How to improve 2x2 time?

[hic2482w]

I currently use Ortega and have my avg around 9-10 seconds, is there any way I can get it down without having to learn more algorithms?

 

[nccube]

Practice+CLL

 

[JackJ]

Well I use a combo of Ortega, CLL, and LBL depending on the scramble, and I average around 3 to 4. My advice for ortega is tracking top layer pieces while solving first side. Try to keep yourself about 5 moves ahead of your cube. Also TPS helps a bit.

 

[maggot]

an ortega time for me is heavily dependent on PBL recognition and execution. turn faster and learn to spot the case on the bottom while recognizing the oll? not much you can do to get faster other than to turn fast

 

[uberCuber]

I currently use Ortega and have my avg around 9-10 seconds, is there any way I can get it down without having to learn more algorithms?

1. practice
2. figure out the bottom layer permutation, and try to predict OLL, all during inspection. If you can't completely figure out OLL during inspection, just try to watch the pieces while doing the moves to solve first face, so that you can still know what the OLL will be by the time you finish the first face.
3. if you aren't color neutral, be color neutral. The first face can always be made in 5 moves or less.
4. turn faster
5. practice

I am sub-5 with Ortega, and there is no reason you can't be too if you follow the above things. Especially the practice ones.

 

[buelercuber]

Practice+CLL

i was thinking of typing that right as i saw the title of this thread

 

[shashank]

for ortega-just utilise the 10 sec of inspection time to the extent that u figure out which oll u r gonna get .....that helps a lot but needs a lot of practice.and moreover u should be able to solve it with any colour as ur bottom layer

 

[nlCuber22]

I average 3.5 with little to no CLL. Pay attention to what your FL permutation will be as well as the OLL you will get. It's easy enough to predict. I would learn some of the easier SS cases if I were you; being able to force skips sometimes is nice. Also, if you really want to be good at 2x2, don't use Ortega exclusively. Knowing more ways to approach a solve means more lucky scrambles.

 

[RaresB]

I average 3.5 with little to no CLL. Pay attention to what your FL permutation will be as well as the OLL you will get. It's easy enough to predict. I would learn some of the easier SS cases if I were you; being able to force skips sometimes is nice. Also, if you really want to be good at 2x2, don't use Ortega exclusively. Knowing more ways to approach a solve means more lucky scrambles.

'
What do you mean by dont use ortega exclusively and do you have any tips to recognizing pbl other then the knowing the bottom face permutation. Also what do you do when you happen to finish the top face during oll and you still have to do like a t perm on the bottom. Do u just rotate or have another alg. How can u tell if an ss case is easy or not.

 

[maggot]

dont use ortega exclusively- use other methods to take advantage of easy scrambles.

tips for recognizing PBL- the obvious, find a bar as quickly as you can on the top. know your bottom permutation and know where the bar is on an adjacent swap use your inspection wisely. dont just look for an L or a bar and the other pieces, look to see if you have 2 pieces stuck together correctly, 3 pieces stuck together correctly. also, when doing adj-adj, learn to recognize the AUF while performing the alg. for example, a U2 AUF comes from a checkerboard pattern on the opposite face. for U and U', halfway through the alg the AUF shows itself.

t perm on the bottom- R2 alg R2 auf? or you can cancel it R2 R U R' U'. . . = R' U R' U'. . . it just takes a little practice. for y perm, R2 F2 R2 y perm AUF, maybe there is a better way, but this is what i do.

how can u tell if an ss case is easy- all of the cases are easy, its just memorizing and learning the recognition. there is an SS thread, i suggest you lurk there to learn more about it.

 

[chris410]

Here is video from thewestonian's youtube channel that may be useful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D01K6ougJ8I

 

[sa11297]

i know ortega and am right where he is at. should i learn ss skips (ss tricks)? they skip oll

 

[uberCuber]

after seeing this:

t perm on the bottom- R2 alg R2 auf? or you can cancel it R2 R U R' U'. . . = R' U R' U'. . . it just takes a little practice. for y perm, R2 F2 R2 y perm AUF, maybe there is a better way, but this is what i do.

I thought of another thing to add:
don't use 3x3 PLL algs for the single-layer PBL cases. Better 2x2 algs exist. Look at woner's site: http://dtwoner.110mb.com/index.php?p=1_40_PBL
Notice how his alg for Y perm on bottom actually does the swap on top and then does an R2 F2 R2 type thing with a cancellation.