[Help Thread] Puzzle Choice Thread

[EvilGnome6]

I have also started to practice other things than 3x3 but, for some reason, I have chosen 2x2 (I just learned Ortega).

I started 2x2 over a year ago and jumped into CLL after doing Ortega for a few weeks. It's the toughest event for me and my best competition average is an 11.06. Yeah, that's right. I lay claim to being the worst CLL solver in the WCA. My recognition is slow and inaccurate even though I practice almost daily to keep all the algorithms fresh. I can do closer to 7 second averages while practicing but get hit with major algorithm amnesia during competitions. Oh, well... Maybe someday the effort will pay off and I won't stink at that event.

 

[RjFx2]

So I got the HuaLong, and finnally got sub-20 even 18.077 ao100, and I really like its light, airy feeling. What other cubes have this light, airy feeling? Like for 2x2, 4x4 and 5x5. I am also interested in expanding my 3x3 collection (only got hualong, aolong, mini aolong, and sulong) so which ones should i get?

 

[Aaron Lau]

That's a tough question. If you're just casually interested in learning 5x5, get the Cyclone Boys. It's cheap and very good. As for it being a serious contender with speedcubers, nobody really knows right now. My first impression is that it's a great size and performs well but it's a little less controllable than the AoChuang (my main) or the HuaChuang (which I dislike because of the catchy outer layers).

I suspect the CB is just going to add to the debate over which is the better 5x5 rather than become a runaway favorite.

Ill see it a bit closer to the date
But on another note, i just wanna say that quite a few ppl prefer the aochang over the huachang. Why is that?

 

[mafergut]

I started 2x2 over a year ago and jumped into CLL after doing Ortega for a few weeks. It's the toughest event for me and my best competition average is an 11.06. Yeah, that's right. I lay claim to being the worst CLL solver in the WCA. My recognition is slow and inaccurate even though I practice almost daily to keep all the algorithms fresh. I can do closer to 7 second averages while practicing but get hit with major algorithm amnesia during competitions. Oh, well... Maybe someday the effort will pay off and I won't stink at that event.

Why didn't you continue with Ortega? I find that CLL is maybe okay if you happen to have an easy 1st layer but if you can get an easy face which is not a layer, then Ortega can be faster than CLL, at least for that particular scramble. I assume that good 2x2 cubers mix several methods for 2x2 depending on the scramble. Not sure they would use Ortega for an easy face-not-layer scramble but other things like EG, but you get my point. I'm sticking to Ortega for now until I can get averages of around 6-7 seconds. In my first two days with it I already got sub-10 Ao50 and I'm getting more and more 7-8 second solves. I'm sure in a real comp I'd do much worse than that, though ;-) Only the pickup time would take me another second.

Also, talking about 2x2. I assume if I ask which 2x2 is the best everybody will tell me "get a Dayan 50mm". I have a Moyu LingPo and it is nice (I didn't even took the time to lube it) but it has some internal catching issues that bother me a lot. Any recommendations about a new 2x2 or about how to get rid of the catching in the LingPo?

So I got the HuaLong, and finnally got sub-20 even 18.077 ao100, and I really like its light, airy feeling. What other cubes have this light, airy feeling? Like for 2x2, 4x4 and 5x5. I am also interested in expanding my 3x3 collection (only got hualong, aolong, mini aolong, and sulong) so which ones should i get?

There are other 3x3 with a similar airy feeling (the "ying" family, for example), but not sure any 4x4 or bigger cube can really have that feeling, at least none that I know of. Regarding your collection of 3x3... it depends if you want just to collect (in that case almost any 3x3 will do) or have more good / distinct cubes. From the ones I own and I think are worth a collection: Moyu Weilong and Weilong Mini, Moyu Huanying (I don't have the Liying), YJ Chilong / Yulong, Fhangshi Shuanren (I don't have the Guangying), Cong's Yueying (I don't have the Meiying), Dayan Zhanchi, Shengshou Aurora, QiYi Thunderclap, Yuxin 3x3, Gans 357 (I don't have the 356)... you can start with some of those

Ill see it a bit closer to the date
But on another note, i just wanna say that quite a few ppl prefer the aochang over the huachang. Why is that?

I was watching the Cubeologist say just that in his "Mains / Goal for Nats" video. I assume that sometimes manufactures intend to come up with an improvement and it doesn't really work as expected. E.g.: Dayan Panshi, Moyu Dianma...

