Older cubers discussions

[MarcelP]

What about new Thunderclap after some time of using it? I have mine for a week. I did maybe 100 solves and it becomes better but still not as good as my old V1. M moves hurt

I like it a lot. My times are great. It is the stability combined with speed that I like. I get better times on the Thunderclap V2 than GAN 356 V2. It is the incredible loud noise what makes me not used it as a main. GuoGuan is way more silent.

 

[SenorJuan]

"the (Thunderclap2) noise is a deal breaker for me"
You could try 'muffling' it. I've quietened my Zhanchi a bit. Open up the pieces, and glue a 7mm square of black rubber to the inner of the large flat surfaces. I used rubber cut from a dead bike inner tube, glued in with rubber puncture repair cement. Other not-too-permanent glues would include Evostick, 'contact' glues. When 'ticked' with a fingernail, they definitely have a deader, less clicky sound, and the whole cube was quieter after.
There's a thread on here about it - some had tried filling the voids with cotton wool. Whatever you try, it has to be light weight, you don't really want to add much more than 10 grams total weight to the cube.

 

[Selkie]

@newtonbase , Awesome news Mark, will see you there

@Jason Green , Haha jason, that would make a good unboxing but there is better news to follow...

@earth2dan , Lovely single. Watching back might seem like huge pauses you did not know were there but nothing like self critique for improvement.

I realised the issue with my unboxing is that Movie Maker had not loaded the audio properly but it had recorded so here is the video of the unboxing of:-

• Qiyi Stickerless Skewb
• X-Man Sculptured Galaxy Megaminx
• Yuxin 6x6

 

[JanW]

3bld DNF, 1:45.63, off by one edge cycle. Solved correct cycle in wrong direction. Memo 37 seconds. This would have beaten my old 3bld pb by 25 seconds.

It should be only a matter of time until I eventually get a sub 2 success.

 

[MarcelP]

How is this for a 19 sec solver

Spoiler: It is nice to be a Color neutral solver

21. 11.99 R' U' R2 U' R2 F2 R2 F2 D R2 D' L2 F D2 R D B R2 U2 L2

y2 // inspection I see easy blue cross and that after cross an easy yellow/red pair will form

r' D r x' y R'// cross (6)
U' R' U2 R U2 R' U R // 1st (easy but lot of moves) (8)
U' L U' L' R U' R' U R U' R' U2 R U' R'// 2nd (16)
y R' U R L U L' //3rd (7)
y R U R' // 4th (4)
U2 F' L' U' L U L' U' L U F // OLL (11)
R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U2 // PLL 15)
//67 moves in 11.99 = 5.5 TPS

alg.cubing.net

Ps. my first or second sub 12 of 2016 Cube: MoYu Tanglong

 

[MarcelP]

Oh and.. I uploaded this a few weeks ago, but forgot to share. This is a typical competition F#.. up

I have a perfect very slow solving cross + F2L and start PLL at 14 secs... and then it all goes to crap and end up with 21 secs

 

[Selkie]

@MarcelP Nice single and I enjoyed both PLLs to be honest in the comp single

More megaminx in case you were not sick enough of the updates already but with an interesting fact:-

number of times: 27/27
best time: 2:14.05
worst time: 2:48.83

current mo3: 2:31.72 (σ = 13.94)
best mo3: 2:24.98 (σ = 4.00)

current avg5: 2:31.95 (σ = 5.21)
best avg5: 2:31.32 (σ = 2.79)

current avg12: 2:35.62 (σ = 8.57)
best avg12: 2:31.32 (σ = 6.17)

session avg: 2:34.39 (σ = 7.63)
session mean: 2:34.15

Now for the interesting thing. Both the Ao5 and Ao12 are the same average time and both PBs so my PB ao5 = PB ao12. Can't see that happening often and I have checked the calculation:-

(2:20.55),2:34.89, 2:32.84, 2:33.02, 2:28.10,2:34.08, 2:31.63, 2:43.71, (2:46.52), 2:25.21, 2:28.86,2:20.87

Now hurry up sub 2:30 average already

 

[Selkie]

Now hurry up sub 2:30 average already

Megaminx Sub 2:30 Ao5. Im taking a break, my hands hurt!!

