"Pimp out" your method!

[CanadianPires]

Hey guys,
So I'm an intermediate cuber, I checked out a couple methods when I first started cubing (Petrus, Roux, Fridrich) and settled on Fridrich. I learned intuitive F2L and started with a 4LLL. Nowadays, I'm happy with my F2L, still using most intuitive algs with some I checked out for the tougher cases, and I am half way through learning PLL, using a 3LLL (OELL, OCLL, PLL). I doubt I'll be motivated to learn OLL after I finish memorizing PLL so I started to consider some alternatives to quicken my times. Some little things that can be adapted in my method, and probably most others too (not just Fridrich). So i thought it would be interesting to ask you guys what you think of these "modifications" and if they are: 1) hard to learn/pick up? 2) worth the time to learn instead of OLL? 3) will they earn me any considerable time?

First off, I've never lubed my cube, so tonight I sanded and worked it in following some links in another post, then tomorrow I'm lubing it. This makes obvious sense to me and I know will shave off some seconds.

Second is color neutrality. I dont expect to go fully color neutral (and i know there is quite a debate on this), but was considering started to practice opposite color neutral in case there are some easy crosses to be had.

Third is extended cross. I never really was amazing at block building but i can definitely see some serious potential here. Is it worth it? Are they moderately easy if you practice more block building?

Fourth is edge control. Again, I doubt i will be up for learning full ZBF2L but i was reading Chris Hardwick's site and he mentions if you are interested in partial edge control to take a look at cases 1 & 13. Anyone do that and find it not to bad to learn? And does it pay off?

Finally is multislotting. I can def see this is not as much a technique to learn as it is having an eye for these when they come up. I think this one would be harder.. true? is it worth learning the details?

Got anymore suggestions to "pimp out" your method? Post it! Let me know what you think, which of these you've learned, and how they've affected your time/cubing?

 

[KoenHeltzel]

What are your current times?
You can come a "long way" (read sub-20) with just F2L and a 3LLL.

 

[Erik]

@ koen: wow you're still alive
@ canadianPires: you can do the other stuff besides learning OLL like opposite cross/ extended cross/ edge control etc. and be sub-15, BUT, I'd still suggest to learn OLL 57 is a terrifying number I know it! But think about it, you already know 1/3 of all OLL's if you do a 3 LLL and the rest is not really 57 formula's like PLL, OLL's are logical and make sence and often have mirrors so if you learn one it only takes 30 sec to learn it's 'brother'. Training in learning algs makes you learn algs faster and easier too! I can learn a new alg in like a minute now probably. Last of all: take your time to learn it, took me about half a year. Each time I got really annoyed by not knowning a case I learned it
But of course like Koen said you don't really need OLL, but I'd still recommend it eventually. Seeing your times you have a lot room for improvement without OLL too.

 

[CanadianPires]

What are your current times?
You can come a "long way" (read sub-20) with just F2L and a 3LLL.

Before sanding, lubing etc.. about 40 sec with standard F2L + 3LLL/4LLL depending on PLL case. I do believe that I could def avg in the 20s when I learn full PLL and get used to the lubed cube, I am just considering these to pick up down the line sometime, as finishing off PLL is my main concern right now..

 

[Leo]

@ koen: wow you're still alive
@ canadianPires: you can do the other stuff besides learning OLL like opposite cross/ extended cross/ edge control etc. and be sub-15, BUT, I'd still suggest to learn OLL 57 is a terrifying number I know it! But think about it, you already know 1/3 of all OLL's if you do a 3 LLL and the rest is not really 57 formula's like PLL, OLL's are logical and make sence and often have mirrors so if you learn one it only takes 30 sec to learn it's 'brother'. Training in learning algs makes you learn algs faster and easier too! I can learn a new alg in like a minute now probably. Last of all: take your time to learn it, took me about half a year. Each time I got really annoyed by not knowning a case I learned it
But of course like Koen said you don't really need OLL, but I'd still recommend it eventually. Seeing your times you have a lot room for improvement without OLL too.

How is 3 LLL one third of the OLLs? Last time I checked 3 LLL was 10 algs, that's closer to to 1/5 or 1/6 (Unless you're not counting mirrors?) But yeah you're right, a week or two ago I learned 5-6 OLLs in a few minutes because of their mirrors.

This might be a decent guide of when to move on in Fridrich http://www.cubefreak.net/speedcubing.html
But you don't have to follow it strictly.

 

[Lofty]

I have found it is very easy to learn algs for cases I already know. Such as if I want to change one of the OLL or PLL algs I use but when learning COLL I still found it hard..
OLL is really not that many algs tho.. And if you do partial edge control you dont even have to learn them all. This is what I have done. BUt most things that there are to pimp out a method has more algs then OLL anyway like if you wanted to use MGLS.

 

[CanadianPires]

@Lofty: I agree that if something aimed at modifying my method is going to require more algs or effort than learning OLL then I shouldnt bother, thats what I'm looking to get feedback on. This is also why partial edge control has a lot of appeal to me because I already know the corner OLL's for 3LLL. Also, I didnt mention MGLS because I consider a whole different method opposed to a mod. I liked the idea of MGLS and started to read about it but 100+ CLS cases is daunting...

