Specific ways to improve look-ahead?

[JustinTimeCuber]

Are there any specific ways to improve look-ahead, other than just practicing? I'm trying to get sub 12 in the next 6-8 weeks and I average 12.8ish right now. Something I need to improve is look-ahead. People say to just practice, but what I'm looking for is a more direct way to improve.

 

[Isaac Lai]

Are there any specific ways to improve look-ahead, other than just practicing? I'm trying to get sub 12 in the next 6-8 weeks and I average 12.8ish right now. Something I need to improve is look-ahead. People say to just practice, but what I'm looking for is a more direct way to improve.

Slow solves? Like pretend you are doing walkthrough solves or something like that

 

[StachuK1992]

I thought Chris' thoughts in this thread helped me a lot:

https://www.speedsolving.com/forum/showthread.php?12608

Posts 4 and 8 are enough to get the idea.

 

[Knut]

I'm not that fast, but I've found solving big cubes really helps for me. I've been doing 5x5 more often recently, and it's been helping my 3x3 times significantly.

 

[SpeedCubeReview]

Try to memorize the next move and do it without looking, after awhile of that you can take the time you look away and look "ahead."

 

[CriticalCubing]

What helped me with lookahead was blind f2l solving and then later on solving 2 f2ls blind. Slow solving never worked for me and metronome was a disaster and I concentrate more on the beat than the cube. Blind f2l was the best because it promoted the muscle memory lookahead. My algs were in muscle memory so I would just let my hands do the thing with 1 pair while I look for another. This was easy when I was slower and as I get faster it is getting tougher. Sometimes I cannot find suitable pieces for f2l and pause. This has been happening a lot these days. But I would say blind solving is the best way to go about it. Also, unlimited inspection. It helps promotes the prediction ability for f2l. Also, improves the cross to f2l transition.

Here is a video of different practice techniques for lookahead and overall f2l.

 

[molarmanful]

Found this: https://www.speedsolving.com/forum/...prove-Your-F2L-Look-Ahead-With-Turbo-Tracking

Might help a lot, as it did for other people. I just started using this, and I'm feeling some improvement!

 

[PenguinsDontFly]

Do more with INSPECTION
You have 15 seconds. USE IT. I see so many people using 3-4 and starting the solve.

 

[XTowncuber]

I don't usually post in these types of threads, but what I have found to be helpful is to just do solves in which the only thing you think about is looking ahead. It takes a crazy amount of focus, but you just have to force yourself to completely ignore what you are doing at the time, don't try to do any fancy extra algorithms and solely focus on the pieces you are not currently solving. Side effects may include decreased TPS, brain fatigue, headache and very slow solves, but over time better lookahead will be the result. Or it was for me anyway.

 

[JustinTimeCuber]

I don't usually post in these types of threads, but what I have found to be helpful is to just do solves in which the only thing you think about is looking ahead. It takes a crazy amount of focus, but you just have to force yourself to completely ignore what you are doing at the time, don't try to do any fancy extra algorithms and solely focus on the pieces you are not currently solving. Side effects may include decreased TPS, brain fatigue, headache and very slow solves, but over time better lookahead will be the result. Or it was for me anyway.

^listen to him he won nats
But this actually seems like a good idea. I've been trying all of the suggestions and this one will probably help a lot in the long run.

 

[NooberCuber]

This is kind of a weird tip but try doing some 3x3 solves on a 4x4
I found that during 4x4 solves, I could look ahead better during 3x3 stage since I literally couldn't turn as fast as on a 3x3.
This made me focus on trying to look ahead instead of just going as fast as I could.
That helped me a little, it might help you.

 

[shadowslice e]

When I took up mega it helped me a lot with tracing pieces on a 3x3x3 as well as quickly finding pieces

 

[bluesk1]

Definitely do 3x3 solves on 4x4, it also helped me alot

 

[JustinTimeCuber]

Definitely do 3x3 solves on 4x4, it also helped me alot

huh this is interesting... I might try it but seems weird lol

 

[Deleted member 12389]

I don't usually post in these types of threads, but what I have found to be helpful is to just do solves in which the only thing you think about is looking ahead. It takes a crazy amount of focus, but you just have to force yourself to completely ignore what you are doing at the time, don't try to do any fancy extra algorithms and solely focus on the pieces you are not currently solving. Side effects may include decreased TPS, brain fatigue, headache and very slow solves, but over time better lookahead will be the result. Or it was for me anyway.

"crazy amount of focus" - looks about right
[Agree on the side effects. And coffee doesn't help.]

 

[Speedysolver]

I don't usually post in these types of threads, but what I have found to be helpful is to just do solves in which the only thing you think about is looking ahead. It takes a crazy amount of focus, but you just have to force yourself to completely ignore what you are doing at the time, don't try to do any fancy extra algorithms and solely focus on the pieces you are not currently solving. Side effects may include decreased TPS, brain fatigue, headache and very slow solves, but over time better lookahead will be the result. Or it was for me anyway.

And how often should I practice this?

 

[shadowslice e]

And how often should I practice this?

Every time you solve until you can do it without thinking.

 

[JustinTimeCuber]

And how often should I practice this?

exactly 41 times a day, otherwise it won't work
/s

 

[Mistermist]

Does doing 3x3 solves on a 4x4 really help?

 

[shadowslice e]

Does doing 3x3 solves on a 4x4 really help?

Personally I'm not entirely convinced that it is better than just using a 3x3 but the reasoning is that it will force you to turn more slowly and so give you more (even if just fractionally) time to recognise and decide what to do next.