments, it's possible to achieve. Here are some tips to help you tackle one-handed solves on a 7x7:
  1. Build Hand Strength: Start by building up your hand strength. Use hand grip exercises and practice solving smaller cubes one-handed to improve your grip and dexterity.
  2. Use a Support Surface: Find a stable surface to support the weight of the cube while solving. This could be a table, your lap, or any other flat surface where you can comfortably rest your hand and the cube.
  3. Cube Rotation: Minimize cube rotations during solves by using wide moves and regrips strategically. This will help reduce the strain on your hand and wrist.
  4. Adapt Algorithms: Adapt algorithms to be more conducive to one-handed solving. Experiment with different finger tricks and hand movements to find what works best for you.
  5. Practice Slowly: Start by practicing one-handed solves slowly to get used to the mechanics and movements required. Focus on accuracy and smooth execution before gradually increasing speed.
  6. Experiment with Grips: Find a comfortable grip that allows you to control the cube effectively while minimizing strain on your hand and wrist. Some cubers prefer a palm-down grip, while others find a thumb-up grip more comfortable.
  7. Break It Down: Break the solve into smaller, more manageable parts. Focus on solving one layer or section at a time, rather than trying to solve the entire cube in one go.
  8. Be Patient: One-handed solving on a 7x7 will likely feel awkward and challenging at first. Be patient with yourself and give yourself time to adapt to the new technique.
  9. Seek Advice: Watch tutorial videos and seek advice from experienced cubers who have mastered one-handed solving on larger cubes. They may offer valuable tips and insights to help you improve.
  10. Practice Regularly: Consistent practice is key to improving your one-handed solving skills. Set aside dedicated practice sessions to work on your technique and gradually increase your speed and efficiency over time.
With determination and practice, you can improve your ability to solve a 7x7 Rubik's Cube one-handed. Keep challenging yourself and don't get discouraged by setbacks.


User

You
Well, you said that practice oh 7x7 solves help develope better fingertricks. I'm wondering how that would actually work, since the best 7x7 is currently around 69 millimeters.


ChatGPT
You're correct that the 7x7 Rubik's Cube is quite large, with the standard size being around 69mm for the best models available. One-handed solving on such a large cube presents unique challenges due to its size and weight, which can strain the hand and wrist.
However, practicing one-handed solves on a 7x7 can still be beneficial for developing finger tricks and improving overall dexterity, albeit with some modifications and adjustments:
  1. Partial Solves: Instead of attempting full one-handed solves, you can focus on practicing partial solves or specific algorithms one-handed. This allows you to isolate certain movements and techniques without the added strain of manipulating the entire cube.
  2. Finger Trick Variation: While the size of the cube may limit the range of finger tricks you can perform, practicing one-handed solves can still help you refine and adapt your finger tricks to suit the larger cube. Experiment with different finger movements and grips to find what works best for you.
  3. Algorithm Efficiency: One-handed solving can help you optimize algorithms for efficiency and speed. By practicing algorithms one-handed, you may discover new finger tricks or sequences that allow for faster execution on larger cubes.
  4. Hand Positioning: Pay attention to your hand positioning and grip while practicing one-handed solves. Experiment with different hand positions to maximize control and minimize strain on your hand and wrist.
  5. Incremental Improvement: Progress may be slower compared to practicing one-handed solves on smaller cubes, but consistent practice over time can still lead to incremental improvement in your finger tricks and overall solving speed.
While practicing one-handed solves on a 7x7 Rubik's Cube may present challenges, it can still be a valuable exercise for developing finger tricks and improving your cubing skills. Remember to listen to your body and take breaks as needed to avoid strain or injury.

So I'm starting 7x7 OH ig
I love "solving the last 2 layers(OLL and PLL)".
 
