Older cubers discussions

[mark49152]

Please give me some hope.

You'll break through those barriers and set yourself new ones, then break those as well. It just takes practice. Things that seem daunting today will one day seem easy with hindsight.

 

[One Wheel]

I have been watching some tutorials on speedcubing and different methods.
And it all seems a little mind blowing.
Can anyone tell me if when they started speedcubing thought they would never break through barriers.
I solved my cube around 10 times in a row my best time was 49 secs. And slowest was 1:02.
I know it’s very early but is there hope for me. Please give me some hope.
I am still using CFOP.
Thanks.

Definitely hope. Around a minute is an excellent starting point. Keep working on it, and you’ll be under 40 seconds in no time, then 30, 25, 20, etc. I’ve been at it close to 4 years and average about 28. I’ll get under 20 someday, but not everybody can be Feliks Zemdegs or Max Park, either.

 

[Mike Hughey]

I have been watching some tutorials on speedcubing and different methods.
And it all seems a little mind blowing.
Can anyone tell me if when they started speedcubing thought they would never break through barriers.
I solved my cube around 10 times in a row my best time was 49 secs. And slowest was 1:02.
I know it’s very early but is there hope for me. Please give me some hope.
I am still using CFOP.
Thanks.

LOL yes, there's very much hope!
I wasn't that fast when I first got serious about speedcubing.
My first competition, I had already spent six months seriously speedcubing and improved a lot, and I still got a 40 second average. Although I did manage to get a successful blindfolded solve in that competition too, since I fell in love with blindfolded solving about 3 months after I got serious about speedcubing, and practiced like crazy on that for 3 months straight.
And a few years later, I was winning national titles for blindsolving.
And now I'm awful compared to the kids that are winning competitions now. But I'm still having fun!

As for it sounding mindblowing, that's how it is at first. Just pick a small amount to work on and focus on that, and keep your goals limited. Eventually that little bit will make sense, and then a little more will, and before you know it, you'll be trying all kinds of things and able to make much faster progress.

 

[SpartanSailor]

I have been watching some tutorials on speedcubing and different methods.
And it all seems a little mind blowing.
Can anyone tell me if when they started speedcubing thought they would never break through barriers.
I solved my cube around 10 times in a row my best time was 49 secs. And slowest was 1:02.
I know it’s very early but is there hope for me. Please give me some hope.
I am still using CFOP.
Thanks.

Definitely that’s a good spot for now. I still have a lot of variability. I had the opposite experience regarding “I’ll never...”
I tend to say, “I’ll be satisfied when I get...”

Then that keeps moving every time I get what ever I said. I DO NOT think I will ever get sub-10, but even though I’m still trying to go sub-20, I believe someday I’ll be closer to 16s or so. But for now, “I’ll be happy with sub-20.” (Until I’m not)

Oh, I I think most people use CFOP... I certainly still do.

 

[Boogie dude]

Thanks for the replies. Hopefully get my Gan cube very soon.

 

[pglewis]

I have been watching some tutorials on speedcubing and different methods.
And it all seems a little mind blowing.
Can anyone tell me if when they started speedcubing thought they would never break through barriers.
I solved my cube around 10 times in a row my best time was 49 secs. And slowest was 1:02.
I know it’s very early but is there hope for me. Please give me some hope.
I am still using CFOP.
Thanks.

Methods: for the most part they're just different with similar potential and it comes down to personal preference. Some people really enjoy experimenting with lots of methods and we're in this for the enjoyment. If the different methods feel overwhelming you can rest assured that CFOP is certainly good enough.

I set a goal of a sub :20 Ao5 back when I was at about 1:30 because it felt like a completely ridiculous goal to set. I haven't come close on official avg yet but I have managed it at home once on a really good day. I had to move my goal to sub :10 now to remain reasonably "crazy".

If you're using the beginners' method of solving bottom corners first and then edges separately then I would start learn F2L next. That can be frustrating because it will initially slow you but pushing beginners' method faster is a dead-end. My main improvements are still mostly from improving F2L and lookahead.

If you are using F2L, start noting cases that give you trouble and find better ways of handling them. It takes a while and practice but it does come together. Recording a few solves and watching back is probably the most helpful thing, when I'm watching back without actively solving it's painfully obvious how much I pause. Getting rid of those pauses is the key.

