next speedcubing step?

[Jhong253]

Hello all,

I use fridrich method and I was wondering what I should do as my next step.

Here's what I do right now:
F2L -- cross on bottom and then get rest of F2L -- 10-15 seconds??
3 look LL -- solve a cross on top, OLL, and then PLL -- 8-15 seconds??

My average time seems to be around 25 seconds, 2 (super lucky) fastest times are 18.34 and 16.19.

Which step should I learn next and/or practice the most? And what should I do to get my average time down as fast as possible? I use a Rubik's DIY and a type D -- both are already broken in, sanded down a little...

 

[MHordecki]

In my opinion, F2L should be an uttermost priority.

LL is just a matter of algorithm execution time and recognition, you will get better at it by just cubing much (I don't know LL averages of you, Fridrich guys, but for me (using ZZ) it's ~6sec on average, so given the fact you solve it in 8-15, you should probably give it some attention).

On the contrary, F2L is a hard thing to train and needs more attention. So I were you, I would focus on fast, smooth F2L.

 

[Escher]

yeah, i agree.
i know as much as you (well, about half the OLLs as well), and i average sub 20 (in fact got a new avg. of 5 today of 17.14). i practice my lookahead A LOT, meaning my f2l pairs are actually sometimes around as fast as my cross (my cross avgs3-5s). my cube explodes a lot too...
but great lookahead and turning speed means you can get some decent times.
if i were you, i'd begin to learn the OLLs now. just learn the simpler ones i.e ones that have the T-OLL with a few setup moves, or with RUR'U'x2 etc, and get them hammered into your brain. also,learning the more distinctive cases first gives you the most obvious improvement, because you dont have (that much) delayed recognition.
also try out some new things for f2l, like keyhole, or LL control (i.e use RFR'F' instead of RU'R'), to increase your chances of skipping the cross.
on lars vandenbergs site, visit the zbf2l section, and look at sepU_1a and conU_1a, so that you can learn some simpler cases of skipping OLL cross.
theres still a lot to learn, clearly

 

[nitrocan]

Your F2L is much faster compared to your LL times. When I averaged 25, I'd do the F2L in 15 seconds most of the time and then the LL in 10 seconds. I'm a 2 looker now and I average somewhere between 20 and 23. My F2L has impoved (10-13 secs) and my LL is 6-10 seconds.
F2L consistency is very important to get good times. I'd study F2L and learn some OLL's along the way.