I think for megaminx if I have my mind to beat someone in the rankings then I'll be motivated to practice and get top 100. So what I've done is generated a random number from 1 to 100 and got 90. So I have to beat this guy's mega average:
shouldve gotten 1
 
So chatgpt actually gave good advice about sub-50 on mega, except for #2 and #3 is weird:
  1. Plan Ahead: Before starting your solve, take a few seconds to inspect the puzzle and plan your first block. Look for easy-to-spot pieces that can be incorporated into your first block, and try to predict where other pieces will end up as you solve.
  2. Color Neutrality: Consider becoming color neutral if you're not already. Being color neutral means you can start your solve with any color, allowing you to take advantage of better starting positions and more efficient solutions.
  3. Practice Key Algorithms: Learn and practice algorithms specifically designed for blockbuilding on the Megaminx. Algorithms like sledgehammers, hedges, and sune variations can help you manipulate blocks more efficiently.
  4. Build Multiple Blocks Simultaneously: Instead of focusing on one block at a time, try to build multiple blocks simultaneously. Look for opportunities to insert pieces into different blocks while solving other parts of the puzzle.
  5. Look for Patterns: Familiarize yourself with common blockbuilding patterns and techniques, such as edge orientation, edge pairing, and corner orientation. Recognizing these patterns can help you solve blocks more efficiently.
  6. Experiment with Different Approaches: Don't be afraid to experiment with different blockbuilding techniques and approaches during your solves. What works for one scramble may not work for another, so staying flexible and adaptable is key.
  7. Efficient Turning: Practice efficient turning techniques to minimize pauses and maximize your solve speed. Work on finger tricks and turning styles that allow you to execute algorithms and moves quickly and smoothly.
  8. Review Your Solves: After each solve, review your blockbuilding techniques and identify areas for improvement. Pay attention to your efficiency in building blocks and look for ways to optimize your approach.
  9. Stay Patient and Persistent: Improving at blockbuilding takes time and practice, so be patient with yourself and stay persistent in your efforts. Celebrate your progress along the way, even if it's incremental.
  10. Seek Feedback and Resources: Engage with the speedcubing community, join forums or online groups, and seek feedback from experienced cubers. There are many resources available, including tutorials, videos, and guides, that can help you improve your blockbuilding skills.
By incorporating these tips into your practice routine and staying dedicated to improving your blockbuilding techniques, you can further reduce your solve times and achieve your goal of sub-50 averages on the Megaminx. Keep pushing yourself and enjoy the journey of mastering this challenging puzzle!
 
So chatgpt actually gave good advice about sub-50 on mega, except for #2 and #3 is weird:
  1. Plan Ahead: Before starting your solve, take a few seconds to inspect the puzzle and plan your first block. Look for easy-to-spot pieces that can be incorporated into your first block, and try to predict where other pieces will end up as you solve.
  2. Color Neutrality: Consider becoming color neutral if you're not already. Being color neutral means you can start your solve with any color, allowing you to take advantage of better starting positions and more efficient solutions.
  3. Practice Key Algorithms: Learn and practice algorithms specifically designed for blockbuilding on the Megaminx. Algorithms like sledgehammers, hedges, and sune variations can help you manipulate blocks more efficiently.
  4. Build Multiple Blocks Simultaneously: Instead of focusing on one block at a time, try to build multiple blocks simultaneously. Look for opportunities to insert pieces into different blocks while solving other parts of the puzzle.
  5. Look for Patterns: Familiarize yourself with common blockbuilding patterns and techniques, such as edge orientation, edge pairing, and corner orientation. Recognizing these patterns can help you solve blocks more efficiently.
  6. Experiment with Different Approaches: Don't be afraid to experiment with different blockbuilding techniques and approaches during your solves. What works for one scramble may not work for another, so staying flexible and adaptable is key.
  7. Efficient Turning: Practice efficient turning techniques to minimize pauses and maximize your solve speed. Work on finger tricks and turning styles that allow you to execute algorithms and moves quickly and smoothly.
  8. Review Your Solves: After each solve, review your blockbuilding techniques and identify areas for improvement. Pay attention to your efficiency in building blocks and look for ways to optimize your approach.
  9. Stay Patient and Persistent: Improving at blockbuilding takes time and practice, so be patient with yourself and stay persistent in your efforts. Celebrate your progress along the way, even if it's incremental.
  10. Seek Feedback and Resources: Engage with the speedcubing community, join forums or online groups, and seek feedback from experienced cubers. There are many resources available, including tutorials, videos, and guides, that can help you improve your blockbuilding skills.
By incorporating these tips into your practice routine and staying dedicated to improving your blockbuilding techniques, you can further reduce your solve times and achieve your goal of sub-50 averages on the Megaminx. Keep pushing yourself and enjoy the journey of mastering this challenging puzzle!
So that's why I'm bad at Mega- I need to use Sune to blockbuild!
 
