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(3bld Progression thread) Road to sub 1

BadSpeedCuber

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Hello,
I am a beginner/intermediate CFOP solver from the US. I am 15 yrs old and have a Gan 365 XS cube.
I really want to improve my times a fair bit and have made some progression by just grinding solves. When I got the cube last week I was averaging about 1:20 seconds. Now 1 week later from just grinding away I average 45-50 seconds. I want to know from others experience what would be best for me to learn or some tips for my end goal, which would be to get sub 40 average consistently with the occasional sub 30 single. I would like to go farther than that but we will set that aside.
I will hopefully be posting some session details within a few days, but if anyone could chip in with some tips as to what i should do to improve my times at this stage?
Thank you!
 

Ninjascoccer

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Practise, practise and practise. I know people say it a lot but it’s important. Drill some algs if you need to. Inside cstiner there is a function to split your times so you can know what is your weakest step. If PLL or OLL is the problem then drill alg. If cross is the problem then time yourself doing only cross. If F2L is the problem select the solved cross scramble option and only time your F2L. And if you do other methods just do the same thing.
 

simontiger

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I'm only sub-40 but I think I can give you some tips:
  • The most important thing to learn after the beginner method is F2L. It makes up most of the solve. You'll initially be slower, but after some practice this should make you WAY faster.
  • If you already know that, learn 4 look last layer. It's only twice as many algs to learn as the beginner method, and some of them are already in the beginner method.
  • After this, most people would consider you a cfop solver. But if you already know all of that, here are some tips I would give you, in no particular order:
    • If you are, for some reason, by this point, still solving the cross on top, SOLVE IT ON THE BOTTOM. It saves you a cube rotation.
    • Solve the cross efficiently, i.e. at most 8 moves.
    • Learn intermediate F2L. Some people like so call this advanced F2L, but no matter what, it really helps.
    • Learn full PLL. Full OLL will only give you a slight improvement, and it has more algs than full PLL, so I would put it off until you are...say...sub-30.
    • Never cube rotate during last layer (unless your alg has a cube rotation ofc). Do U moves instead.
 

Ninjascoccer

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lf you want to learn PLL you are welcome, but I would recommend being sub 40 first.
  • Learn full PLL. Full OLL will only give you a slight improvement, and it has more algs than full PLL, so I would put it off until you are...say...sub-30.
What they said was correct, but remember, PLL IS NOT IMPORTANT! If you really do want to learn PLL, learn no more than 2 in a day, and only learn them when you feel like it. Also learn it when you’re at least sub 40. Is started at sub 30 and to this day, I still don‘t know the G Perms. PLL is only actually needed around under sub 25.
 

simontiger

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What they said was correct, but remember, PLL IS NOT IMPORTANT! If you really do want to learn PLL, learn no more than 2 in a day, and only learn them when you feel like it. Also learn it when you’re at least sub 40. Is started at sub 30 and to this day, I still don‘t know the G Perms. PLL is only actually needed around under sub 25.
Yeah I agree. I learned PLL way slower than 2 algs a day. I just put it in there because I was confused wether he meant "beginner"/"intermediate cfop" or "beginner/intermediate" cfop. Although for some reason with F2L, 4LLL and even some little things like inserting into the back, I still averaged 45. I nearly* know all the PLLs now, and I average 35. From my experience, most people average faster with those things, so I don't know, maybe I turn/recognize slower.

*By "nearly" I mean all of them except for the Ga perm, in case you are wondering
 

BenChristman1

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Never cube rotate during last layer (unless your alg has a cube rotation ofc). Do U moves instead.
If your alg has a cube rotation, you need a new alg.

What they said was correct, but remember, PLL IS NOT IMPORTANT! If you really do want to learn PLL, learn no more than 2 in a day, and only learn them when you feel like it. Also learn it when you’re at least sub 40. Is started at sub 30 and to this day, I still don‘t know the G Perms. PLL is only actually needed around under sub 25.
Well, PLL is important, but there isn’t an optimal time barrier when you should learn it (yet). Also, 2+ PLLs in a day is definitely doable. There are people who learn a dozen ZBLLs in a day, and if you’re the kind of person who learns algs really fast, then take advantage of it. Finally, just because you are sub-30 without G perms does not make that the best thing to do. I was sub-18 without G perms, but I would be the first to tell you to just learn them. They are actually really easy and really fun to execute if you use the right algs.
 

BenChristman1

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not true for all cases, but is a good rule of thumb. some exceptions include A perms, E perm, RUFy v perm
The A perms and E perm aren’t really executed with a rotation, it just kind of blends with the first move. The RUFy V perm isn’t very good either, the RUD ones are much better, because y rotations are arguably the slowest move that you can do on a cube.
 

simontiger

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The A perms and E perm aren’t really executed with a rotation, it just kind of blends with the first move. The RUFy V perm isn’t very good either, the RUD ones are much better, because y rotations are arguably the slowest move that you can do on a cube.
Me (uses RUFy V perm): 😥

(also, you can argue that the cube rotation also blends with the next move there)
 

ruffleduck

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The A perms and E perm aren’t really executed with a rotation, it just kind of blends with the first move. The RUFy V perm isn’t very good either, the RUD ones are much better, because y rotations are arguably the slowest move that you can do on a cube.
if you're arguing that A and E perms don't really have a rotation, why are you claiming RUFy V perm is bad? it's just Dw'
also i'd like to point out that RUFy is actually the fastest v perm. current WB is set with it. also it's fairly consistent. but it's subjective tbh
 

