Michael Wimberly, CrossPetrus, Sub20Soon, and Cuber239 race to sub-15 ao5 on 3x3! WINNER HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED!

[CrossPetrus]

I’ve gotten slower. I got like 2 sub 20s in a row yesterday but threw the other solves. I’m like 27 right now, but I’ll get back down. I noticed I somehow lost so much strength in my hands, so my turning is abysmal.

 

[CrossPetrus]

I’ve gotten back! New pb ao5: 18.51! New pb ao12: 20.16! Here’s the ao5:
(20.81)
(15.17)
20.72
19.18
15.62
And to think an 18.50 was a pb single set on January 26, I’m improving.
Edit: Wait how did I get 2 solves faster than Michael’s pb?

 

[Michael Wimberly]

I’ve gotten back! New pb ao5: 18.51! New pb ao12: 20.16! Here’s the ao5:
(20.81)
(15.17)
20.72
19.18
15.62
And to think an 18.50 was a pb single set on January 26, I’m improving.
Edit: Wait how did I get 2 solves faster than Michael’s pb?

Cause I suck at F2L lol. All my PBs have been solves with very good F2L. Also every PB for the last 3 months now has been full-step lol.
EDIT: Bro's ao5 is 0.01 seconds slower than mine from January. Reminds me of when Max Park and Tymon were going back and forth with WR ao5s until they matched at 4.86, lol

 

[Cuber239]

Haha lol, I finally found this thread, you guys are way more locked in then I am...here are my most recent pbs:

I'm really happy with my ao12. I'm also really happy with my ao25 being below 20...I can't quite say I glow ball sub 20 yet because I had a really bad day the other day (see the current times) but I have the speed which is crazy given I don't know all the plls yet. Also I think I will get a sub 15 average if I learn all the plls and work on my f2l a bit because I have lots of really fast times. (Like 170 sub 20s in the last 400 ish solves and like 27 sub 17's and ~75 sub 18's)

 

[Michael Wimberly]

Haha lol, I finally found this thread, you guys are way more locked in then I am...here are my most recent pbs:
View attachment 46911
I'm really happy with my ao12. I'm also really happy with my ao25 being below 20...I can't quite say I glow ball sub 20 yet because I had a really bad day the other day (see the current times) but I have the speed which is crazy given I don't know all the plls yet. Also I think I will get a sub 15 average if I learn all the plls and work on my f2l a bit because I have lots of really fast times. (Like 170 sub 20s in the last 400 ish solves and like 27 sub 17's and ~75 sub 18's)

Bro you have a 12!?!?

 

[Cuber239]

Yeah, why? I also have a 13, two 14s, and nine 15s.

My raw tps is insane for my times (like 4-4.5) but my efficiency is trash, that's why on my pb ao12 it was only sub 20, average move count was probably 80-90 which is terrible but whatever, I just need to finish learning pll and then work on f2l.

 

[Michael Wimberly]

Yeah, why? I also have a 13, two 14s, and nine 15s.
View attachment 46912
My raw tps is insane for my times (like 4-4.5) but my efficiency is trash, that's why on my pb ao12 it was only sub 20, average move count was probably 80-90 which is terrible but whatever, I just need to finish learning pll and then work on f2l.

I have 2 15s, 4, 16s, and countless 17s. My times are kinda tight.

 

[Cuber239]

Nice! What algs do you know?

 

[Cuber239]

Guys, I’m coming back. Basically, I did some research, and apparently Orthodox Christians (I’m looking to become one) don’t really do the whole give up thing like other Christian groups. They focus more on fasting, prayer, and reconciliation. I’ll leave a link, but basically I think I can cube. https://www.holytrinity-lansing.org.../2025/2/22/dont-you-give-up-anything-for-lent

Kinda off topic, but lent is a tool to grow closer to God, you can choose to give something up and replace that time with reading the Bible or praying, or choose to ignore this tool. Nobody can or should tell you what you should give something up for lent, it should be your own choice. Some people choose to give up food in order to pray and reconcile, some people choose to give up tv or video games, some people don't do anything at all. It is your own personal choice but it is never a bad idea if you want to give up something and refocus that time on God.
Edit: Actually a lot off topic lol

 

[Michael Wimberly]

Nice! What algs do you know?

all 21 PLL, 23 OLL, and like 50 F2L (All standard cases and a few back inserts) my f2l algs are trash tho

 

[Cuber239]

all 21 PLL, 23 OLL, and like 50 F2L (All standard cases and a few back inserts) my f2l algs are trash tho

Wow, I only know like 18 pll and like 15 oll, I also just do the intuitive f2l cases.

 

[Michael Wimberly]

a DNF and PB single on the same PB ao12
Generated By csTimer on 2026-02-24 (solving from 2026-02-24 13:54:02 to 2026-02-24 14:08:42)
avg of 12: 19.00