 

[EvilGnome6]

Ill see it a bit closer to the date
But on another note, i just wanna say that quite a few ppl prefer the aochang over the huachang. Why is that?

They reduced the epic lockup problem but it resulted in catchy outer layers. They're both good and it depends on your turning style and preferences. This thread had a lot of good back and forth from both sides:

https://www.speedsolving.com/forum/showthread.php?53401-Poll-Aochuang-vs-Huachuang

 

[EvilGnome6]

Why didn't you continue with Ortega? I find that CLL is maybe okay if you happen to have an easy 1st layer but if you can get an easy face which is not a layer, then Ortega can be faster than CLL, at least for that particular scramble. I assume that good 2x2 cubers mix several methods for 2x2 depending on the scramble. Not sure they would use Ortega for an easy face-not-layer scramble but other things like EG, but you get my point. I'm sticking to Ortega for now until I can get averages of around 6-7 seconds. In my first two days with it I already got sub-10 Ao50 and I'm getting more and more 7-8 second solves. I'm sure in a real comp I'd do much worse than that, though ;-) Only the pickup time would take me another second.

So I looked it my Cubemania 2x2 graph and there's bump where I switched from Ortega to CLL and it was after 5 months and had just broken the 10 second mark. For the life of me, I don't remember it that way at all. Old age... My biggest problem is slow recognition. Even when doing 3x3, it can take me a second or two to determine the correct AUF after the PLL and I often do a U instead of a U'. It's frustrating. I figured with CLL, I only have to recognize 1 case, with Ortega, I have to recognize two. I just never thought it would be so hard to make those algorithms reflexive like I did with CFOP. As far as building a layer goes, that isn't too big a problem when you're color neutral.

Also, talking about 2x2. I assume if I ask which 2x2 is the best everybody will tell me "get a Dayan 50mm". I have a Moyu LingPo and it is nice (I didn't even took the time to lube it) but it has some internal catching issues that bother me a lot. Any recommendations about a new 2x2 or about how to get rid of the catching in the LingPo?

I can't use the DaYan. There's something about the way it cuts corners and undershoots that just doesn't work for my turning style. So I'm one of the two or three people who use the LingPo. I haven't found any magical tension that will get rid of the internal catching and they are bothersome. They will diminish a little bit over the course of a year, though. I don't even notice it that much anymore, and the DaYan goes flying out of my hands more often than the LingPo does when I try to switch.

There are other 3x3 with a similar airy feeling (the "ying" family, for example), but not sure any 4x4 or bigger cube can really have that feeling, at least none that I know of.

At 134 grams, the new Cyclone Boys G4 is significantly lighter than the YuXin (150 grams) or the AoSU (146 grams). It's not quite light and airy as some 3x3s but it doesn't feel like it's a solid hunk of plastic, either.

 

[mafergut]

[...]My biggest problem is slow recognition. Even when doing 3x3, it can take me a second or two to determine the correct AUF after the PLL and I often do a U instead of a U'. It's frustrating.

That happens to me as well. Not sure if as much as a second but it's a very noticeable pause. Trying to work on it, though. One of my problems is that when I execute algs I tend to have the cube in frontal position so I end up only seeing one side of the last layer instead of two. So it takes some time to turn it around a bit.

can't use the DaYan. There's something about the way it cuts corners and undershoots that just doesn't work for my turning style. So I'm one of the two or three people who use the LingPo. I haven't found any magical tension that will get rid of the internal catching and they are bothersome. They will diminish a little bit over the course of a year, though. I don't even notice it that much anymore, and the DaYan goes flying out of my hands more often than the LingPo does when I try to switch.

Count me among the LingPo users Anyway I think it's worth to try other 2x2s (currently I only own the LingPo) so maybe I will get a Dayan. Any other 2x2s worth trying, anybody?

 

[EvilGnome6]

Any other 2x2s worth trying, anybody?

55mm ShiShuang is too big.
XingYu is too fast and doesn't cut as well.
LanLan is junk.

WitTwo (version 1) is actually pretty good but it's like a super crunchy LingPo and I don't think it's any better because it also does that internal catching thing.

 

[MoyuFTW]

Also, talking about 2x2. I assume if I ask which 2x2 is the best everybody will tell me "get a Dayan 50mm". I have a Moyu LingPo and it is nice (I didn't even took the time to lube it) but it has some internal catching issues that bother me a lot. Any recommendations about a new 2x2 or about how to get rid of the catching in the LingPo?

