New to the World of Speed Cubeing: I Need Help!

[Mac Daddy]

As the title states, I am new to the world of speed cubeing. My average is time is a horrific 1:50. I watched enough videos and read enough articles to know that the things that I need to do to improve my time down to sub 1:00 and then sub 0:30 is to a) finger tricks b) memorize algorithms c) think ahead.
Most speed cubers I read about state that there times on each step are like 3 seconds, cross, 18 seconds, F2L, and then like 8 seconds OLL and PLL. What are they looking at to get that fast? How do they practice? How long did it take them to get that good?
Also, how do I improve the speed and persition of my finger flicks (not over spinning or under spinning the layer) and what do I look for when I am "thinking ahead"?

 

[CUB3R01]

Right now you should keep practicing what you know. If you are using a beginner's method with 2-look OLL and 2-look PLL, you should be able to get down under a minute with that. I would not worry about learning more until you can get down under a minute.
But if you would like to learn stuff anyway: the user "badmephisto" on youtube has superb tutorials for the cross and F2l and other stuff that you could greatly benefit from.

 

[qqwref]

There isn't a "trick" to speedcubing that will quickly get you fast, just like there isn't a "trick" to tennis or piano or basketball. Keep practicing, learn a more advanced method when you can, and above all keep practicing. Don't worry about looking ahead for now, though: you can get under 20 seconds without it, and it's only possible when you have a much deeper understanding of the cube anyway.

 

[sa11297]

d) practice (it should be a)

 

[BC1997]

Well it took me roughly 6 months to get sub-24 but it would have taken me 4months if I had lubricated my cube. What you have to do for now is practice and within a couple of days you will get around a 1:30 average, at this point I started learning Fridrich, after 1.5 weeks i was able to get a 45second average, at this point I learnt full PLL getting me a 37second average, if you get to this point just practice and practice( I lubed my cube and got 28second times so..) you'll get sub-30. With practice you'll get sub-25 and possibly sub-20 then learn full-OLL and you are good to go(again with practice you may get sub-15, alot of practice).

 

[fastcubesolver]

Aim for a time you barrier you want to break, practice until you reach that, THEN learn more algorithms and stuff like that.

 

[Verack]

Another thing that helps you get faster is to have a good cube. If you have one that is hard to turn and doesn't cut corners well (like a rubik's storebough) you should get a new one. Maybe a DIY.

 

[Vinny]

Another thing that helps you get faster is to have a good cube. If you have one that is hard to turn and doesn't cut corners well (like a rubik's storebough) you should get a new one. Maybe a DIY.

At 1:50 averages, I don't think he's doing amazing fingertricks quite yet. Maybe after sub 1, but he doesn't really need a new cube right now.

I was averaging about sub 35 when I got a DIY cube.

 

[RaresB]

You evidently need grammar help, speedcubeing

EDIT: SPELLING NOT GRAMMER (NOTICE THE JOKE)

 

[MaeLSTRoM]

you mean spelling...

 

[RaresB]

I do

 

[Godmil]

1. A good cube is more important for beginners, if it turns well they'll get less frustrated, also it will help prevent them learning bad turning habits.
2. Learn new Algs at a rate you are comfortable with. Don't believe anyone who says you shouldn't learn something until you are a certain speed. The sooner you know a method the quicker you'll get comfortable with it. Just make sure you're still having fun.