I suck at speedcubing, I don't know that to learn next.

[robertjurgen]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD4DPPWhbMo

I really want to get sub 45 seconds, but I feel like I make too many mistakes (as you can see in the video) I use many unneccesary moves in my f2l, and I use a terrible last layer method. I want to learn 3 or 4 look last layer. Will learning a better last layer method or improving my look ahead on f2l improve my time more?

 

[4Chan]

Go for F2L first.
Then, when you feel comfortable enough, move on to the last layer improvements.

 

[DavidSanders]

I think the best option would be to improve your F2L and keep practicing at that. Then after a few weeks start learning a few LL algs and then go back to F2L.

 

[lilkdub503]

Wow, I have a knack for posting close to Cubes=Life. First, this may belong in the video gallery. Next, there is a way to have the video embedded in the forum (instuctions in the Video Gallery sticky by pjk). Third, LOOK AHEAD is your friend. Learn it basically, while learning your last layer. F2L is the priority. That last layer improvement will come with time, but F2L will frustrate you if it's taking up to 30 seconds of your solve.

And come on, you don't suck. Everyone was there once. We just kept practicing.

 

[cmhardw]

The most important thing to realize is that telling yourself that you "suck" at speedcubing will pretty much guarantee that you will not improve, or improve slowly. Don't pressure yourself. Improvement comes in fits and spurts, and practice is what it takes to get to your next burst of improvement.

One particular thing I noticed, and I bring it up because I do it too sometimes, is you really should try as hard as possible to stop doing U layer turns with your wrist. I still do this, out of bad habit that I never broke, on occasion and am working hard to stop. During F2L always turn the U layer with the index/middle fingers of your left or right hand. Never use your wrist or whole hand to do a turn.

Hope this helps, and stay positive. Don't set goals to meet or beat the times of someone in particular or of faster people in general. Set times of your own to meet or beat. For example, if your record is 48 or 50 seconds, then shoot for mid-50 seconds on each solve. If you fail to get a time fast enough, just try to figure out what kept you from being sub-55. Although you want a sub-45, try to convince yourself that every solve you do should be sub-minute, or sub-1:10 or whatever is just fast enough to really make you work for it.

So, set realistic goals, and practice You'll get to sub-45 in no time this way.

Chris

 

[rubiknewbie]

More practice should make you faster with the algorithms both F2L and LL. You can start learning full Fridrich to cut down on the LL moves as those 2 look stuff is a pain. But you can also work on your finger-tricks more.

Lookahead should come after you are familiar with the algorithms enough that you don't need to think about them.

 

[Zarxrax]

I would actually go against what everyone else is saying, and say learn AT LEAST 4 look last layer. There aren't that many algs so it shouldn't take too long.
The thing to keep in mind is that you can keep practicing your F2L while you are learning algs (every time you solve the cube, you practice f2l), so even while you are learning algs, you are going to get faster at f2l even if you aren't specifically practicing it. I was averaging 50 seconds when I began learning full PLL, and I was 40 seconds when I finished learning the PLLs. I didn't shave off that time JUST from learning some PLLs.
Also you need to practice the PLLs a lot in order for your recognition and execution speeds to be decent. After you learn the algs, you can focus on improving f2l while your PLLs will naturally get better.

 

[DemotioN]

You sure dont suck man.

 

[4Chan]

Haha, lilkdub503, it's because I post a lot.

I average 2 posts a day apparently, but that's probably because I lurked a lot when I was new.

Join Date: 06-21-2008
Posts
Total Posts: 1,012 (1.99 posts per day)

 

[thiJUMBA]

Well if your a Beginner then i think that your cross might be slow...
2 seconds is the expected time used to make a cross for the pros'
[and knowing how to solve the cross blindfolded really helps][i didn't take that step seriously when i first saw it until i noticed my cross was 10 seconds] X)

AND during F2L it really really helps if you look ahead [even if it means going slow] you should have a constant flow instead of having to stop to find the next pair.

Also, before you decide 3 look last layer, you should learn 4L LL.
and during 4LLL it can be easier to learn only a few algorithms only such as learning the anti clockwise edge movement then to do clockwise you can do the same alg. twice

 

[Tim Major]

Try and make your f2l like this. See how it seems slow, but it means there are less pauses, making faster f2l.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3U3ADGa_r8&feature=player_embedded