K I made a tierlist on what I think of the WCA events, and I'll give a good explaination on why I said for each one.
wcatierlist.png

Big Cubes (5,6,7): For some reason, these events appeal to me the most. I think it's because I have a lot of freedom to do stuff, and they really help me with lookahead. S tier for me.
Megaminx: This event is my best event compared to the other events I've done. I got really hooked when I managed to get sub-1 for the first time, and now I average sub-55. S tier for me.
3x3: I respect the event as it's the first one I've ever done. However, I feel like nowadays for me 3x3 is limited to how well I can lookahead and turn, and that requires good hardware (Which I have the Gan 11 M Pro for but still). A tier
4x4: It's okay. It's a lot faster than big cubes for sure, but my 4x4 isn't as good as it once had been (I use the MGC, which I had gotten in 2022). A tier
Squan: I'm okay at this event, but parity and turning. B tier.
3BLD: I liked event for a while, but then I realized I had a bad memory.
Pyra and 2x2: I've developed more of a liking for these events, but I still feel like you have to learn a lot of algs to be fast.
Conk: It's clock. Pins and dials go burr.
3x3 OH: For some reason this event just doesn't appeal to me, since I don't have good tps and it's hard for me to keep the puzzle together.
FMC: It's okay, but it takes too long for finding a way to solve a Rubik's Cube in 30 moves.
Other bld events: I tried learning 4bld and 5bld, but my mind can't do multiple stages of memo for some reason. Same with multibld.
Skewb: It can burn.
 
K I made a tierlist on what I think of the WCA events, and I'll give a good explaination on why I said for each one.
View attachment 29603
Big Cubes (5,6,7): For some reason, these events appeal to me the most. I think it's because I have a lot of freedom to do stuff, and they really help me with lookahead. S tier for me.
Megaminx: This event is my best event compared to the other events I've done. I got really hooked when I managed to get sub-1 for the first time, and now I average sub-55. S tier for me.
3x3: I respect the event as it's the first one I've ever done. However, I feel like nowadays for me 3x3 is limited to how well I can lookahead and turn, and that requires good hardware (Which I have the Gan 11 M Pro for but still). A tier
4x4: It's okay. It's a lot faster than big cubes for sure, but my 4x4 isn't as good as it once had been (I use the MGC, which I had gotten in 2022). A tier
Squan: I'm okay at this event, but parity and turning. B tier.
3BLD: I liked event for a while, but then I realized I had a bad memory.
Pyra and 2x2: I've developed more of a liking for these events, but I still feel like you have to learn a lot of algs to be fast.
Conk: It's clock. Pins and dials go burr.
3x3 OH: For some reason this event just doesn't appeal to me, since I don't have good tps and it's hard for me to keep the puzzle together.
FMC: It's okay, but it takes too long for finding a way to solve a Rubik's Cube in 30 moves.
Other bld events: I tried learning 4bld and 5bld, but my mind can't do multiple stages of memo for some reason. Same with multibld.
Skewb: It can burn.
Very unbiased about big cubes and mega...
I agree that there isn't much point in 5BLD and MBLD. 4BLD is something new, but 5BLD is just more letters to memo. MBLD is literally a contest of how many letters you can memorise- at that point you should enter a memory contest.
 
