I have problems with inspection

[EricReese]

I have done a thorough breakdown of my times.

Time spent:

Cross + time spent looking for first pair:

Average is 4.76 seconds. Much too long. The actual cross only takes me about less then 3 seconds. Finding the first pair is a problem.

F2L:
Time it took while knowing where the first pairs pieces were: 10.15
Time it took while having no knowledge of where the first pairs pieces were: 13.68

OLL and PLL together are about 7 seconds right now. 2Look OLL takes forever, I'm getting to that. I'm fairly comfortable with my execution speed of my PLLs right now

As I see, and have noticed during my solves, the finding of the first pair in a solve is mainly what determines how good my solve is. When I know where the first pair is, be it by either easy cross or otherwise, I usually end up getting 18-19 second times, while not having it inspected leads to about 22 second times. Having a semi easy last layer also decreases my times to about 17 seconds area.

I believe this is the reason why I am not sub 20 yet (yea I know theres other areas I could improve on collectively to get sub 20 easy, but this is the biggest problem).

Now that I know the problem (I think), how do I correct this? I try to track the first pair during inspection but find it difficult. Most responses I assume will be practice but I am curious as to whether or not there is a technique, like halfway during cross start looking for the next pieces, or try cross blindfolded or something.

Thank you

Spoiler

I hope this doesn't come across as a "How do I get faster? thread" lol

 

[ruff48]

The best way to combat the problem of "cube amnesia" or freezing right after the cross, is to practice doing the cross so much that you can execute it without thinking about it. Basically the same as doing in blindfolded, but instead of closing your eyes, you are scanning for pairs.

 

[cincyaviation]

Do your cross slower.

 

[kpcube]

I'm having the same issue.... I also find it very difficult to track that 5th and 6th pieces during inspection. One thing that I have found to work, at least for me, is to pick a corner or an edge when practicing cross solves and hide it somewhere then try and solve my cross around that hidden piece. Obviously you wont get the most optimal cross solves here but it let me really focus on how the layers moved and pay attention to the respective corner because i knew that i wasnt moving that edge from the possition i put it in. This also made me thing of other ways to solve the cross mainly using the M slice to aid in solving pieces as it does not affect corner possition as much and corner orientation can not change.

 

[Ordos_Koala]

as you said, just practice when you don't look at cross when solving it, you can track both corner and edge of F2L pair... and maybe try reading some stuff about x-cross, maybe it'll be helpful for you (don't take me too seriously, I'm not as good as you at the moment, but I'm trying too not to look at cross while solving it)

 

[irontwig]

That's why a start with a 2x2x2/X-cross when I get a free pair; one less pair to find.