Time List:
1. 17.22 B D2 R' U2 F2 L F2 D2 R F2 D F2 L2 B' D R' U F2 L' @2026-02-24 13:54:02
2. 21.43 U2 F' R2 B D2 F' L2 F2 R2 U2 R2 F2 D' B2 L D' U2 L B' L F @2026-02-24 14:00:06
3. 17.28 B R2 D U R2 F2 R2 D F2 D' L2 U L' B2 R' B2 D' L2 F' L B' @2026-02-24 14:00:52
4. 18.93 L U2 L F2 L' F2 D2 U2 L' F2 D2 F2 U B' F R F2 D B D L2 @2026-02-24 14:01:36
5. 20.68 F U' F' L2 B D2 B U2 F2 D2 B2 R2 F' L' B2 D' L U2 L' F' U2 @2026-02-24 14:02:28
6. 18.41 F2 B' R' L2 U' R2 F B2 D' F L2 B' L2 F U2 R2 B' R2 D2 F' @2026-02-24 14:03:08
7. (DNF(24.99)) F' U L2 B2 D F' D2 F' L B L2 B U2 R2 F' D2 B2 L2 U2 @2026-02-24 14:04:30
8. 18.74 F' L2 U' R2 U R2 B2 U2 B2 D2 U' F2 B' L D' F2 L B2 F' L' D2 @2026-02-24 14:05:22
9. 18.52 U B2 D2 F2 D L2 D' F2 U L2 D2 B2 L D' R2 F' D2 L' F R U' @2026-02-24 14:05:58
10. 18.53 U' F2 B' R' F2 D' L' U R B2 R F2 R2 F2 U2 L U2 R' F @2026-02-24 14:06:51
11. 20.26 U' F2 U' L2 D2 B2 R2 F2 U R D R' B D R2 D2 B2 F' R @2026-02-24 14:07:33
12. (15.26) B2 D' L2 D F2 U2 B2 F2 U2 L2 B2 U' B' R' D2 U B D U' F D @2026-02-24 14:08:42

 

[CrossPetrus]

Wow, I only know like 18 pll and like 15 oll, I also just do the intuitive f2l cases.

Bro I know full f2l, pll, and full oll besides dot cases. I also used to know like 52 t zblls, but I never used them and stopped practicing those so I know like 30-32 now.

 

[Michael Wimberly]

Bro I know full f2l, pll, and full oll besides dot cases. I also used to know like 52 t zblls, but I never used them and stopped practicing those so I know like 30-32 now.

I learned all the dot cases early on because it takes longer to convert those into a cross shape.

 

[Cuber239]

Bro I know full f2l, pll, and full oll besides dot cases. I also used to know like 52 t zblls, but I never used them and stopped practicing those so I know like 30-32 now.

Respectfully how are you so slow then? Just bad f2l execution?

 

[CrossPetrus]

Respectfully how are you so slow then? Just bad f2l execution?

Bad turning and lookahead and recog time. Also I’m just really good at learning algs, and algs are really fun for me.

 

[Caleb Valenzuela]

Bro I know full f2l, pll, and full oll besides dot cases. I also used to know like 52 t zblls, but I never used them and stopped practicing those so I know like 30-32 now.

fun fact
you can get sub-20 easily with beginners if you just have good lookahead (not advisable though)

a tip for you guys from let’s just say a cuber slightly faster than you
tip: once you guys know full F2L, and full PLL, i suggest working on TPS and quick recog. Lookahead can come later at like sub-20 or sub-18

When i was like 8 months into cubing (around sub-20) i didn’t actually know what lookahead was at the time, all i did was just turn fast and recognize cases fast (since that’s what i thought faster cubers did) and somehow i was able to get sub-20. I didn’t pay attention to lookahead until like sub-15. I’m pretty lucky i was able to improve because with that type of practice i could have gotten stuck at a certain point (i did get stuck at the 11 second barrier though’

 

[CrossPetrus]

fun fact
you can get sub-20 easily with beginners if you just have good lookahead (not advisable though)

a tip for you guys from let’s just say a cuber slightly faster than you
tip: once you guys know full F2L, and full PLL, i suggest working on TPS and quick recog. Lookahead can come later at like sub-20 or sub-18

When i was like 8 months into cubing (around sub-20) i didn’t actually know what lookahead was at the time, all i did was just turn fast and recognize cases fast (since that’s what i thought faster cubers did) and somehow i was able to get sub-20. I didn’t pay attention to lookahead until like sub-15. I’m pretty lucky i was able to improve because with that type of practice i could have gotten stuck at a certain point (i did get stuck at the 11 second barrier though’

I know. I’ve realized for a long time that my recog (especially oll) are really bad, and that my tps during f2l sucks. Are there any practice methods you would suggest, I’ve seen things like 2-gen for f2l practice, and ll practice is pretty self explanatory, but I was wondering if there’s anything else that would be good. I also need to practice cross, my cross solutions can get sloppy and I don’t really plan it out fully all of the time.

 

[Caleb Valenzuela]

I know. I’ve realized for a long time that my recog (especially oll) are really bad, and that my tps during f2l sucks. Are there any practice methods you would suggest, I’ve seen things like 2-gen for f2l practice, and ll practice is pretty self explanatory, but I was wondering if there’s anything else that would be good. I also need to practice cross, my cross solutions can get sloppy and I don’t really plan it out fully all of the time.

let’s start with cross
cross: basically i would suggest using a cross trainer (i will link one later), also you need to plan cross fully, so ignore inspection time for some sessions so you can spend that time to plan cross fully. Make sure they are under 8 moves.
TPS: basically you want to choose a last layer alg and do it as fast as possible. Finger tricks are REALLY important for TPS. I’ve seen a lot of solvers regripping for no reason, so beware of regrips too because they take up a lot of time. Utilize push and pull moves, especially pinch moves as well. Make sure to use the tips of your fingers and not the flat part of the finger. Also another drill that’s good is just spamming R’ F R U’ as fast as possible.
recog: I suggest looking for patterns in the pieces. Look for similar cases you confuse other cases with. I also suggest using an OLL trainer from bestsiteever.ru. Let me know what cases you struggle to recognize

 

[SpeedCubingLord]

DM me if you need help, I have gotten sub 15 three times ATP