So I'm starting 7x7 OH ig
instead of inefficiently listening to advice using Grosse Pointless Technology

watch these videos from CKSuperLevis aka Jeremy Smith
and practice until you can beat his times every day consistently

efficiently, without regrips, and without losing hand strongth

Step the 1th: Drilling 7×7×7

Step the 2th: Spearing 9×9×9

Step the 3th: Perforating 12×12×12

Step the 4th: Obliviating the oppositional thumbs

GOOdd luck and bön voyagee mein freund 🤠
(see how that was regripless? and I'm èvén a nòób!'))

Post Script: Yah all these are faster than me with 2H smh
 
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I decided to start using OPA in my 4x4 solves. It’s like 60% no parity rate though. Does anyone have any tips for 12 edge tracing? Or keeping track of moves that I do?
Nvm I figured it out, kinda. I was counting the wrong edges, so I was getting a bad solution even though I was trying to do opa. I was trying to count both misoriented edges, when I should have been counting oriented half edges and misoriented full edges.
 
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Nvm I figured it out, kinda. I was counting the wrong edges, so I was getting a bad solution even though I was trying to do opa. I was trying to count both misoriented edges, when I should have been counting oriented half edges and misoriented full edges.
Stanley Chapel has a video for OPA on his YT channel 👌
 
I decided to start using OPA in my 4x4 solves. It’s like 60% no parity rate though. Does anyone have any tips for 12 edge tracing? Or keeping track of moves that I do?
I think you should seriously consider doing this. I checked your wca and you seem to be averaging ~40 for 4x4, which is good (faster than me lol) but not good enough in my opinion to be implementing OPA in solves.

for background I asked in a thread about 18 months ago whether OPA was worth it, and no one replied. There was then another thread debating whether it was worth it which split the vote. I voted yes on the basis that I think it could benefit you at world-class level, not that anyone could just use it up.

So to keep it short I learned how to do OPA a while ago since I was trying to find something interesting to sink my teeth into but have really struggled to get good. This is primarily the tracing step. I hated the fact that you had to start new cycles because I found it difficult to keep track of how many of the wings I had done. I also didn’t like having to spend ages searching around for pieces. However I know you are an advanced megaminx solver so that points to you probably being better than me at that part. All in all, it took me over 20 seconds to trace; which is terrible.

Execution wasn’t too bad; I could keep track of the relative parity state without too much trouble, however my lookahead got nerfed as I found it difficult to juggle keeping track of Opa while doing my cross edges, kinda ironic given that yau prides itself on peak lookahead. When I stopped doing OPA for a couple of solves my lookeahead was so much better and I paused much less often. I also do Yau-LE rather than the Redux-LE (basically pair up my last cross edge with a bar rather than doing it after centres) that ARP uses, as I much prefer it for lookahead. If you do the same then that is another reason not to do OPA as you keep track for longer.

a plausible argument that could be made is that I didn’t grind this all that much so can’t really speak from my own experiences. However on Square-1 I can trace csp in less than 15 seconds (but not good enough for comps since I still would need to figure my solution) and haven’t been doing that for long at all, although I’m sure that with practice I could have eliminated pauses in F3E.

To conclude you shouldn’t learn OPA at your level. Saving 9 moves may seem good at a high level but do not fall into the trap I found myself in. Tracing takes perfection, actual inspection time is seriously curtailed, and there is probably a more fundamental thing you can do to get faster at 4x4, learning OPA is not the only option

Idk why I ranted so much it’s not that deep and I still wrote a frickin essay wtf
 
I think you should seriously consider doing this. I checked your wca and you seem to be averaging ~40 for 4x4, which is good (faster than me lol) but not good enough in my opinion to be implementing OPA in solves.

for background I asked in a thread about 18 months ago whether OPA was worth it, and no one replied. There was then another thread debating whether it was worth it which split the vote. I voted yes on the basis that I think it could benefit you at world-class level, not that anyone could just use it up.

