Older cubers discussions

[h2f]

I tried also a 2-5BLD relay on saturday and failed an unseen twisted corner on the 2x2 and the wings parity fix on the 5x5.

Your memo on 4x4 is around mine. Same my best memo in 5x5 are around 11 minutes. I found doing whole solves on new cube (6x6) pushes my mind - I think when I do whole solve I find what types of elements are hard for me to recon. And it pushes me to memo more - in mbld I did 3 or 5 times max 7 cubes which is not many to start doing 6bld. In this solve first ones were wings (2 types) but after 5 minutes I've realized how to recon them. I've realized I need another memo order which must be other than in 5bld. In 5bld I memo: wings, midges, xcenters, +centers, corners and do it backwards. But in 6bld I think it's easier for me to memo: inner centers, obliques, x centers, wings, corners and do it in the same order.

 

[mafergut]

Hey all, the elementary cube club is a go [...] All advice is appreciated!

Hi Jason. How nice!!! You are going to enjoy a lot, I'm sure.

Regarding advice: I second the suggestion about cheap AND stickerless puzzles. I also think that Pyra and skewb are a must, because they are easy to solve. Problem is, not all the puzzles can be found in a cheap and stickerless variant.

- CB 2x2 is very nice and cheap and has bright stickerless shades
- Guanlong 3x3 is available in stickerless as well
- Not so sure about Pyra and skewb (I only know of the QiYi skewb in stickerless and it's not super-cheap and the CB Pyra I don't think can be bought in stickerless).

Regarding methods:
- For 2x2 I'd say Ortega is not that much in addition to LBL and I think it's worth it, at least for the older boys.
- For 3x3 if you think that CFOP will be too much and LBL can be a bit short you can dig into some intermediate methods like keyhole. Also, Roux is very intuitive and can be tought with just 2 pretty simple algs for CO and CP.
- For Pyra I'd go with basic LBL probably, which can be done with just two easy algs.
- For skewb Sarah's beginners is simple enough as well.

 

[muchacho]

Roux with 9 algs is great, but with just 2 algs is not fun, maybe Roux with 2 look CMLL should better be tried once they know 2x2.

 

[Jason Green]

Hi Jason. How nice!!! You are going to enjoy a lot, I'm sure.

Regarding advice: I second the suggestion about cheap AND stickerless puzzles. I also think that Pyra and skewb are a must, because they are easy to solve. Problem is, not all the puzzles can be found in a cheap and stickerless variant.

- CB 2x2 is very nice and cheap and has bright stickerless shades
- Guanlong 3x3 is available in stickerless as well
- Not so sure about Pyra and skewb (I only know of the QiYi skewb in stickerless and it's not super-cheap and the CB Pyra I don't think can be bought in stickerless).

Regarding methods:
- For 2x2 I'd say Ortega is not that much in addition to LBL and I think it's worth it, at least for the older boys.
- For 3x3 if you think that CFOP will be too much and LBL can be a bit short you can dig into some intermediate methods like keyhole. Also, Roux is very intuitive and can be tought with just 2 pretty simple algs for CO and CP.
- For Pyra I'd go with basic LBL probably, which can be done with just two easy algs.
- For skewb Sarah's beginners is simple enough as well.

Thanks for the advice. Guess maybe I should learn Roux, at least the two alg version. I'm not too worried about the stickers is the puzzles are cheap anyway. I better place my order today so I can learn skewb and pyra before we start!

 

[mafergut]

Thanks for the advice. Guess maybe I should learn Roux, at least the two alg version. I'm not too worried about the stickers is the puzzles are cheap anyway. I better place my order today so I can learn skewb and pyra before we start!

Then I would recommend CB Pyra and either SS or Lanlan skewb

 

[kbrune]

@Jason

It's not hard to learn roux. I didn't learn any algs for it. I use my oll algs. Last six edges (L6E) can be done intuitively. The only part I struggle with is EO of L6E Now I'm sure it's not efficient for people who would use roux as their main strategy but you could easily introduce the basics and if someone liked roux enough they would eventually learn more advanced tricks on their own.

 

[kbrune]

I'm pretty frustrated with results almost everywhere these days... all of a sudden my 4x4 times and over 1:40. 5x5 are 4:00. 2x2 is over 10 sec. Can't sub 5 mega.. sub 20 solves are fewer on 3x3. I don't understand.

Sorry to be a Debbie downer on here. Only place to vent!