 

[openseas]

I have been watching some tutorials on speedcubing and different methods.
And it all seems a little mind blowing.
Can anyone tell me if when they started speedcubing thought they would never break through barriers.
I solved my cube around 10 times in a row my best time was 49 secs. And slowest was 1:02.
I know it’s very early but is there hope for me. Please give me some hope.
I am still using CFOP.
Thanks.

Wow, I have not received any email notifications for a while, missed all these stories!

Welcome @Boogie dude !

I think we were all there where you are. I started just hoping to finish without looking at algorithm table, then broke 1 min. Started competing & immediately became the oldest (in that competition) and also the slowest - almost every competition for a while. Couple of month later, learned intuitive F2L, broke 50s, learned all PLL, broke 40s. But I'm still around 20s, year and half, I have not broken my official PB average since 2017 June

 

[SpartanSailor]

Pulled the trigger on the x-man megaminx V2L M. Thought about after earlier today and decided to go for it.

 

[Boogie dude]

Wow, I have not received any email notifications for a while, missed all these stories!

Welcome @Boogie dude !

I think we were all there where you are. I started just hoping to finish without looking at algorithm table, then broke 1 min. Started competing & immediately became the oldest (in that competition) and also the slowest - almost every competition for a while. Couple of month later, learned intuitive F2L, broke 50s, learned all PLL, broke 40s. But I'm still around 20s, year and half, I have not broken my official PB average since 2017 June

what cube do you use ?

 

[openseas]

what cube do you use ?

For 3BLD, Gan 356X. I switched magnets in the capsules. Instead of originals, I replaced with 3x1.5mm N35 magnets to make the force much weaker.
For 3x3x3, GTS 3 + 3x1 / 3x1.5 magnets.

 

[AbsoRuud]

I have been watching some tutorials on speedcubing and different methods.
And it all seems a little mind blowing.
Can anyone tell me if when they started speedcubing thought they would never break through barriers.
I solved my cube around 10 times in a row my best time was 49 secs. And slowest was 1:02.
I know it’s very early but is there hope for me. Please give me some hope.
I am still using CFOP.
Thanks.

My original goal was 30 seconds, which I never thought I'd get. My PB is 25 now. So now my goal is 20, and I think I'll actually get it. I just need to practice smarter. Other goals for this year include solving the 4x4x4 (check), solving the 5x5x5 (check), so I'm doing pretty well.

I am 100% sure though I will never break 4.22 seconds, which was the WR when I started cubing. So if you're hoping to beat that, I can't give you much hope!

 

[Boogie dude]

How many here have solved the 11 x 11 ? I have done it a few times.
Oh and I just ordered the Valk 3 m power. I think I may have a problem with ordering cubes now.

 

[One Wheel]

How many here have solved the 11 x 11 ? I have done it a few times.

I did a 10x10 twice, second time in about 1:06, but I’ve never had an 11x11.

I think I may have a problem with ordering cubes now.

Welcome to the club!

 

[mark49152]

How many here have solved the 11 x 11 ? I have done it a few times.

Anything bigger than 5x5, I quickly get bored.

 

[Mike Hughey]

Anything bigger than 5x5, I quickly get bored.

Aww, centers are my favorite part. With speedsolving, anything smaller than a 5x5x5, I quickly get bored.

But unfortunately I've never owned more than an 8x8x8. I need to get a bigger cube someday.

 

[Boogie dude]

Today’s triumph for me, 41.75 solve time. Considering I’m using my old sloppy method, I am well pleased.
So my new goal is sub 40 secs, I have a load of algorithms to relearn. But I can see sub 30 times in a matter of maybe a good months practice. I can even see a sub 20 in the future. If you can believe you can achieve.

 

[mark49152]

Aww, centers are my favorite part. With speedsolving, anything smaller than a 5x5x5, I quickly get bored.

5x5 is a great puzzle - very well balanced in that it's a good mix of piece types none of which disproportionately dominate the solve.

 

[One Wheel]

5x5 is a great puzzle - very well balanced in that it's a good mix of piece types none of which disproportionately dominate the solve.

6x6 is still best. 3x3 stage is too important on anything smaller, 7x7 takes too long and there’s not as much flexibility in centers.

 

[mark49152]

6x6 is still best.

6x6 is still good. It adds a little more to 5x5, but centres do start to drag on a bit.

Anything above 6x6 just adds boredom.

 

[Mike Hughey]

Anything above 6x6 just adds boredom.

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