Older cubers discussions

[openseas]

It's been done, but it's much harder. The basic beginner's "OP" method just uses PLL algorithms with setup moves, and it's really not that hard to learn. M2 is worth learning for edges, though.

I guess what @StanMan is referring to is solving using entirely CFOP blindfolded. It is not just eidetic memory but more about the interaction of your move & outcome, so, not impossible but it will take much longer. I know there are several folks who did entirely using CFOP but times were more than 10 minutes, I believe (somebody can correct me).

I've used to post here a lot about BLD progress but as @pglewis said, becoming more active in FB group.

 

[Jason Green]

I guess what @StanMan is referring to is solving using entirely CFOP blindfolded. It is not just eidetic memory but more about the interaction of your move & outcome, so, not impossible but it will take much longer. I know there are several folks who did entirely using CFOP but times were more than 10 minutes, I believe (somebody can correct me).

I've used to post here a lot about BLD progress but as @pglewis said, becoming more active in FB group.

My first and second blind attempts were successes, the only two I've had. Third attempt I only had 3 minutes left and was averaging about 6 so I solved only corners successfully.

 

[BigDazUK]

Hi all, I'm 44 from the UK. I've been on this forum nearly a couple of weeks and I've just stumbled on this old folk club
11 days ago I couldn't solve the cube. I'm now solving around 1:30-1:40 with my fastest at 1:13 (due to some luck).
My initial goal was under a minute, now I feel I can go much faster pretty soon.

 

[SenorJuan]

Welcome from another old UK guy. Just keep practicing, the times will fall, it's perfectly possible to get below 40 seconds with basic methods and unsophisticated turning. Then you'll need to think more about technique and methods, and usually this means learning a fair number of algorithms, but that's all part of the challenge.

 

[muchacho]

After a few months of 0 practice a few weeks later I'm now getting closer to my best times at OH (which is the basically the only event I practice), still averaging around 25 seconds, but just managed to get a PB single.

1. 13.68 F2 L U2 L2 F2 L2 D B2 F2 R2 D U B' D2 U2 R2 U' L B L

I tried to reconstruct it, but no luck.
z x'
U' Uw F U M U M' U2 L U' Lw z2 // FB

 

[narusite]

Hi guys, I hope you are all doing well.
With remote working I’ve been able to cube a little more
Actually, I’ve been able to do longer 3x3x3 sessions. I’ve also decided to keep only 1 session in cstimer in order to see ao100 (because there is currently no way to do one session with a hundred solves in a row).
For the moment, my best ao100 is 31.5. But I’ve more and more sub-30 ao12, less over-40 solves, less CMLL errors, and sub-25 are not so scarced.
I’ve still a lot of training to do, and I know I should do more slow solves, but I feel that my sub-30 ao100 goal is near, and that makes me happy.
I can often plan FB+DR and do reconstruction. So yeah me \o/
Here is my latest sub-20.

 

[muchacho]

You are doing good, it's rare when I can plan FB.

 

[narusite]

I’ve done it:
29.95 ao100
I’ll officially call myself sub-30

 

[pglewis]

My 3x3 Ao5 PB was set back in 2019 with a 18.23. That was a crazy fast flurry of solves for me at the time and has stood for a while, all my other 3x3 PBs have been set in the past six months. I've been on an uptick again the past couple weeks though and I felt this one coming, finally crushed it with a mid 17.

 

[One Wheel]

I'm wondering if anybody has any small suggestions: I picked up a FTO, I really want to solve it once without a tutorial, but every move just moves so many pieces I can't figure out basic comms. I can build one face, but I'm stuck there and I suspect that may not be a helpful strategy anyway. Once I either figure it out once or get entirely fed up I'll look up a proper method.

 

[SenorJuan]

Rather like suggesting the best intuitive way to solve the 3x3x3 is to solve the corners then the edges ,,, I think something like 'solve all the edges' then solve all the 'whatever they're called pieces' etc etc, rather than face-by-face, is the best strategy for this puzzle. ( I don't have one, only the different octahedron-shaped puzzle that's a 3x3x3 shapemod. )

 

[Mike Hughey]

I agree with SenorJuan. Best way is to solve one piece type at a time; that's how I did it. Comms were easy to find for corners, but I just tried random sequences to find isolated piece movers for the other types, and I eventually found a way to do it that was horribly inefficient.

Once I got it, I learned a real method from a video and realized this was probably the worst self-created method for solving a puzzle I've ever done! At least it didn't have any 80 move sequences, like the one I used to solve parity when I figured out square-1 on my own.

