Getting faster at 4*4

[mr6768]

Hey Guys.
i just got my 4*4 a week ago . as i had solved 4*4 on computer i was about to increase my speed using my MINI QJ.
but the best record i could reach was 3min and 6 secs .
you guys got any advices ?
and also my cube sticks a lot . is there a way to make my cube better ?
i mean 4*4 MINI QJ .

 

[RCTACameron]

What method do you use? You should practice with this method, then try to find a better one. Practice is probably the best thing you can do.

Also, in the edge pairing, I find that it helps if you look ahead so you know which edge you are doing next.

If you want to make your mini QJ better, you might want to lube it with spray silicone.

 

[mr6768]

i forgot to say that i use Reduction method , Centers and edge pairing and then solving...
i use a little bit of look ahead but not practiced much .
but i don know how to lube a 4*4 ? i dont really know how to take off the pieces and spray the lube ?! would you tell me how ? (i know its not the place to mention this , sorry)

 

[RCTACameron]

4x4 disassembly/reassembly tutorial.

So, other than that, you basically do it the same way as the 3x3. (Lay out all the pieces on newspaper with stickers facing away, spray silicone over them, let them dry for 10 minutes, reassemble and work the lube in).

Also, when you say you use reduction, do you pair edges one at a time? Reduction is a very general term.

Still, try to get sub-3 by practicing and looking ahead.

 

[ben1996123]

peel the stickers off and replace them faster so you use less time.

Práktéís

 

[maggot]

If you are pairing edges one at a time, try using a different edge pairing method. The easy transition is double edge pairing using the u slice, then maybe robert yau's method in the mix to get a kind of freestyle double edge pairing. Or you can try syuhei's method.. I find success with this method. Look it up on youtube. Robert yau's double edge pair variant is explained on a thread here. Use the forum search function. Good luck!

 

[JonnyS456]

Getting faster at the edges will improve your time a lot, I use 1 pair but looking ahead helps and makes the transition from one edge to the next smoother and faster. I also suggest lubing with silicone and tensioning; the mini qj I heard is very good. Being color neutral on the centers will take away some time. Lastly, a lot of time on the 4x4 is spent in the 3x3 stage so improving that will help. Good luck.

 

[Carson]

I have never bothered to take my mini qj apart to lube it... I just take out an edge pair, spray in crc then reinsert and twist like crazy for a few minutes.

 

[mr6768]

gotta try what you guys said .
so i can just take off and edge pair of my MINI QJ just like taking it of on 3*3 ?
and the other i spend about 30s on centers . is this really a long time ?
and i think 1 minute on solving the reduced 4*4 including parity , so how's that ?

 

[theace]

i take quite a while on the centers and edges too. I use double edge pairing. Any better options.

Off topic: is the yj better than the qj?

 

[maggot]

It seems like you spend a lot of time on the 3x3. Maybe you should practice it. Practicing 3x3 on the 4x4 will help you with lookahead on f2l which is pretty much 75% of my solve time. You're forced to turn slower which improves lookahead. Also, you'll learn to turn more accurate. Off topic with yj vs qj... for me I like qj and mini over the yj... the 3x3 on the yj is so buttery and nice but its huge shortcoming is clicky, retarded slices and core misalignment... oh, and explosions... not pops, explosions. 1 min edges for single pairing and a min and half for 3x3 is kind of obsurd if you ask me... but if you're edges take longer, which they definately should with those center and 3x3 times, try looking up my referred methods for edge pairing!

 

[Chapuunka]

i use a little bit of look ahead but not practiced much

Well there's your problem.

 

[mr6768]

Well, with a bit practicing i could decrease my time about 30 seconds !
now my pb is 2 : 30 min which i think is a good progress.
I have a good look ahead when im solving My 4*4 as a 3*3 because the pairs are so long ! and they can be tracked easily (at least for me)
but my look ahead in edge pairing is weaker because you have to find the edge from many of edges on 4*4.
and also i use 2 pair method not beginner pairing method . i also tried 6 pair but i think its not more efficient , am i wrong ?

 

[FalconPunch129]

There's a new method on 4x4. It's called Yau. It's where you solve the top and bottom centers, then solve three edges on the top side, then solve the rest of the centers and edges and solve like a 3x3. It's an awesome method and I average under 2 minutes with it.

 

[randomnewb]

I have a Mini QJ 4x4 and I have a similar issue to you. I've been getting my times from 5 minutes from when I first really started practicing 4x4 all the way down to sub 3 minutes and getting better and better PBs.

I think a lot of your time IS spent in the 3x3 stage though. Centers and edges take me sometimes a minute or so and the hardest is after reduction. I've been practicing 3x3 solves on my 4x4 just to get used to turning and it's shaving off a few seconds every now and again.

Also, I use Syuhei pairing (3 edges at a time?) and it works pretty well.

On a side note, I've been watching some people (Rowe) solve their mini QJ 4x4's because they seem to have godlike turning when my cube seems to be locking up all the time. I think the key is practice.

 

[masteranders1]

I find that looking ahead in edge pairing and solving centers fast really helps. The edge pairing makes a huge difference in solve times, and edge pairing on the left and right side brought down my 4x4 times substancially.

 

[mr6768]

Wow, i made a new PB on 4*4 . today i could solve it in 1 min and 44s which is a great progress for me .
Guys im so interested in YAU'S method . can anyone give me a link so i can understand it completely ?