I need help with F2L

[John Park]

I'm sure you've all heard this before. However I only chose to address the forums because I couldn't find anything on the web regarding some of my problems.

I'm currently sub-25.
On average, it takes me: ~4 seconds to solve the cross
~12 seconds for F2L
the rest for OLL and PLL

I do know full PLL but not OLL
Yes, I know my PLL and OLL speed is pretty terrible, but I'm only using a standard lubricated rubiks cube atm.

What I'm having difficulty is with look-ahead.
I found my average tps as around 154 bpm, so I cranked up the metronome to start practicing at a consistent rate. I typically do fine, but whenever I have a corner that is in either the back bottom left or right corner, I can never look ahead for that pair in time. I can typically only guess which piece it is, but often times I'm wrong, or I don't recognize it quickly enough and break the metronome speed. This will still happen all the way down at 120 bpm!

I am in desperate need of a way to look ahead properly. I know that one does not simply "learn" look ahead, and maybe I just need loads more practice, but hopefully there must be some way I can get better in regard to this kind of issue with recognition.

 

[1973486]

So... what are your problems?

 

[John Park]

LMFAO. I accidently tabbed, then spaced.. then posted.

 

[shadowslice e]

What is your movecount like on F2L and can you solve any given pair BLD?

 

[aybuck37]

Yeah I'm really abad at look ahead too. My turning is incredibly jerky. We should try to keep it smooth

 

[John Park]

My move count is around 38-42.

BLD as in blndfolded?
Yes, I can pretty much solve any individual pair without looking.

I guess the move count could use some work though

 

[GenTheSnail]

I find that this program helps with lookahead
http://cube.crider.co.uk/coracle.html
It actually helps reduce rotations, but also sounds like your problem.

 

[shadowslice e]

My move count is around 38-42.

BLD as in blndfolded?
Yes, I can pretty much solve any individual pair without looking.

I guess the move count could use some work though

Yeah I would say movecount then as if you can do your tps that quickly you should be good for sub-20, perhaps even sub-15 if you work hard enough on your efficiency.

So, if you can solve 1 F2L pair BLD how many would you say you can do (so can you do 2 or even 3)? Also, do you find you pause after cross? Personally, I find it to be one of the biggest challenges to make my cross/F2L transition smooth (probably because I don't use CFOP as my main so am more used to FB->SB rather than that). Try to identify which pair looks the nicest in inspection after you have planned the cross (start with unlimited inspection to start off with and go from there).