Question about cubing competions

[Alpha Shenron]

What's the recommend average solve time for a 3x3 before considering entering a competition? I average about 40-45 seconds and my best is 29 seconds. I'm just wondering if that is good enough or do I still have a long way to go before I enter a competition?

 

[JohnnyA]

Anyone can go to a competition as long as you meet the limit for each puzzle you are entering for. Each competition may have a different limit. At the French Open I saw people with 1-2 minute solves. Try practising under pressure because it helps in competition - I normally average 17-18 but didnt get sub20 in my first competiton.

 

[joey]

Any time is good enough.

 

[brunson]

My first comp I was around the same average as you and I was far from the slowest person there. Go for the social interaction and the camaraderie as well as the events.

 

[SimonWestlund]

Yeah. There's often people who are over a minute. At my first competition I averaged sub 20 but that's just 'cause there was no competition close when I averaged around 40 seconds.

Just go It's a lot of fun!

 

[Tyson]

I think it's more effort than time. In other words, if you spend a lot of time practicing, and you average 2 minutes, then fine. But if you don't really work on the cube at all, wasting 8 minutes per solve is not appropriate.

This argument works more closely with events. Perhaps you 'know' how to solve a 4x4, but if you haven't worked on it, you shouldn't be wasting people's times. Someone who works hard for a 6 minute solve is more deserving than someone who doesn't practice and solves in 3 minutes.

 

[ajmorgan25]

I think it's more effort than time. In other words, if you spend a lot of time practicing, and you average 2 minutes, then fine. But if you don't really work on the cube at all, wasting 8 minutes per solve is not appropriate.

This argument works more closely with events. Perhaps you 'know' how to solve a 4x4, but if you haven't worked on it, you shouldn't be wasting people's times. Someone who works hard for a 6 minute solve is more deserving than someone who doesn't practice and solves in 3 minutes.

I agree with Tyson completely. I do not enter events unless I really practice them. Sure, I know how to do a 5x5 and a 3x3 blindfolded, but I'm not going to waste my time and everybody else's time by competing in those events. Until I'm serious about the events or even practice them regularly, I'm not going to bother with them.

 

[CharlieCooper]

I agree with Tyson completely. I do not enter events unless I really practice them. Sure, I know how to do a 5x5 and a 3x3 blindfolded, but I'm not going to waste my time and everybody else's time by competing in those events. Until I'm serious about the events or even practice them regularly, I'm not going to bother with them.

i kind of disagree. if you enjoy solving all the puzzles and you travel a considerable way to a competition, why would you just do a 3x3 round and then go home? i like solving all of them, even if i'm not "serious" about all of them, i still want to participate because it's fun. i'm not going to just fly to the netherlands for a competition only to do three or four events for example!