So to keep it short I learned how to do OPA a while ago since I was trying to find something interesting to sink my teeth into but have really struggled to get good. This is primarily the tracing step. I hated the fact that you had to start new cycles because I found it difficult to keep track of how many of the wings I had done. I also didn’t like having to spend ages searching around for pieces. However I know you are an advanced megaminx solver so that points to you probably being better than me at that part. All in all, it took me over 20 seconds to trace; which is terrible.

Execution wasn’t too bad; I could keep track of the relative parity state without too much trouble, however my lookahead got nerfed as I found it difficult to juggle keeping track of Opa while doing my cross edges, kinda ironic given that yau prides itself on peak lookahead. When I stopped doing OPA for a couple of solves my lookeahead was so much better and I paused much less often. I also do Yau-LE rather than the Redux-LE (basically pair up my last cross edge with a bar rather than doing it after centres) that ARP uses, as I much prefer it for lookahead. If you do the same then that is another reason not to do OPA as you keep track for longer.

a plausible argument that could be made is that I didn’t grind this all that much so can’t really speak from my own experiences. However on Square-1 I can trace csp in less than 15 seconds (but not good enough for comps since I still would need to figure my solution) and haven’t been doing that for long at all, although I’m sure that with practice I could have eliminated pauses in F3E.

To conclude you shouldn’t learn OPA at your level. Saving 9 moves may seem good at a high level but do not fall into the trap I found myself in. Tracing takes perfection, actual inspection time is seriously curtailed, and there is probably a more fundamental thing you can do to get faster at 4x4, learning OPA is not the only option

Idk why I ranted so much it’s not that deep and I still wrote a frickin essay wtf
I agree with you on all these points. However mate just because I'm good at mega does NOT mean I'm good at scanning for pieces. I'm okay sure but if I could do it faster then my 6x6/7x7 times would be like 30 seconds faster and my mega times could be sub-45. I think that the key thing is just remember where you see things/keeping info at the back of your mind that you can discard later so that your "RAM" gets cleared for the next solve.
Also with OPA i found it helpful to say even/odd every time you do a single slice. Another thing I doing is slowing down my turning a bit so that I can lookahead. Once I can do OPA comfortly and still lookahead then I'll speed up.
And another thing I think is alfo helpful is learning from every solve.

Don't worry about typing essays on my threads you're fine.
 
Ladies and Gents (and @gsingh since he's the main one that'll get this)
Last night, I finished up my 60th solve for my 7x7 ao100. And, well, let's say that the solve was groundbreaking for me.

The Time:
60. 2:59.58 Dw' 3Dw2 D2 3Lw 3Dw L' Uw' R 3Lw2 Bw2 U' 3Uw 3Bw' R' L2 3Dw R Rw' L' 3Bw Dw' U' B' R 3Rw 3Dw' B2 L' 3Fw' Lw B Lw2 B 3Bw Rw' 3Dw Bw' 3Bw L' 3Dw' U' 3Fw2 Rw L' 3Dw' 3Fw' Fw' U' Uw' 3Lw' Rw2 U2 3Rw2 Fw Lw2 3Uw' U2 D' 3Bw2 L' B' Uw' Fw' R2 Uw Fw Bw2 F D' 3Bw U 3Uw D 3Lw Bw Dw D' U' B Fw2 D2 3Fw' 3Bw2 F Fw2 R' 3Rw2 Uw' B2 U' Bw2 B2 R Bw2 D Uw2 B' Dw2 3Dw' Bw @2024-03-20 20:45:04

How did I get this time before a sub-2 6x6 solve or a sub-1 5x5 solve? Probably since I decided to grind 7x7 first and not 6x6 or 5x5. But still, this sparks a new era in my big cubes + mega journey.
 
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