Since i got into cubing, i focused on areas i enjoyed (e.g. learning F2L, then learning 2-look OLL and 2-look PLL), then trying to get into speed-cubing (getting a decent cross, learning 1-look PLL, trying to get better at F2L). Learning algs has been fun because it also is kind of rewarding, nice when you get an alg down. Getting better crosses is kind of rewarding, too, because after some time i've build up some intuition. What is really wearing me down is getting better at F2L.
Slowing down to look ahead isn't my problem. After my cross, i just get "stuck" and can't decide on which pair to do first (if i see one). Looking ahead during cross is still far beyond my skill, and i'm very slow anyway. I tried closing my eyes during F2L pairs to improve my look ahead. But i haven't seen improvements. I also tried using a metronome. But my problem with that is, i do a random turn when it ticks, which just interrupts me from looking for a pair... I feel like i'm doing something very wrong here or i'm misunderstanding the conventional wisdom.
As a rough breakdown, i mostly can solve a 3x3 in 1 minute (10 sec. for cross, 40 sec. for F2L, 10 sec. for OLL + PLL*, again rough breakdown, i don't time this regularly).
Should i just time every solve and try harder? Do i need another way to train F2L? Am i cheating myself by how i learned to do the cross? Do i need to put in so much more work to get decent at F2L?
EDIT:
*: getting e.g. a G-perm this will take longer of course because i can't recognize it fast. but the general breakdown still should be about correct.
Slowing down to look ahead isn't my problem. After my cross, i just get "stuck" and can't decide on which pair to do first (if i see one). Looking ahead during cross is still far beyond my skill, and i'm very slow anyway. I tried closing my eyes during F2L pairs to improve my look ahead. But i haven't seen improvements. I also tried using a metronome. But my problem with that is, i do a random turn when it ticks, which just interrupts me from looking for a pair... I feel like i'm doing something very wrong here or i'm misunderstanding the conventional wisdom.
As a rough breakdown, i mostly can solve a 3x3 in 1 minute (10 sec. for cross, 40 sec. for F2L, 10 sec. for OLL + PLL*, again rough breakdown, i don't time this regularly).
Should i just time every solve and try harder? Do i need another way to train F2L? Am i cheating myself by how i learned to do the cross? Do i need to put in so much more work to get decent at F2L?
EDIT:
*: getting e.g. a G-perm this will take longer of course because i can't recognize it fast. but the general breakdown still should be about correct.