Older cubers discussions

[newtonbase]

She is much better and at home again which is great.

That's excellent news. Look forward to seeing you in Bristol.

 

[SenorJuan]

I'm most impressed with Mark R's 3x3 OH time, I'm pretty sure my first ever OH solves were over 2 minutes, and after doing about 4 solves, my hand hurt so much I had to stop for the day.
And I've just watched Mike's 24s OH solve, very smooth and neat, it doesn't look like a 24s solve until you put it down.

Medical update:
I pretty much gave up cubing for 2 weeks after my bike crash. The constant '6-Nurofen-a-day' headache was bad enough, but I developed hearing problems in my left ear - deafness, distorted sounds, sensitivity to loud sounds, mild tinnitus. Not being able to hear the cube properly seemed to throw me. But I'm now off the Nurofen, my hearing's returning, the stitches are out from the back of my head, I'm sleeping a lot better.... and speedsolving is back on the agenda.

 

[Logiqx]

@SenorJuan - Good to hear you're on the mend!

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[pglewis]

I just did an average of 50 PLLs (recognition + execution) and I got 6.14 s. How is that split, considering that my current 10+ averages are always around 32-33 seconds ?

I must add that I'm amazed at how small a gain this is compared to 2look PLL (my Ao100 for 2 look PLL's, recognition+exec, was 7.97 sec !) That means that the 7-8 seconds improvement in my solves is mostly due to faster F2L !

Full PLL cuts down your average number of moves and will be faster but I've found the rub is that I still lose time in recognition vs. 2 look; far fewer cases means I can decide what to apply quickly, even if it requires more moves. We're both past the break-even point where full PLL is paying off and it'll keep getting faster with practice, but obviously there isn't 10 seconds to shave off your PLL without a time-machine (and I fear facing the paradoxes that might cause ).

 

[teacher77]

Hey I felt like sharing this : my first "sub-25" single was an 24.95s on August 8th. And it was an ENTIRE LL SKIP. Back then, it felt like a huge piece of luck which I would not reproduce, ever. But two weeks later, I got a 24.51 s with a complete solve (it ended with a J perm).

And another month brings us to my current PB (21.57 s, on septembre 22nd)... and since then, I acheived not less than SIX sub-25 singles. That's one EVERY OTHER DAY

 

[teacher77]

Full PLL cuts down your average number of moves and will be faster but I've found the rub is that I still lose time in recognition vs. 2 look; far fewer cases means I can decide what to apply quickly, even if it requires more moves. We're both past the break-even point where full PLL is paying off and it'll keep getting faster with practice, but obviously there isn't 10 seconds to shave off your PLL without a time-machine (and I fear facing the paradoxes that might cause ).

Hey nice to know we seem to be exactly at the same point. How long have you been cubing ?

 

[newtonbase]

Ruined my 1st sub 2min 3BLD solve with some dodgy exceution (1:56). There's decent times to be had on the scramble.

U R2 U2 F2 D R2 U2 R2 F2 L2 B2 R F' L2 D B F' R2 U' F2 R' Fw' Uw2

 

[Shaky Hands]

Starting a training schedule for UKC now being a month away

Have you thought about rejoining the Weekly Comp? I've managed to win Clock the past 2 weeks. Be good to see you back over there.

 

[mafergut]

I've also abandoned the Weekly Comp lately. Too little practise time. I did 2x2 today for wc40, though

By the way, I received my QiYi Big Sail 6.8cm and it's really good, surprisingly. I think I could get quite close to my normal times with it. Just as a proof of that: first solve out of the box 16.51 Can you imagine somebody using it in competition?
Maybe I'll do a video review of this, the Valk and the Weilong GTS... oh, and the Gans 356 Air.

I also saw the Moyu Magnetic Pyraminx on sale with a 46% discount at Lightake and couldn't resist. As I didn't have any stickerless Pyras I also took the chance to fix that flaw in my collection . I was planning on getting a Qiyi magnetic pyra instead but after watching the reviews about the magnets being too strong in the Qiyi and after comparing prices I went with the Moyu. If Drew Brads likes it better it cannot be bad.