 

[mafergut]

I'm pretty frustrated with results almost everywhere these days... all of a sudden my 4x4 times and over 1:40. 5x5 are 4:00. 2x2 is over 10 sec. Can't sub 5 mega.. sub 20 solves are fewer on 3x3. I don't understand.

Sorry to be a Debbie downer on here. Only place to vent!

It happens to me at times and it's very frustrating indeed. I also come here to seek help or, at least, some comforting words. I hope you'll be back in good shape in a day or two.

 

[Jason Green]

I'm pretty frustrated with results almost everywhere these days... all of a sudden my 4x4 times and over 1:40. 5x5 are 4:00. 2x2 is over 10 sec. Can't sub 5 mega.. sub 20 solves are fewer on 3x3. I don't understand.

Sorry to be a Debbie downer on here. Only place to vent!

Yes I have recently had decrease in my 3x3 also. It's gotten better, but I've still been on a plateau for that. 5x5 was fun for a few days dropping a minute each day, but I'm only down to about 6 mins and it has slowed. I'm enjoying all the exciting things going on with cubing for me right now, but wishing I could improve more also!

 

[earth2dan]

I'm pretty frustrated with results almost everywhere these days... all of a sudden my 4x4 times and over 1:40. 5x5 are 4:00. 2x2 is over 10 sec. Can't sub 5 mega.. sub 20 solves are fewer on 3x3. I don't understand.

Sorry to be a Debbie downer on here. Only place to vent!

You're not alone. I've hardly had any time for cubing the last couple weeks and my times are all up too. I forgot a few new OLL's I'd recently learned as well because I didn't drill them enough...

It's frustrating doing timed solves and not seeing any progress. Some of the best advice I've ever been given when I'm down is to just put the timer away, slow down, and have fun. Spend a week just solving for fun, focusing on look ahead, technique, cross building, eliminating pauses, etc... and not worrying about times.

Sometimes I have to do that to remind myself this is a hobby I really enjoy, not a chore.

 

[kbrune]

Thanks guys

You're right Dan. That's a good point. Good idea to put the timer away for a while. I'm gonna do that. Except for WC solves lol

I just won't put pressure on performance. Whatever happens happens.

I think I'm over cubing. My mind often gets foggy after a while. I should take more breaks.

 

[newtonbase]

Day 1 of 5x5 practice. I'm sure I could be easily sub 4 global with the right practice but there's the issue. I managed maybe 6 solves and only 2 were timed. Back to work tomorrow so I'll have a lunchbreak to myself! Target is 6 timed solves with a couple under 5 mins.

 

[ryuusei86]

Oh wow, packages from both LighTake and The Cubicle were waiting for me today. No puzzles in the latter package, but from LighTake I had a GuoGuan YueXiao and FangShi JieYun, a Shengshou megaminx, and a Cyclone Boys 5x5, plus a few other doodads not worth mentioning.

As I expected, give or take some spring noise, out of the box the two 3x3s are crushing their DaYan competitors in my collection, and making my beloved TangLong sweat bullets. I'm a bit scared to lube them since they're so smooth, but I will check to see if they need any more washers installed.

I don't know how to solve a 5x5 yet, but my initial gut reaction is that it is better behaved in terms of the inner layers than my CB 4x4 was out of the box.

The megaminx is much smaller than I expected -- for some reason I always pictured them being gigantic -- but is still terrifying. The stickers leave a fair bit to be desired, and will be replaced shortly anyway.

I think I have my work cut out for me.

 

[mafergut]

@Ryuusei86: Nah, the SS Mega is pretty small, you should take a look at the Gigaminx. That's a completely different beast that weights like 2 or 3 Megas Well, there's also the Petaminx and Teraminx but I'm afraid of those Anyway, the stickers in mine were perfectly fine. Is it quality or shades what you don't like?

Regarding solving a 5x5 you already know all you need to solve it. In fact you just need the 4x4 OLL parity alg done a bit differently to fix the parity on the last edge when needed and you are all set. My CB 5x5 was also quite nice out of the box but it lacks a bit in terms of corner cutting and my accuracy is not that great so I lock up a lot with it. Also having the external layers a bit larger than the internal ones would be a plus for the 3x3 stage. That's why I just ordered a Bochuang

 

[MarcelP]

Hey I wonder what happened to Sneaklyfox, Kattenvrienden, and Pipkiksass?

I have met Kattenvriendin a few months ago at a competition. She did not compete, but came just to watch. She still knows how to solve a 3x3 but her times are not as good as it used to be. She is just not into cubing anymore I guess. I also wonder what happened to Sneaklyfox. She was faster than all of us here Too bad she left Speedsolving.com

 

[Selkie]

@selkie
Nice 6x6 time! I know you're faster then me in general. But where were your 7x7 and 6x6 times when you first solved them. I'm trying to guestimate where I may find myself once I get used to them.

