Looking to reduce my times

Calamity Strike

Calamity Strike

Regular
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Oct 25, 2015
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Hi, I'm rather new to the Rubik's cube (been doing it for about a month now), and I'm interested in starting to reduce my times solving it ( best is 1:30). I am currently using a standard 3x3x3 cube from Walmart (i know, I'm looking at getting a YuXin Kirin but haven't got the money yet ;)) and this reduces my times significantly, But i know there are better algorithms than what I'm using. Any recommendations on algorithm's or websites are appreciated. suggestions on finger tricks are also appreciated, i use my index finger for U and my ring finger for D, and simply rotate the cube for L and R, which slows me down a lot. Please excuse me if my questions are unreasonable or don't make sense, as i said I'm new to this.

Edit: forgot to mention i use the algorithms on youcandothecube.com
 
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"Looking to reduce my times."

Aren't we all?

But seriously there's a gillion resources out there, search and see :P
 
Algdb.com is the best place for new algs. I'd try to eliminate any unnecessary rotations, (Imo you should have no more than 5-6 rotations in a solve). As far as finger tricks go your doing alright, once you get a speed cube they will be a lot easier to execute and you should start working on that. Once you do there are a lot of videos on finger tricks. If you want more help later on I'd suggest posting a video of you doing some solve as we can jude all the good and bad things you do.
 
As you are a beginner, I would recommend you have a look at other methods (or at least the big four- ie roux, CFOP, petrus or ZZ) and it may be a good idea to maintain some method neutrality until you get to around sub-30-40 before you decide which one you are going to step up.

In addition, try to go for efficiency over tps. It probably wouldn't hurt to have a look at some other more obscure methods for what they can offer (off the top of my head I would recommend PCMS, Waterman, M-CELL or ZB). Lastly, try to remain colour neutral as it can be a pain to switch later when you are getting to sub-20 or so.

Sorry if this is a bit unclear it was mostly a stream of conciousness post.

Anyway, I hope this helps! And good luck with your cubing future! :)
 
Learn intuitive F2L (there are lots of videos) and 4 look last layer (would recommend Badmephisto or AlgDB
 
Take up swimming, soccer or football instead.
You'll thank me later :p

[seriously, with 1.30 time, you'll improve regardless of what you do. Come back when you are around 30s :rolleyes:]
 
shadowslice e said:
Bro, do you know how much dedication swimming takes? More than cubing that's for sure.
Click to expand...

Depends on what level. If you mean swimming as in not drowning, that's easy. Competitive swimming? That's challenging.

Take up piano or flute. Increase finger dexterity and show off new skills.

You don't really finger trick R and L. You use your hands and turn it with your pointer finger in position for a U. Look at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcHl5M_UZ84
 
MoyuFTW said:
Depends on what level. If you mean swimming as in not drowning, that's easy. Competitive swimming? That's challenging.
Click to expand...

yeah I guess. I was talking from my viewpoint as a competitive swimmer. On the plus side, you can get really good at zoning yourself in during training and staving off boredom.

Anyway, back on topic...

Just keep practising and you'll get there. Seriously. You don't need any real help until you get to around 30. If you really want to get some help just go to a random comp and talk to some of the people there.
 
Well, actually i did do competitive swimming for a bit, got a couple A times and one AA time.... Did piano to... anyway..
 
Also, i have been working on a method that could take me straight to sub-30.... just need some algs... I have searched and searched but can't find a program that will give me a alg to get from one situation to another, just a couple that completely solve it......
 
Calamity Strike said:
Also, i have been working on a method that could take me straight to sub-30.... just need some algs... I have searched and searched but can't find a program that will give me a alg to get from one situation to another, just a couple that completely solve it......
Click to expand...
What is the method? (as in what steps are there, what algs do you need and what are you trying to do etc?)
 
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As far as algs needed, it is hard to describe the situation, but i can tell you the method. I'm not sure if this has been done before, but it consists of 3 steps, first is to create a cross on D, R ,F ,B and L, leaving U scrambled. Next is to make U a cross (need a few algs for this but that should be easy. The last step is to solve the edges, which with the right algs shouldn't take more than 15 sec, this is what i need algs for, i tried incorporating some OLL, but that didn't work....
 
Calamity Strike said:
As far as algs needed, it is hard to describe the situation, but i can tell you the method. I'm not sure if this has been done before, but it consists of 3 steps, first is to create a cross on D, R ,F ,B and L, leaving U scrambled. Next is to make U a cross (need a few algs for this but that should be easy. The last step is to solve the edges, which with the right algs shouldn't take more than 15 sec, this is what i need algs for, i tried incorporating some OLL, but that didn't work....
Click to expand...

What you are describing kind of sounds like solving the edges, then corners. That's been done before :/ also If theres a completed cross on all sides but U, than U would automatically be solved, at least for cross. Maybe I'm thinking it wrong, maybe you could make a short video and PM it to me?

EDIT: now that I think about it, the orientation of the edges on U could be wrong, there are very simple algs to solve those, for example if no edges are oriented, do r U R' U' M2 U R U' R' U' M' if 2 adjacent are, put them in the top right and do F U R U' R' F', and if there are 2 that are opposite put them on left and right and do F R U R' U' F' and yea
 
An easier way to explain it would be to just say you make a cross on each side, leaving only the corners scrambled. Thats what i need algs for, getting the corners in the right place.
 
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