Average of 5: 2:29.53

Spoiler

1. 2:21.50
R-- D++ R-- D++ R++ D++ R-- D-- R-- D-- U
R++ D++ R++ D-- R-- D++ R++ D-- R-- D-- U'
R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- R++ D++ R++ D-- U
R++ D++ R-- D-- R-- D++ R++ D++ R-- D-- U
R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- R-- D++ R++ D++ U'
R++ D++ R++ D++ R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D-- U'
R++ D++ R-- D-- R-- D++ R++ D++ R++ D-- U'
2. (2:43.38)
R-- D++ R++ D++ R++ D++ R++ D++ R-- D++ U'
R-- D-- R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D-- R++ D++ U
R-- D-- R-- D++ R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D++ U
R++ D-- R++ D-- R-- D-- R++ D-- R-- D-- U
R-- D++ R++ D-- R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D-- U'
R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D-- U'
R-- D-- R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- U'
3. 2:35.82
R++ D-- R-- D++ R-- D-- R++ D-- R-- D-- U
R++ D++ R-- D-- R++ D-- R++ D++ R++ D-- U'
R-- D-- R++ D++ R++ D++ R++ D++ R-- D++ U'
R++ D-- R-- D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- R-- D++ U
R++ D++ R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ U'
R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D++ R++ D-- R++ D-- U
R++ D-- R-- D-- R-- D++ R-- D-- R++ D++ U'
4. (2:18.71)
R++ D-- R-- D-- R-- D++ R++ D-- R-- D-- U'
R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- R-- D++ U'
R++ D++ R++ D++ R++ D++ R++ D++ R-- D++ U
R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D-- R-- D-- R-- D-- U
R++ D-- R-- D-- R++ D++ R++ D-- R++ D-- U'
R-- D++ R++ D++ R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D-- U'
R++ D++ R-- D-- R-- D++ R++ D++ R-- D++ U
5. 2:31.27
R++ D-- R-- D++ R++ D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ U'
R-- D-- R-- D++ R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- U'
R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- R-- D-- U
R-- D-- R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D-- R++ D++ U
R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- R++ D++ U
R++ D-- R-- D-- R++ D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ U
R-- D-- R-- D++ R-- D-- R-- D-- R++ D-- U

 

[CLL Smooth]

Megaminx Sub 2:30 Ao5. Im taking a break, my hands hurt!!

Average of 5: 2:29.53

Spoiler

1. 2:21.50
R-- D++ R-- D++ R++ D++ R-- D-- R-- D-- U
R++ D++ R++ D-- R-- D++ R++ D-- R-- D-- U'
R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- R++ D++ R++ D-- U
R++ D++ R-- D-- R-- D++ R++ D++ R-- D-- U
R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- R-- D++ R++ D++ U'
R++ D++ R++ D++ R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D-- U'
R++ D++ R-- D-- R-- D++ R++ D++ R++ D-- U'
2. (2:43.38)
R-- D++ R++ D++ R++ D++ R++ D++ R-- D++ U'
R-- D-- R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D-- R++ D++ U
R-- D-- R-- D++ R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D++ U
R++ D-- R++ D-- R-- D-- R++ D-- R-- D-- U
R-- D++ R++ D-- R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D-- U'
R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D-- U'
R-- D-- R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- U'
3. 2:35.82
R++ D-- R-- D++ R-- D-- R++ D-- R-- D-- U
R++ D++ R-- D-- R++ D-- R++ D++ R++ D-- U'
R-- D-- R++ D++ R++ D++ R++ D++ R-- D++ U'
R++ D-- R-- D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- R-- D++ U
R++ D++ R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ U'
R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D++ R++ D-- R++ D-- U
R++ D-- R-- D-- R-- D++ R-- D-- R++ D++ U'
4. (2:18.71)
R++ D-- R-- D-- R-- D++ R++ D-- R-- D-- U'
R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- R-- D++ U'
R++ D++ R++ D++ R++ D++ R++ D++ R-- D++ U
R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D-- R-- D-- R-- D-- U
R++ D-- R-- D-- R++ D++ R++ D-- R++ D-- U'
R-- D++ R++ D++ R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D-- U'
R++ D++ R-- D-- R-- D++ R++ D++ R-- D++ U
5. 2:31.27
R++ D-- R-- D++ R++ D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ U'
R-- D-- R-- D++ R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- U'
R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- R-- D-- U
R-- D-- R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D-- R++ D++ U
R-- D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ R++ D-- R++ D++ U
R++ D-- R-- D-- R++ D-- R++ D++ R-- D++ U
R-- D-- R-- D++ R-- D-- R-- D-- R++ D-- U

Been meaning to practice mega for upcoming Oregon comp but I've been pretty busy. Inspired by your recent progress and this post I just did an Ao5: 2:28.72 with a pb single: 2:05.29!
I recommend to not stop at sub-2:30 with your progress.

 

[Selkie]

Been meaning to practice mega for upcoming Oregon comp but I've been pretty busy. Inspired by your recent progress and this post I just did an Ao5: 2:28.72 with a pb single: 2:05.29!
I recommend to not stop at sub-2:30 with your progress.

Thanks for the words of encouragement. Yes I have been surprised by progression to be fair, that coupled with how great the X-Man Galaxy is. I stopped for half hour or so but intend to keep going to see how close I can get to globally sub 2 minute by October. I did capture a sub 2:30 average on film this afternoon too and at the risk of putting people into a deep megaminx induced sleep, here goes

 

[Chree]

At work, on my morning break, doing some 3x3 while waiting for my breakfast. I hate it when my break ends just before I can roll the best averages in a session. I don't practice 3x3 nearly enough lately, and this is the best I've done in quite a while.

(16.08), 13.53, 14.61, 15.05, 11.54, 13.61, 13.40, 11.96, (10.61), 12.88, [14.62], 11.50
Ao5: 12.11
Ao12: 13.27

Came at the very end of a 13.90 Ao25. Slowly getting back to where I was before my 5x5/Megaminx obsession escalated.

