Improving 4x4

[Jack]

Hi everyone,

Right now I am averaging around 1:30-1:35 on the 4x4. Centers take about 14-17 seconds, and turning the whole cube into a 3x3 takes about 50-55 seconds. I was wondering if anybody had any tips on getting faster. Thanks!

 

[ExoCorsair]

and turning the whole cube into a 3x3 takes about 50-55 seconds.

Does that mean centers and edges, or just edges?

 

[AvGalen]

Centers: 14-17 seconds
Edges: 50-55 - 14-17 = 36-38 seconds
3x3x3 = 1:30-1:35 - 50-55 = 40 seconds

For me it is about 20+35+45 for a good solve, 20+45+50 for a bad solve and 15+30+40 for a perfect solve.

I guess we spend about the same percentage of time on each stage. Considering you are much faster than I am on 3x3x3 you should be a bit faster than you are on the 4x4x4. I think you could shave of 2-5-5 seconds of each stage if you would focus on the 4x4x4 for a while that would get you a 1:20 average.

After that it is all about having instant case-recognition, constant look-a-head, fast fingers/movement and fluent execution.

So the only two tips I have for you are:
1) Don't look at what you are doing, look at what you are going to do next
2) Alternate between 2-edges-at-a-time and 6-edges-at-a-time and between 1 center at a time and "Pochmann-centers"

 

[Erik]

your centers are ok, could be a couple faster but really work on the pair-up

 

[AvGalen]

Why don't Dutch guys sleep?

 

[HelloiamChow]

Erik, whats your split for 4x4x4? centers/edges/3x3x3

 

[pjk]

Your 3x3 solving stage is 35-40 seconds, you should be able to shave off 5-10 seconds pretty easy there. For pairing, just keep practicing and looking ahead, and a 10 second drop is pretty easy. I avg around 1:16 right now.

 

[Erik]

Why don't Dutch guys sleep?

hmm? I just went to bed not too long after posting this

As for my split... I have no clue

 

[Toojdwin]

Hey, when people talk about edge pairing 6 at a time, is that the same as the edge pairing method on Chris Hardwick's site and bigcubes.com?

 

[pjk]

Yeah, it is the same as Chris describes.