Lubing the LingPo got rid of the catching for me

 

[NeilH]

Hey guys, for 333 I have an Aolong V2 and a Weilong V2 and I use both the same amount. I really love the speed and smoothness of the Weilong, but I like the corner cutting and "round" feeling of the Aolong. I don't like the blockiness of the Weilong, and don't like the very crispy feeling of the Aolong. What should I choose between the Gans 356, 357, and MoYu Hualong?

 

[ThatOneGuy]

Hey guys, for 333 I have an Aolong V2 and a Weilong V2 and I use both the same amount. I really love the speed and smoothness of the Weilong, but I like the corner cutting and "round" feeling of the Aolong. I don't like the blockiness of the Weilong, and don't like the very crispy feeling of the Aolong. What should I choose between the Gans 356, 357, and MoYu Hualong?

Based on what you said, the Gans 356 would be the best choice I would say. It's smooth, buttery, and fast and cuts corners really well. Hope this helps!

 

[NeilH]

Based on what you said, the Gans 356 would be the best choice I would say. It's smooth, buttery, and fast and cuts corners really well. Hope this helps!

Thanks, it does! Another concern I do have is price, do you guys know how the Yuxin 3x3 compares?

 

[mafergut]

Thanks, it does! Another concern I do have is price, do you guys know how the Yuxin 3x3 compares?

The Yuxin is fast but it's a little jumpy when corner cutting at times. I get fast times but I am not consistent with it. Not sure you will like it for what you said about the Weilong and Along. I'm not fully sure about the 356 either, just talking for what I've read, as I don't own one.

Maybe the Hualong can be the closest. It is fast as the Weilong and corner cuts well as the Aolong (to be honest, for me also the Weilong corner cuts well) but it does not have the roundedness of the Aolong.

Hope this helps.

 

[mafergut]

55mm ShiShuang is too big.
XingYu is too fast and doesn't cut as well.
LanLan is junk.

WitTwo (version 1) is actually pretty good but it's like a super crunchy LingPo and I don't think it's any better because it also does that internal catching thing.

How about the ShiShuang 50mm (tiled)?

Lubing the LingPo got rid of the catching for me

I will try that when I break it in a bit more (it only has like 300 solves yet). Thanks!

 

[Aaron Lau]

They reduced the epic lockup problem but it resulted in catchy outer layers. They're both good and it depends on your turning style and preferences. This thread had a lot of good back and forth from both sides:

https://www.speedsolving.com/forum/showthread.php?53401-Poll-Aochuang-vs-Huachuang

i read a few comments and it seems like they're opposite when it comes to the turning of the layer (inner vs outer)

 

[EvilGnome6]

How about the ShiShuang 50mm (tiled)?

I never tried it because I like using my own color scheme.

 

[EvilGnome6]

i read a few comments and it seems like they're opposite when it comes to the turning of the layer (inner vs outer)

I haven't noticed much difference between the turning of the inner layers of the AoChuang and and HuaChuang.They're both fast and smooth. The AoChuang will punish you severely if your alignment on the inner layers is too far off and you learn pretty quickly to stay accurate.

 

[zbolmb]

Hey guys, for 333 I have an Aolong V2 and a Weilong V2 and I use both the same amount. I really love the speed and smoothness of the Weilong, but I like the corner cutting and "round" feeling of the Aolong. I don't like the blockiness of the Weilong, and don't like the very crispy feeling of the Aolong. What should I choose between the Gans 356, 357, and MoYu Hualong?

Out of the three, the Gans 356 feels the least blockiest. I don't think the 357 is that good as I've heard from other people. As for the Hualong, its a very good cube, but its pretty loud and very crispy. only problem with gans 356 is that you need somewhat accurate turning or you will get a lot of lockups. Adjusting turning style isn't a problem.

 

[mafergut]

I never tried it because I like using my own color scheme.

After reading all your advice and watching a lot of video reviews of well versed cubers, like ciotheking, I have ordered a Dayan 50mm. And as it was so cheap I got a Cyclone Boys stickerless as well, just because.

 

[NeilH]

Out of the three, the Gans 356 feels the least blockiest. I don't think the 357 is that good as I've heard from other people. As for the Hualong, its a very good cube, but its pretty loud and very crispy. only problem with gans 356 is that you need somewhat accurate turning or you will get a lot of lockups. Adjusting turning style isn't a problem.

I think I'm going to go with the 356 but I'm also gonna think about the Yuxin. Thanks!