First timed 6x6 I think were around 10 minutes but that was a number of years ago on a V-Cube which was terrible out of the box. Even after breaking in I still modded it. Think I got down to ~6m quite quickly and I currently average about 4:20

7x7 again V-Cube and I believe my first solves were about 14m but got down to 9m pretty quickly. Not my favorite event so still average about 7:30 but I am practicing it more.

Hey all, the elementary cube club is a go and we will be starting April 25th! I'd like your advice. For 2x2, is the easiest method for a new (young) cuber layer by layer? What about 3x3, do you think beginner's method is worth teaching over CFOP? F2L just always seemed as easy as learning to put in corners and then edges for the bottom two layers.

What other twisty puzzles would a youngster like (we may have kids aged 6 - 11 in here)? Pyraminx? I'm going to order several cubes to give to the school, maybe 6 QiYi Sails, 6 cheap 2x2s, and some Pyraminx? Anything else (Skewb??)?

All advice is appreciated!

My vote would be Pyraminx and starting with beginner method given how quickly they can grasp it with an option to move to intuitive F2L.

I'm pretty frustrated with results almost everywhere these days... all of a sudden my 4x4 times and over 1:40. 5x5 are 4:00. 2x2 is over 10 sec. Can't sub 5 mega.. sub 20 solves are fewer on 3x3. I don't understand.

Sorry to be a Debbie downer on here. Only place to vent!

Unfortunately it happens. Happened for me on 3x3 last week. Persevere and the times will come back soon enough.

I have met Kattenvriendin a few months ago at a competition. She did not compete, but came just to watch. She still knows how to solve a 3x3 but her times are not as good as it used to be. She is just not into cubing anymore I guess. I also wonder what happened to Sneaklyfox. She was faster than all of us here Too bad she left Speedsolving.com

Indeed she had some great advice!

 

[mark49152]

I have met Kattenvriendin a few months ago at a competition. She did not compete, but came just to watch. She still knows how to solve a 3x3 but her times are not as good as it used to be. She is just not into cubing anymore I guess. I also wonder what happened to Sneaklyfox. She was faster than all of us here Too bad she left Speedsolving.com

Nice that Kattenvrienden came also and is still interested enough to watch . Sneaklyfox was an inspiration. How anyone with 5 little kids can find time to be that good at cubing is beyond me.

 

[muchacho]

PBs on 2x2,

Ao5: 5.659 (it was 5.784 from March 20)
Ao12: 6.183 (was 6.541 since December 3)

12. 5.952 R U F' U' R2 U R' F2 R'
11. 6.479 F U2 F R2 U' F' R F U'
10. 7.024 R' F2 R' U R2 F' R' U F2 U'
9. 7.071 U F2 U R U2 R' U F R
8. 6.488 R2 U R' U R' F2 U R U2
7. 5.775 F2 U R' F2 R' F R' U' R2 U2
6. 8.176 R' U2 R2 F U' F2 U' F2 R'
5. 5.841 U2 F2 U R' U' R2 U2 F
4. 6.071 R' F R2 U2 F2 U' R U'
3. 5.009 R U2 F' R' F2 U2 R F U'
2. 5.376 R2 U2 R' U R2 U F2 R F
1. 5.761 F R2 U' F2 U2 R' F' U R'

First 5 solves are the Ao5 PB.

 

[h2f]

Nice and congrats.

I've almost finished my 3style list. In fact edge comms are so easy and based on few tricks from advanced M2 plus few new like Uw/Uw' setup or z/z' rotation.

 

[ryuusei86]

Gigaminx

Oh right, that's probably what I was thinking of. You couldn't even give me one of those as a present. I'd run screaming from the room.

Anyway, the stickers in mine were perfectly fine. Is it quality or shades what you don't like? [Shengshou Megaminx]

Some of the stickers were peeling, so I'd say mainly the quality, though I will be swapping them out for new colors too. I spent an unconscionable amount of time on the Cubicle website picking out Megaminx colors, long before I ever owned one. Somehow I get the feeling that I won't have to explain myself to this group on the matter.

I will be setting up the JieYun and YueXiao to try to get rid of the spring noise, and restickering them with my somewhat weird preferred shades. I'm looking forward to a grand 3x3 smackdown, perhaps this weekend, to see whether I can decide what order to place them all in.