BadSpeedCuber

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To answer some of your questions:
I know 4 look last layer, not very fast at it, but i know it and will get faster with practice.
I know intuitive f2l somewhat but by habit resort to optimized beginners method f2l during a solve because i find it faster. I Think I will have to train myself to make sure I stick with f2l for the entire solve. I dont know any algs for f2l, just intuitive
I will try to do an AO5 in a few minutes and post a screenshot
 

BadSpeedCuber

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Generated By csTimer+ on 2021-11-03
solves/total: 5/5

single
best: 44.224
worst: 55.890

mean of 3
current: 50.618 (σ = 5.62)
best: 50.618 (σ = 5.62)

avg of 5
current: 52.775 (σ = 2.05)
best: 52.775 (σ = 2.05)

Average: 52.775 (σ = 2.05)
Mean: 51.688

Time List:
1. 55.890 D R' F2 D R2 F2 U' R2 F2 R2 B2 D L2 U2 L' B' R2 D' U' B L
2. 50.695 D2 R' B2 U' R2 D2 F2 D B2 L2 B2 R2 B U' F' D R B L' F2
3. 52.840 B D U2 L2 F2 U B2 F2 U B2 D' F2 R' D U' B2 R' B D' R2 B'
4. 54.791 U' L' U' L2 D R2 U B2 R2 B2 U2 L2 U' B2 F' R2 F R B' R2 F2
5. 44.224 R' U2 R2 U B2 L2 B2 L2 U R2 U R2 F D2 R B' L' U' F' D F
 
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BadSpeedCuber

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Got Really lucky
Still struggle really bad with f2l recognition...
Generated By csTimer+ on 2021-11-03
solves/total: 5/5

single
best: 42.399
worst: 53.996

mean of 3
current: 49.415 (σ = 4.53)
best: 46.604 (σ = 6.42)

avg of 5
current: 45.889 (σ = 3.05)
best: 45.889 (σ = 3.05)

Average: 45.889 (σ = 3.05)
Mean: 46.812

Time List:
1. 43.417 L2 U B2 R2 U B U' R' D2 R U2 L B2 D2 L D2
2. 42.399 L' U2 B' L2 D2 L2 F' L2 F' L2 F2 D2 L B2 U' F' L' D U2
3. 53.996 U' D R' F2 B' U' F U2 F R2 U F2 D B2 D' R2 U2 L2 F2 D2
4. 44.946 B' R U' B2 F2 U' B2 D F2 U' R2 B2 R' U B' L D' R' F2 R'
5. 49.304 L' D' B2 D2 L2 B2 L' B2 R2 F2 R2 D2 R' D' L2 D R U F R'
 
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BadSpeedCuber

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Oct 28, 2021
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All Over The Place AO5 this time.
Almost PB of 37 tho i got a lucky last layer corner perm skip as well as an f2l pair solved. Encourage you to try the scramble and use white, its pretty good!
Generated By csTimer+ on 2021-11-03
solves/total: 5/5

single
best: 37.468
worst: 1:00.394

mean of 3
current: 50.220 (σ = 11.60)
best: 50.220 (σ = 11.60)

avg of 5
current: 52.531 (σ = 7.88)
best: 52.531 (σ = 7.88)

Average: 52.531 (σ = 7.88)
Mean: 51.091

Time List:
1. 44.401 L' F U2 B' L2 U2 F U2 F' R2 F2 U' L D' R D L' F' D
2. 1:00.394 R' D2 B F L2 F U2 B L2 D2 L2 F' R' F' L U' B' F R' D'
3. 1:00.130 F' B2 L' F2 L2 D2 F2 D2 R2 U2 R' F2 D F D' R D' L' F L
4. 53.061 L U2 R B U D L' F R F2 R' F2 R2 U2 L B2 R U2 F2 D'
5. 37.468 U L B D2 L' F' R2 L2 D' B R2 F2 U2 L2 F' R2 U2 F' U2 R2 D2
 

BadSpeedCuber

Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2021
Messages
227
Location
Ohio
Some Solid solves, felt good but my cube feels really weird and slow and sticky since i just lubed it with the GAN lube. IDK whether or not i should take it apart or something, would apprciate the suggestions of all.
Thanks!

avg of 5
current: 47.221 (σ = 4.95)
best: 47.221 (σ = 4.95)

Average: 47.221 (σ = 4.95)
Mean: 47.496

Time List:
1. 45.477 R2 L2 B2 R F R D F R2 F2 L D2 F2 U2 L2 U2 D2 R U2 R
2. 52.809 L2 R2 F U2 F D2 L2 B' L2 F D2 F L F' R' D F2 D F' R B2
3. 54.545 F' R' F2 U2 F2 L' D2 L R2 F2 R' B U2 F' D R2 U R' D2
4. 41.271 D2 L F2 R2 B2 L' F2 L' F2 L' U2 L' B D R2 D' B2 F' R D' R2
5. 43.378 F R B2 L2 D' B2 D L2 U' F2 D' B2 U2 B2 R' D' B F' L' D L
 
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