EDIT: A nice Ao5 with the Big Sail

avg of 5: 17.84, (23.44), 18.48, 16.39, (16.02) = 17.58

 

[muchacho]

I'm averaging (or so I think) less than 22 seconds, so I've filmed another Ao5 for the "From beginner to master of the cubing universe" playlist. I'm using the Weilong again, I like how stable it is, and it's also better for LSE.

Spoiler: times/scrambles

28859 04-oct-2016 12:44:06 00:19.719 R2 B2 L2 F2 U2 L2 D R2 L2 U2 R D' L2 F' U L2 U' B2 U2 L2
28858 04-oct-2016 12:43:26 00:21.560 U' R2 F2 U2 B2 D F2 U' L2 D B2 L B D2 F R2 U' L B2 R L2 U'
28857 04-oct-2016 12:42:48 00:18.327 D' B2 D F2 L2 B2 L2 U2 R2 F2 U' R L U' L B D B R U' L'
28856 04-oct-2016 12:42:09 00:22.183 F2 D R2 U L2 F2 U F2 U F2 U' F' D' R' L' B' U B F' R D2 U'
28855 04-oct-2016 12:41:32 00:16.039 R2 F2 U B2 F2 L2 U R2 U' L2 U2 R D' R2 F2 L2 F R B2 U' F' R2

 

[pglewis]

Hey nice to know we seem to be exactly at the same point. How long have you been cubing ?

Probably 6 or 7 months since I really dove into speedsolving. You're well ahead of me on progress, my global average is probably still high 40s; Ao5s are mid 40s or a little better when I'm warmed up. I have a pile of F2L things to be working on, none of which are getting proper attention since I got my first 4x4 last week.

 

[Jason Green]

Just realised... I got my first sub-20 before the rapidly improving @Jason Green.

I didn't realize you did not have an official sub 20, I guess I feel like all you guys who average sub 20 already have one. Feels good to help motivate others. (Although maybe this was not really motivation since you did not think of it until after).

Wow, didn't you guys crush some PBs at Guildford!

Chris, you are really good about providing feedback to everyone individually! I bet you have better manners than me!

.... and speedsolving is back on the agenda.

Glad you're feeling better!

Hey I felt like sharing this : my first "sub-25" single was an 24.95s on August 8th. And it was an ENTIRE LL SKIP. Back then, it felt like a huge piece of luck which I would not reproduce, ever. But two weeks later, I got a 24.51 s with a complete solve (it ended with a J perm).

And another month brings us to my current PB (21.57 s, on septembre 22nd)... and since then, I acheived not less than SIX sub-25 singles. That's one EVERY OTHER DAY

Sub 20 coming soon, I remember my first one like it was yesterday.

By the way, I received my QiYi Big Sail 6.8cm and it's really good, surprisingly. I think I could get quite close to my normal times with it. Just as a proof of that: first solve out of the box 16.51 Can you imagine somebody using it in competition?

I think I mentioned here there was a kid in Portland that used it for round 2 in OH.

 

[mafergut]

I think I mentioned here there was a kid in Portland that used it for round 2 in OH.

Well, even for my large hands using this cube for OH is a stretch (wordplay!!! ) but for 2H it's quite usable.

 

[teacher77]

Probably 6 or 7 months since I really dove into speedsolving. You're well ahead of me on progress, my global average is probably still high 40s; Ao5s are mid 40s or a little better when I'm warmed up. I have a pile of F2L things to be working on, none of which are getting proper attention since I got my first 4x4 last week.

I learned how to solve the 3x3 on april 30th, so I guess we've been speedcubing for just about the same time. Do you cube a little every day ?

Don'T worry if you seem to hit a plateau for a few weeks. Keep cubing frequently and it will get getter. My Ao10 was around 40 sec for most of August, for example.

