How to proceed?

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Takezaki

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Hey guys!

I bought myself a cube a day or two before christmas, a Vcube3. I then followed instructions on badmephisto's beginner method and learned to solve it in about a day.

As of right now, I can solve the cube in an average of 1m30s. Looking to further my skills, I ventured into the CFOP method and learned the intuitive F2L. Since then, I can solve the first two layers everytime using F2L, but it takes F-O-R-E-V-E-R. I'm wondering if I may just be getting ahead of myself here. Should I just go back to the beginner's method until I can solve it in less than a minute? The things that seemed to slow my solve times the most are :

1- Making the white cross... Probably take 30-35 seconds.
2- Repeating the same algorithms to get into the right position instead of just one algorithm per case.

So I'm also wondering if I should look into 4 look last layer instead of F2L or if I should just keep doing F2L also and PRACTISE.

The cube I'm using is also not very good and prone to locking up. I have ordered a Moyu Aolong V2 and it should arrive next week so I'm looking forward to that.

Thanks!
 
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If you can f2l everytime just stick with it. There are two main cases same color on top and and opposite color on top, make sure you are using both you can also watch example solves to see new ways of solving the pairs.
I also reccomend becoming color nuetral before its too late, i made that mistake and ill never get the same times being color nuetral because i know ghe color scheme doing white/yellow crosst so well compared to the other crosses.
You should be doing this already but if you are not solve your cross on the bottom and not the top
 
I personally waited to get a speed cube until I was sub 40 on my LUBRICATED Rubik's cube. I learned f2l and 2-look oll and pll for the first 3 months of cubing and practiced all the time. Learn on crappy cubes and slowly get fasater cubes and then the cube will make a difference. The Aolong will probably make a 5 to 10 second difference which is nothing really when you are 1:30. Practice the cross a lot and watch this series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h9g5fd7MSM&list=LLylEGlnhk6n7o8Mlip0vO_A
 
Takezaki said:
Hey guys!

I bought myself a cube a day or two before christmas, a Vcube3. I then followed instructions on badmephisto's beginner method and learned to solve it in about a day.

As of right now, I can solve the cube in an average of 1m30s. Looking to further my skills, I ventured into the CFOP method and learned the intuitive F2L. Since then, I can solve the first two layers everytime using F2L, but it takes F-O-R-E-V-E-R. I'm wondering if I may just be getting ahead of myself here. Should I just go back to the beginner's method until I can solve it in less than a minute? The things that seemed to slow my solve times the most are :

1- Making the white cross... Probably take 30-35 seconds.
2- Repeating the same algorithms to get into the right position instead of just one algorithm per case.

So I'm also wondering if I should look into 4 look last layer instead of F2L or if I should just keep doing F2L also and PRACTISE.

The cube I'm using is also not very good and prone to locking up. I have ordered a Moyu Aolong V2 and it should arrive next week so I'm looking forward to that.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Practise will help. Try to see all of your cross pieces in inspection, and plan out your cross in the 15s provided. The cross should take you no more than 15 seconds with a bit of practice. Don't go back to the beginner's method. I learned a speed-solving method when I averaged a minute thirty with the beginners method. Intuitive f2l is definitely the way to go. Keep practising solves, and f2l will come to you. You will start to see lots of ways to pair up pieces, and then your times will fly by your beginner method times. Start learning four look last layer after you are sub minute. Right now, you need to keep practising to get used to CFOP and building up your familiarity with f2l. Also, your cube doesn't matter until sub 30 I would say. I wouldn't recommend the aolong. I got one when I averaged 45 seconds, and it made me rely too much on corner cutting, and gave me bad habits that still bother me with lock-ups, dropping the cube, and occasional pops because of my poor turning accuracy. Stick with the vcube 3 until you are sub 40, then start using your aolong. Try loosening your cube a bit so it allows a bit of room for mistakes and has less resistance. There are also several videos on youtube that show how to mod a vcube to make it perform like a guhong.
 
Wylie28 said:
If you can f2l everytime just stick with it. There are two main cases same color on top and and opposite color on top, make sure you are using both you can also watch example solves to see new ways of solving the pairs.
I also reccomend becoming color nuetral before its too late, i made that mistake and ill never get the same times being color nuetral because i know ghe color scheme doing white/yellow crosst so well compared to the other crosses.
You should be doing this already but if you are not solve your cross on the bottom and not the top
Click to expand...

What do you mean by color neutral? You mean I should be doing crosses in other colors also?
 
Takezaki said:
What do you mean by color neutral? You mean I should be doing crosses in other colors also?
Click to expand...

Yes, Also look into other methods like Petrus and Roux. When you get faster you can look into ZZ or FreeFOP. Don't worry about timing yourself that much for now, only every now and then. Focus on just doing things right instead of rushing and doing things inefficiently.
 
lerenard said:
Yes, Also look into other methods like Petrus and Roux. When you get faster you can look into ZZ or FreeFOP. Don't worry about timing yourself that much for now, only every now and then. Focus on just doing things right instead of rushing and doing things inefficiently.
Click to expand...

Can I ask why it is important? Aren't you always solving using the same side anyway? There is a purpose I just can't wrap my head around the concept. Someone cares to explain?
 
Try to memorize the moves required for two pieces of your cross. If you aren't already, do your cross on the bottom (harder at first, but makes you faster). Eventually, you will be able to do the entire cross in your head. For now, two is a good start.
 