 

[One Wheel]

Rather like suggesting the best intuitive way to solve the 3x3x3 is to solve the corners then the edges ,,, I think something like 'solve all the edges' then solve all the 'whatever they're called pieces' etc etc, rather than face-by-face, is the best strategy for this puzzle. ( I don't have one, only the different octahedron-shaped puzzle that's a 3x3x3 shapemod. )

I think you're probably right. I'm just having trouble figuring out how to isolate particularly the single-color center triangles for commutators. Every face turn moves 3 corners, 3 edges, and 9 centers on 4 different faces.

 

[muchacho]

3x3 Ao100 PB, 16.74. Previous was from May of 2018, and only 0.06 seconds slower, so not much improvement, but I'm quite happy, 2 months ago I was averaging more than 18 seconds.

Spoiler

Generated By csTimer on 2021-01-15
avg of 100: 16.74

Time List:
1. 16.60 U' F2 U' R2 U' L2 D' R2 D B2 F2 R D L R F R2 D' F U
2. 18.45 L B L2 U' L2 U F2 U' F2 L2 D L2 U' L2 B' U2 F2 L' U' R' F
3. 17.51 U' R2 B L U2 R2 D' B2 R2 F2 B2 U2 L' F2 L F2 R U
4. 15.51 R B2 D L2 B2 L2 U' R2 D F2 D U F R' D' R' F' D B' L2
5. 14.86 B' L2 F U2 F D2 L2 R2 B' L2 U' B' D' U2 F2 R' B D2 U' R'
6. 16.79 U2 F2 R2 U2 L2 B U2 B' F2 D2 B' R D' U2 B2 L B' U' L R D
7. 15.72 U2 L' U2 F2 D2 L' F2 U2 L' R2 F2 U L F L2 F L' D B' L'
8. 17.36 U' B D R' L' D F L' F U2 B2 L2 F' U2 L2 F' U2 F L2 B U
9. 15.60 B L2 B2 U' L' B D B2 U2 B' D2 B L2 B' R2 U2 F2 L2
10. 16.80 B U2 F' L2 F' L2 D2 B L2 R2 B2 U' R2 D' R B U2 R' B' L
11. 14.51 F2 U B2 D F' R D' B U2 B' U2 F' D2 B R2 D2 L2 F' L F'
12. 15.16 D L2 B2 U2 L2 D R2 U' B2 D2 B2 U2 L' F L R' U' L' F' L U
13. (12.26) L F' R' L2 U2 L B' U L U' L2 F2 D2 B2 D' R2 B2 R2 F2 D'
14. (27.75) U2 F2 R2 U2 R' F2 R U2 R' D2 R B2 D B2 U' F' D' F2 D2 L F
15. 16.88 R' L' D B D2 L D L' U L2 F R2 B2 R2 D2 F L2 B' U2 B2
16. 18.71 D2 B2 D2 B' L2 U2 R2 U2 B' F2 R U2 R' B' L U' F2 L' B'
17. 13.95 D2 F2 R2 U' R2 B2 U2 F2 U R2 D L' B' L D' B F D' F' L2
18. 17.48 L D2 U2 L' B2 D2 U2 R B2 L2 D B2 R2 F D L2 F2 D' B
19. 17.93 R2 B' L2 D2 F' D2 R2 B' F2 U2 B2 R' U' R2 F R2 F2 L D' U' F
20. (21.06) B2 U' F2 D2 L2 F2 R2 B2 D' B2 U' B R F U L' R2 U B2 U' L'
21. 19.15 F' R F' L D' R F' L2 F2 U2 R2 D2 F U2 B' U2 B U L
22. 15.84 U D2 F2 L2 U2 B' D2 F' R2 U2 F' U2 F' R U2 L' B2 F' D B R2
23. 15.28 D' B' L2 U2 B2 R' D2 F2 R D2 R' B2 R2 D L' R2 B2 D L2 D
24. 14.54 D2 B' L2 B' L2 B2 U2 R2 F' L2 R2 F R D L2 B' D B L' D2 F