 

[Lucas Garron]

I liked the idea of MGLS and started to read about it but 100+ CLS cases is daunting...

Is 57?
If it's not, 56 algs+ mirrors is a matter of preference (and a bit of time).

 

[CanadianPires]

I liked the idea of MGLS and started to read about it but 100+ CLS cases is daunting...

Is 57?
If it's not, 56 algs+ mirrors is a matter of preference (and a bit of time).

Yes lol, I like the idea of 21 plus some ideas/techniques much more for now ... but yes eventually I will probly learn OLL or maybe MGLS. Is CLS really only 56 plus mirrors? or inverses?

 

[Dene]

I recommend sitting down and doing 100 solves a day. Nothing will improve your times more than practise will.

 

[CanadianPires]

Yes, practice is definetly number one thing to do, but does ANYONE use any of these techniques on a regular basis?

 

[Dene]

I'm colour neutral, although there is a lot of debate on the benefits. Defenitely opposite colour is worth it. I try X-crosses if I can, definitely worth it, but not at your speed.

 

[Lofty]

What I use:
Multislotting- I try to preserve pairs and such but beyond that I can't use it much.
Edge Control- I always have and always will use partial edge control. By partial edge control I simply mean I make sure I have at least some edges oriented.
X-cross- Since I have been practicing Petrus I have been using this more and more.
Color Nuetrality- I have been practicing this more recently too. I think it helps a lot in Petrus as for Fridrich I don't think it is that important.

 

[CanadianPires]

I'm colour neutral, although there is a lot of debate on the benefits. Defenitely opposite colour is worth it. I try X-crosses if I can, definitely worth it, but not at your speed.

Bear in mind I have never lubed/sanded my cube, which I am doing today.. watch me go ahead and break my PB first try lol. But really, I anticipate around a 30sec avg soon after I lube. Still out of my league?

 

[Dene]

I see no reason to use it. I only occasionally do it and I avergae sub20. You have a LONG way to go to get to sub20.

 

[Lofty]

If you can see it go for it but don't spend your time seeking it out. Normal F2L still can get much faster without adding anything to it.

 

[coopersacatfilms]

I think your fine without extended cross but if you do the 2look OLL when you do the L and the Bar you just added another algorithm to your solve 2 if you have the Dot and some of the OLL's are less than 10 moves whenever I got all of them memorized i satarted to get sub-20 but i mean it can come later you need to focus on PLL and F2L but you can put off OLL to a point but you can learn however you want.

 

[mizzle]

Yes, some of us use the tricks here a lot.

Personally, I orient edges before or during my cross. Sometimes, it's a block instead. Depends on the solve. Sometimes it's opposite cross.

Then, I finish most of my F2L. If it's a case I just did normal cross on, I use the first few pairs to orient my edges late. I also start looking at LL corner orientation, and try to get the best one I can. I always try to get as much done early as possible.

With the final pair, I try to get an orient corner skip. I get one maybe one or two out of ten. Depends on the day how often. Otherwise, I aim for U, T, or L. Neve Sune/Anti or Bruno or H. Makes recognition harder for...

COLL/ZB. I do COLL, or if I know it or it's a 3 corner only commutator, I do the ZB case that's left. If COLL, I try to finish the alg with a good idea where edges will wind up, to minimize delays between algs.

During F2L, I also multislot. Oriented edges means fast algs, faster recogntion, and fast solves in general. The paths of pieces are easier to see, too, and no regrips ever.

I sometimes finish the Heise way, or with PLL if I get an OLL skip (really ought to learn those G perms...), and a lot of solves lend themselves really well to already oriented Roux starts.

Eventually, I need to learn the ZB cases to do the rest of the LL in one alg. This means all U, T, and L cases. Of course, it would be better if I could just find a way to do corner permutation with the final pair. Then, I could learn the 96 necessary algs for OCPELL, which is 96 or so. Not much worse than Fridrich and gets you no rotations and a 1 look LL every single solve, for fewer moves!

 

[Lofty]

Shoot I thought I responded but i must have hit back before hitting post...
Anyway I know Lotsofsloths was trying to come up with a similar method for the 2-gen LL.
I would speculate if you want a ZBF2L style insert pair and permute corners you would have something like 82 algs plus 41 more insert with 2-gen. 82 since 41 F2L cases times corners being either adjacent or diagonal swapped but i don't think thats accurate since the 5th corner is thrown in its wrong spot.
Idk if you can ignore orientation of pieces with something like Acube?

 

[cubekid]

You can come a "long way" (read sub-20) with just F2L and a 3LLL.

doug reed, the guy who got 2nd place at the Denver Open with 16.58 avg, basically uses a 3LLL. so yea, you can really go a long way with f2l and 3lll.

what's probably the most important thing is getting your f2l down. most of the top cfop users average between 7-14 sec on f2l (afaik), and so you can see that it's definitely the weakest link out of all the steps. i'd suggest that instead of trying to learn oll, xcross, color neutrality, etc., work on f2l like crazy. learning algs is pretty easy in comparison to getting your recognition faster.

anyway, just my $.02.