Why is solving different colors important? It helps you solve the cross faster, the other sides might already have cross pieces solved or require less moves to solve. Also don't wait to get a speedcube, the biggest reason not to is its too uncontrollable which is stupid, thats like saying wait till you have perfect look ahead with begginers first two layers before moving onto f2l. Get one and after a few days you will adjust and then you don't have to worry about it later down the road.
 
Takezaki said:
1- Making the white cross... Probably take 30-35 seconds.
Click to expand...
That's the biggest thing you need to work on, by far. Your first goal is to plan out the entire cross planning out the entire cross without turning the puzzle, and use as much time as you want, even if it's over 15 seconds of inspection. (If that's too hard, start with letting yourself turn the cube to see what effect moves have.) Always try to do it in 10 moves or fewer - every cross can be done in 8 moves. And remember, you are allowed to turn the white side, so it might be fastest to set up the four pieces to turn off, and then solve the whole thing at once. Eventually, you want to know exactly how you are going to solve those four pieces before you start the solve.
 
Takezaki said:
Can I ask why it is important? Aren't you always solving using the same side anyway? There is a purpose I just can't wrap my head around the concept. Someone cares to explain?
Click to expand...

I'm color neutral and somewhat method neutral (I use FreeFOP) and I have actually tried and failed to not be color neutral multiple times. I've just found that my eyes are always distracted by easier ways to solve pieces that aren't the color I'm "supposed" to be solving at that moment. It's about efficiency. If you practice being efficient while you're slow you will develop good habits and you won't have to worry about breaking bad ones later when you're much faster. Most people agree color neutrality is more efficient and so if you start now you will be doing better than people who are stuck with white cross. If you still have a hard time making the cross, I would suggest just starting off doing whichever color cross already has an edge piece connected and then later when you can see the whole solution before starting do whichever is easiest.
 
Takezaki said:
Hey guys!

I bought myself a cube a day or two before christmas, a Vcube3. I then followed instructions on badmephisto's beginner method and learned to solve it in about a day.

As of right now, I can solve the cube in an average of 1m30s. Looking to further my skills, I ventured into the CFOP method and learned the intuitive F2L. Since then, I can solve the first two layers everytime using F2L, but it takes F-O-R-E-V-E-R. I'm wondering if I may just be getting ahead of myself here. Should I just go back to the beginner's method until I can solve it in less than a minute? The things that seemed to slow my solve times the most are :

1- Making the white cross... Probably take 30-35 seconds.
2- Repeating the same algorithms to get into the right position instead of just one algorithm per case.

So I'm also wondering if I should look into 4 look last layer instead of F2L or if I should just keep doing F2L also and PRACTISE.

The cube I'm using is also not very good and prone to locking up. I have ordered a Moyu Aolong V2 and it should arrive next week so I'm looking forward to that.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
This is very normal that you are slower with F2L. It happened to me as well. You just have to stick with it and you eventually will get used to it. Also work on your cross because on average cross should be around 6-7 moves to solve, and judging by the time it takes you to do that it seems that you do a lot more than that.
 
The only thing that you can really do to help you right now is practice.

I know this video is entitled "How to be sub-10 seconds" but it covers slower speeds, starting from 1:30+

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Takezaki said:
What do you mean by color neutral? You mean I should be doing crosses in other colors also?
Click to expand...

Before it's too late, switch to solving every color as your cross and f2l because it will help you be more efficient down the line. You'll start to notice how colorneutrality helps after becoming sub-15 seconds or maybe even sooner. Basically you can look and plan out your first pair more easily when given more options for the cross.
 
Work on your F2L algorithms. Make sure you can embed them in your mustle memory, I will show you some tips later on on how to memorize an algorithm. Going back to the beginners method will not be needed, just make sure you know the algorithms for it. When you get your Moyu Aolong your times should increase. Practice your cross making too. Here is a link to help with your cross.http://cubefreak.net/speed/cfop/cross.php

Some steps for memorizing an algorithm:

1: Do the algorithm
2: Write it down where you usually cube
3: Do the algorithm 3 times
4: If you cannot remember it, go back to step 3
5: Break down the algorithm if needed
6: Before you go to bed, see if you remember the algorithm
7: When you wake up, see if you can remember the algorithm
Then you should be fine, of course it can be shorter but this will still help you.
 
Sauce said:
Work on your F2L algorithms. Make sure you can embed them in your mustle memory, I will show you some tips later on on how to memorize an algorithm. Going back to the beginners method will not be needed, just make sure you know the algorithms for it. When you get your Moyu Aolong your times should increase. Practice your cross making too. Here is a link to help with your cross.http://cubefreak.net/speed/cfop/cross.php

Some steps for memorizing an algorithm:

1: Do the algorithm
2: Write it down where you usually cube
3: Do the algorithm 3 times
4: If you cannot remember it, go back to step 3
5: Break down the algorithm if needed
6: Before you go to bed, see if you remember the algorithm
7: When you wake up, see if you can remember the algorithm
Then you should be fine, of course it can be shorter but this will still help you.
Click to expand...

Stop. Right. There. Don't learn F2L algorithms right off the bat. Do intuitive F2L and then maybe learn a few algs for hard cases.
 
Finally progressing a little.

Learned most of 4 Look Last Layer.. Am down to under a minute on average. PB is 49.69
 
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