25. (29.08) U' L' F2 D2 R2 B2 L2 D R2 D2 U B L B' R2 F D B' U'
26. 17.03 B R2 B2 L R2 D2 R D2 R' F2 D2 B2 U B D' B2 U' R' B L D
27. 18.41 D2 R' F D' B' D2 B' D2 F2 R' D2 R2 U2 B2 R' F2 D2 R' F D
28. 16.38 B D2 L2 D L' U D B L2 U2 F U2 F2 U2 R2 L2 B' U2 L' B
29. 16.24 R U2 B2 D' B2 R2 U2 R2 U' B2 L2 U L F D F D2 B2 F2 L2
30. 18.11 F L2 D' B2 U' L D' R L' B U2 R2 F R2 D2 B2 U2 L2 B' D2 B'
31. 14.62 R' F2 R2 B2 L2 U2 L2 F' D2 F2 L2 D' L' R B L U2 L2 F
32. 20.66 L2 D L2 D2 U F2 D' R2 U B' R' F' R F D' B' F' U2 R2
33. 14.87 B2 R2 B2 U' F2 U L2 U L2 F2 U2 B2 F' R' D B' L2 U R B2 F
34. 16.53 F2 B U2 R' L2 F U F' D2 F' D2 B D2 B' L2 B' U2 F2 U2 D'
35. 14.50 R' U2 B' F2 L2 F R2 F' U2 L2 D2 U2 R' D L2 R2 F R B' L' U
36. 16.35 L D R' L2 U2 F2 L2 F L2 B' L2 R2 D2 B' U B' L2 D F' U2 B2
37. 15.58 U R' B' D' F2 D F' R' U' R2 L2 B2 L2 U D' L2 D' L2 F2 R' D'
38. 18.68 F L F L' B' L F D R2 L2 D L2 U' B2 U2 R2 L2 U' L D2
39. 15.63 U D L B' U2 R' B U' L' F L2 D2 B' R2 B R2 L2 D2 F2 R2
40. 16.64 F2 U2 F' U2 B' U2 F D2 B' L2 F D' R' B' F2 R' U' F' U2 R' U2
41. 18.33 B' U R2 B R' F U F B2 R2 U2 F2 U2 B D2 R2 B' R2 F2 R' F2
42. 15.83 U2 F2 D2 B' U F L R2 D' B2 D' F2 D' B2 D R2 F'
43. 15.15 D' F' R D2 L2 U B2 L2 B2 F2 U B2 R2 U' B' L D2 F2 D' R U
44. 17.05 L' U' D F B2 U2 D2 R' D2 R2 D2 L2 F L2 F L2 U2 L2
45. 19.76 D2 B2 U B L' U R2 B U F2 R2 U2 R B2 D2 F2 L' U2 R' L2
46. (21.32) D' U2 B2 L' F2 R U2 L D2 L' D2 R2 D B L' D2 B2 R2 D' B U
47. 19.27 R' F2 D' L' B L2 U' L2 F2 R U2 F2 D2 R' U2 D2 L' U2 D' B
48. 16.12 D' F2 U B2 U2 R2 D U2 R2 F2 L2 F U B2 L B2 R' F' D' L
49. 17.20 F' L2 B2 D2 R2 B U2 B' R2 B2 D2 R2 L' B2 D' U2 R' U' R B2 R'
50. 16.26 L R2 U2 B2 D2 F2 R2 U B2 L2 D L2 U2 B' D L D U' B2 L' F
51. 17.89 B' U R' F' D2 B' U' L2 F' B2 L2 U' D' F2 D L2 U F2 L2 B2 U
52. (12.44) B L' F R' L' U' B D' L U2 D2 R2 B2 R' B2 D2 R F2 L2 D2
53. 20.41 D2 L2 U2 F R2 F' D2 B2 U2 L2 D2 R D U B' R D' B2 R' F R
54. 13.36 L F' D F2 D2 B2 D R2 U R2 D F2 U F2 R' B R U2 B' U2
55. 19.60 R' F2 R2 F2 L2 D B2 R2 U2 F2 U2 F2 R' F' U R D' R B2 R2 F'
56. 15.91 D2 L' B2 D2 U2 L U2 B2 R' B2 R D2 F U' F U' F R F2 L'
57. 18.55 D2 L2 F2 D F2 U' L2 D L2 F2 R2 B' U2 R' U L' F D2 B' D'
58. 17.36 B R' F B2 R2 F2 U L2 B2 U2 F2 D' L U2 F R2 U F' L
59. 15.60 B2 U2 R2 U2 L2 R2 B' D2 B' U2 L2 F' R D' B' L' F2 R2 F2 D' U'
60. (12.91) R' L2 F2 L2 D2 R2 F L2 F2 D2 B' F2 U R U R D U' F'
61. 15.95 R B' U' L B2 R L' D2 F U' L2 U R2 D2 F2 D2 B2 L2 U B2
62. 20.22 B2 D' L F' D2 B' U L2 U2 R F2 L' D2 F2 U2 F2 L F' L