 

[pglewis]

I learned how to solve the 3x3 on april 30th, so I guess we've been speedcubing for just about the same time. Do you cube a little every day ?

Don'T worry if you seem to hit a plateau for a few weeks. Keep cubing frequently and it will get getter. My Ao10 was around 40 sec for most of August, for example.

Yeah, I normally get at least an hour, usually more, daily. My recognition and 3D cube sense isn't very good and it has been somewhat slow to develop. My logic and dexterity are reasonably good to help offset that a little. My progress has been a plateau-jump cycle, it literally took me until August before I was globally under a minute, then sub 50 by Sept.

I haven't really drilled finger-tricks at all yet but things continue to get more comfortable. I almost have a usable M slice at last... I mean, I'm not about to take up Roux or anything, but the cube doesn't go flying 8 inches in the air when I execute it now . Left hand can ring-middle M2s fairly smoothly now, right hand is a bit behind it but progressing. Opposite on index-middle U2s, right is getting smooth there, left still balks a little.

Since you just learned full PLL, I'm assuming you're using a 3-look last layer? Do you do any edge control at the end of F2L? (I just know the sledge insertion to avoid the dot OLL... when I remember to look)

 

[teacher77]

Yeah, I normally get at least an hour, usually more, daily. My recognition and 3D cube sense isn't very good and it has been somewhat slow to develop. My logic and dexterity are reasonably good to help offset that a little. My progress has been a plateau-jump cycle, it literally took me until August before I was globally under a minute, then sub 50 by Sept.

I haven't really drilled finger-tricks at all yet but things continue to get more comfortable. I almost have a usable M slice at last... I mean, I'm not about to take up Roux or anything, but the cube doesn't go flying 8 inches in the air when I execute it now . Left hand can ring-middle M2s fairly smoothly now, right hand is a bit behind it but progressing. Opposite on index-middle U2s, right is getting smooth there, left still balks a little.

Since you just learned full PLL, I'm assuming you're using a 3-look last layer? Do you do any edge control at the end of F2L? (I just know the sledge insertion to avoid the dot OLL... when I remember to look)

An hour daily is great ! I wish I could afford that much.

Yes I'm using 3LLL. In fact, almost. I still have two PLL's to learn (Ga and Gb) and I take that very slowly.

I have no clue how to do edge control. Where did you learn about it ?

 

[pglewis]

... I have no clue how to do edge control. Where did you learn about it ?

I've run across mentions and references while searching around for techniques, not sure I can pin it down to any one particular place. I only use the most basic edge control: to avoid the dot case OLL. Thinking about your last F2L pair logically, one of your 2nd layer edges pieces is in the top layer right before insertion. Three F2L slots hold your solved 2nd layer edges which means you are guaranteed to have a last layer edge sitting in your last slot. If you reach this condition and are looking at the dot OLL case right before you insert the last pair, then inserting it the normal R U' R way will kick that last layer edge out on the side, not facing up and you'll still be at the dot case. If you insert it with a sledgehammer instead, it kicks the edges out differently and will leave you with the friendlier "L" shape. If you remember to look before inserting your last pair not only can you avoid the dot case 100% of the time with only a few moves but you can also predict exactly how your "L" will be placed after the sledge, depending on whether it's a lefty or righty sledge. The rabbit hole runs deeper from there with more advanced techniques to influence what OLL you'll get depending on how you insert the last F2L pair, or even the last 2.

 

[JanW]

What algs do people here use for 4x4 OLL parity? I know I learned something months ago, but there are so many alternatives that I can't even remember which one. I remember one alg I learned last spring, but that one affects the whole F2L, so I have to count bad edges immediately after edge pairing to see if it needs to be executed. Counting the bad edges only takes a couple of seconds, but I'm sure it would be faster to use something that doesn't require this.

 

[newtonbase]

I use this one

 

[JanW]

Thanks @newtonbase! That one is definitely easy to learn and remember. I'll give it a shot.