Been meaning to practice mega for upcoming Oregon comp but I've been pretty busy. Inspired by your recent progress and this post I just did an Ao5: 2:28.72 with a pb single: 2:05.29!
I recommend to not stop at sub-2:30 with your progress.

Bro... git dat sub2. I imagine your Oregon results will be pretty nice.

 

[Selkie]

@Chree : Very nice Chris, any of those skips? Have to say I tend to improve most coming off breaks or a switch to other puzzles

 

[teacher77]

In 2-look PLL you tell the difference by seeing if you have opposite color corners on front or left. When you get used to it, it shouldn't add to recognition time at all.

good point. But at the time, I didn't know the alg either.

It gets even easier in 1-look PLL when there are only 2 colors/side and no 3rd color edge piece to confuse you.

What do you mean ?

I do a regrip with left hand before starting an A perm. This regrip provides the extra split second needed to recognize which A perm it is.

Good advice, thanks

 

[teacher77]

I wrote an app to practice Last layer algs. Check my signature for the link.

Thanks ! I noticed it has option to practice a subset of PLLs ! But although it's very good to practice execution, it kindda spoils recognition by showing both the name of the PLL and the black arrows on the cube. Maybe a nice option in a future version would be a display that only says "this PLL" and shows no arrows. Another interesting option would be an automatic start of the timer at the very instant when the PLL gets displayed : that way, one would have to recognize it, then execute the alg, and could time the delay for both. Or, with the same option, one could only time the delay for recognition and stop the timer instead of performing the alg !

 

[teacher77]

I only used one A when I did 2 look also. Then when I started trying OH a little I was doing it too, but I've quit that now. Although I'm usually 2 look for OH still.

I meant sub 2 execution. Of course during solves hopefully you start being able to look ahead from OLL to PLL. I'm not very good at that though.

Sub 2 exec seems like a nice goal Although I have no clue how I could be any faster.

As for looking ahead during OLL, that's something I'm totally UNable to do at the moment. I tend to perform my 2look OLL as fast as I can and the only looking ahead it leaves me is during the last 2 moves or so of the OLL alg. At most I can see one side. Not enough to have any idea of the PLL I'll be getting, unless I happen to see a 3bar or something.

 

[Jason Green]

Sub 2 exec seems like a nice goal Although I have no clue how I could be any faster.

As for looking ahead during OLL, that's something I'm totally able to do at the moment. I tend to perform my 2look OLL as fast as I can and the only looking ahead it leaves me is during the last 2 moves or so of the OLL alg. At most I can see one side. Not enough to have any idea of the PLL I'll be getting, unless I happen to see a 3bar or something.

You'll get faster. Just practice is mainly the only way (unless you pick up an alg better suited for you or something).

The recognition of PLL I think is just practice too. It gets embedded into your "subconscious" in a sense to where you just know them without thinking. It happens to me rarely, where during OLL I just realize the PLL that's coming and I'm not sure how. Kind of pattern recognition of the whole LL state at once I suppose. Similar to how second nature driving becomes I guess. You don't have to consider where the brake pedal is, your mind just wants to brake and the car magically responds.

 

[Chree]

@Chree : Very nice Chris, any of those skips? Have to say I tend to improve most coming off breaks or a switch to other puzzles

I think the best single might've had a lucky Xcross and easy LL. And another PLL skip in there somewhere.

And yeah, def... I like to bounce around a lot for that reason... I just have to remember to bounce back to 3x3 more often.

 

[JanW]

What do you mean ?

I meant recognition of A perm is easier in 1-look pll than 2-look pll. When you do 2-look and use A perm on many different cases, the edge pieces can be anywhere and you have to look at only corners for recognition. When the A perm comes up in 1-look pll, the edges form 2x1 blocks with inner corner (on the sides you most likely look at to recognise it), so there are only 2 colors/side. You don't need to look which side has opposite color corners, just look which side has opposite colors.

 

[teacher77]

I meant recognition of A perm is easier in 1-look pll than 2-look pll. When you do 2-look and use A perm on many different cases, the edge pieces can be anywhere and you have to look at only corners for recognition. When the A perm comes up in 1-look pll, the edges form 2x1 blocks with inner corner (on the sides you most likely look at to recognise it), so there are only 2 colors/side. You don't need to look which side has opposite color corners, just look which side has opposite colors.

Don't you have to locate the headlights also ? I always rercognize A perms by the headlights and the two 2x1 blocks which form a solved corner. With that corner in the FLU position, if the headlights are on the right I know it's an Ab and if they're on the back I know it's an Aa.

 

[mark49152]

Don't you have to locate the headlights also ? I always rercognize A perms by the headlights and the two 2x1 blocks which form a solved corner. With that corner in the FLU position, if the headlights are on the right I know it's an Ab and if they're on the back I know it's an Aa.

With that block facing you, look at the adjacent corner stickers. One will be an opposite colour, the other will be an adjacent colour. The headlights are on the side opposite the opposite coloured corners. You don't have to look.