63. 13.47 L' U' R2 B U2 F2 R2 U2 L2 B L2 B' F2 D U' B' D' R2 U' R'
64. (28.07) B2 L2 D' R2 U' R2 B2 R2 D U2 B D R' F L2 B F' L U' R2
65. 15.64 R' D' F2 R2 U B2 L2 D U B2 L2 D2 F D2 U' L2 U2 B R F'
66. 20.80 D2 B' U2 L2 F D2 L2 B2 R2 F U2 R2 L' F2 U' R2 D2 B' F2 U F2
67. 16.74 B U2 L2 F U2 B2 R2 U2 L2 U2 B2 F' D U R' B' R2 D2 F' U2 F2
68. (12.86) F' B2 D2 B' D' R F' B' U2 F2 L2 F2 U R2 L2 D' L2 U' L
69. 15.43 B2 U' L' F' D B2 L' B D2 B2 U2 L U2 R2 D2 F2 R' D2 F2 R' F
70. 15.50 U L2 U R2 U' R2 U' R2 B2 L2 B' D2 U L B D' L2 D' R'
71. 16.11 L' U D2 B' D' L F' L' F R2 U' F2 U2 F2 D L2 D L2 U' B2
72. 14.63 F2 L2 B2 U R2 U' R2 D' F2 D' F2 B' D L F2 R U' F D L' B
73. 14.63 D' L' D R F2 L' B' L' D2 R' U2 L' F2 B2 R F2 R2
74. 17.28 R2 B R' D2 R B2 L' B2 D2 R' F2 R' U2 R D' R' B' D R U' L'
75. 17.60 L U' B2 U2 L R2 D2 R2 B2 R' B2 D2 U2 B F' D L2 U F' D2
76. 15.09 D2 R' D2 U2 B2 L' B2 D2 B2 L' F' D' B' R' B2 R2 U L' F
77. 19.25+ L' R' D2 B2 R B2 U2 F2 R' D2 L B2 D F' L F' D' F U2 R U'
78. 15.64 R' F' U' F2 L' D' L F B2 D2 R2 B2 R' B2 R D2 F2 R' F2 B
79. 19.71 L' U L U2 L2 F2 R2 F2 U2 B2 L U2 B' R' U B D' R B'
80. 14.76 B' D' L U' L D2 R' D2 B' L2 F2 D R2 U' B2 D2 B2 R2 B2 D
81. 20.70 U' F D2 B U2 L2 R2 B' L2 F D2 F D L' F' D2 U R' B2
82. 16.52 B2 D L' B U R2 U' B U R2 B2 L2 D2 F2 B2 R2 U R2
83. 19.42 D' B' D2 F L2 B' U2 F' U2 B' D2 F L2 U F R' F2 D2 U' B
84. 17.32 U2 L R2 D2 R' F2 R F2 R' U2 R' F L F2 L2 D2 U R U
85. 17.01 D2 F' R2 B2 D2 F R2 F U2 R2 L F' D2 B' D L' R' B2 D' F'
86. 15.18 L B' U D2 R' F' R L2 F2 U F2 R2 U2 B2 D' R2 F2 B2 R
87. 20.60 U2 L D' R' B U' L F' D L2 F' L2 F L2 F2 L2 B' U2 F' U2 B2
88. 18.34 R B' F2 L2 D2 F2 R2 U2 B L2 F U2 L' D2 B' D' R2 F U' R' B
89. (12.20) F2 L B2 L2 B' U2 B' D2 U2 F2 D2 R2 U' R2 D R2 B U' R'
90. 15.77 R2 D2 F2 R U2 B2 L' D2 R' B2 R2 F L2 B' D U' B' L2 U' F'
91. 17.85 U' F R B2 U2 B2 U2 R' U2 B2 R' D2 L B2 D R' F2 D R2 D L'
92. 13.17 U2 R D R2 U2 L2 B2 U L2 D' R2 D2 U' R2 F' U B2 R' F2 D2 F
93. 14.20 F R F2 L2 F2 D L2 F2 D2 B2 R2 U L D B' R D' B' L
94. 19.31 B U R2 B R2 B' L2 F U2 F L2 D2 B2 D' L U R D2 F L
95. 16.40 L2 F2 U2 L' F2 D2 L F2 R' U2 L' D2 F' L B' R' D' F2 U' L B
96. 17.69 B D2 F2 U' R2 B2 D' R2 U2 F2 L2 R2 D' L' D R' B' R2 D F' D'
97. 15.57 B' R F R' L' D' L' U' F R U2 F2 D2 B2 L B2 U2 L U2 D2 L2
98. 15.58 U' B2 D2 B2 R2 D' F2 U' B2 D' B2 F2 L' F U2 R D2 U' F' L'
99. 13.63 R' B U' B' U L D R' B' U2 R2 U' D L2 F2 U' L2 B2
100. 15.70 R F2 U' L2 R2 U B2 U F2 L2 B2 F' D L R2 B2 F D' U' F2

 

[EngiNerdBrian]

Anyone in the older crowd get tension or stiffness in their fingers when speed solving on a regular basis? I’ve had some tendinitis in my pointer finger since a few years ago that developed when I was doing a lot computer modeling and clicking my mouse 5,000+ times a day.

Cubing sometimes aggregates this and causes stress in my fingers. Anyone else have this issue? Any good solutions/stretches/remedies?

 

[David Zemdegs]

My first ever PLL skip in a comp this morning. Trouble was that it took me a few seconds to realise it. I couldn't believe what I saw!

 

[abunickabhi]

My first ever PLL skip in a comp this morning. Trouble was that it took me a few seconds to realise it. I couldn't believe what I saw!

Wow congrats.

I am unable to view the result as WCA Live is down currently.
https://www.worldcubeassociation.or...eTwinSaturday2021#15426-live-results-wca-live

 

[One Wheel]

My first ever PLL skip in a comp this morning. Trouble was that it took me a few seconds to realise it. I couldn't believe what I saw!

I think I've gotten 2 PLL skips in competitions, the only problem is they were actually both J-perms. The other day I was doing some idle untimed solves with hand scrambles, and I think I got 5 PLL skips including 2 consecutive ones.

 

[Scriv58]

Anyone in the older crowd get tension or stiffness in their fingers when speed solving on a regular basis? I’ve had some tendinitis in my pointer finger since a few years ago that developed when I was doing a lot computer modeling and clicking my mouse 5,000+ times a day.

Cubing sometimes aggregates this and causes stress in my fingers. Anyone else have this issue? Any good solutions/stretches/remedies?

Hello Jeff here in not-so-balmy southern Illinois, having just joined the forum 3 weeks ago after a year of lurking. Before learning to solve the cube in nov. 2019, I was a professional tattooer for 22 years, as well as a long time acoustic guitar player (medium strings!) so I know a bit about overusing the hands. I no longer am a tattooer, but guitar and cube and being 62 can still take their toll.
The simplest routine for me is to stretch the hands after 20 minutes or so into a session, in the opposite direction of all the gripping- fingers fanned out, arms outstretched long easy breaths wrist rotations.

For at least 12 years I have been using this at least twice a week

Amazon.com : Absorbine Liniment Gel (12 oz) : Horse Liniments : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Absorbine Liniment Gel (12 oz) : Horse Liniments : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

I start by rinsing my hands in warm water, drying them then working a glob into every area of my hands and wrist til it starts getting tacky, then another glob, repeating until still a little slippery. I then don two pair of nitrile gloves (latex allergy) and retire to the couch for 45 minutes of tv, occasionally working the gloved gel into knuckles, palms, etc. I remove the gloves after 45 minutes, rinse them under warm water, then soap the stuff off. A home made regimen that works well for me. There are of course many balms available, this one being my own preference.

I also take one or two of these daily, the only pill I take, for I am not (yet) on any prescription medications whatsoever- but one may want to check further if they are on a prescription regimen for health maladies.

https://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Curcumin-Turmeric-BioPerine/dp/B001J9K5PG/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=doctors+best+high+absorption+curcumin+1000mg&qid=1610907630&sr=8-5

I also use one of these daily, along with a regular garden variety spring hand gripper

https://www.amazon.com/TheraBand-Tendonitis-Strength-Resistance-Tendinitis/dp/B000BPV3GO/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/140-6353893-0308856?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000BPV3GO&pd_rd_r=31dbb463-d314-4e98-badc-b81bce2073c1&pd_rd_w=U7oIz&pd_rd_wg=dReIj&pf_rd_p=f325d01c-4658-4593-be83-3e12ca663f0e&pf_rd_r=GYNE9VH4WQCXJDQNVZX1&psc=1&refRID=GYNE9VH4WQCXJDQNVZX1

Hope this helps, it works well for me... Love, Peace, and Speedcube grease, the scriv

 

[openseas]

My first ever PLL skip in a comp this morning. Trouble was that it took me a few seconds to realise it. I couldn't believe what I saw!

Congrats! Also envy you guys competing at real comps!

I think I've gotten 2 PLL skips in competitions, the only problem is they were actually both J-perms. The other day I was doing some idle untimed solves with hand scrambles, and I think I got 5 PLL skips including 2 consecutive ones.

I wasted several (total 3?) PLL skips in comm - all of them were garbage solves anyway. But my only OLL skip was really good, my current official PB single of 16.84.