Spend too much time looking

[Nachax]

Hello there,, I'm a high-school student from a place where a rubik's cube is unknown to most people.

I started cubing about 2-3 weeks ago, and currently use the layer-by-layer method, with intuitive F2L from the Fridrich method. My average is about 100 seconds.
My problem is that I spend too much time just looking at the cube, assimilating data as to where the pieces are and where I need to move them, not only during the cross and F2L, but also during the LL corner permutations.
I DO NOT have a good cube, but a DIY is on it's way from cube4you'.'com.

With that, I may get my time down to 60 secs, but my basic problem will remain.

Thanks a lot.

 

[shelley]

At least you know what your problem is. That's a good first step.

Learn your moves and your algorithms well. You want to be able to do them without thinking about or looking at them at all. Then while your fingers are on autopilot, take that time to look ahead and plan what you do next.

Also, slow down your movements, if applicable. A lot of newbies see how top speedcubers turn the cube really fast and think they have to aspire toward that kind of finger speed to get fast as well. Don't do that. Keep your movements slow and steady (some people practice with a metronome), minimize pauses between movements, and use the time to focus on looking ahead. This kind of practice is great for F2L; the goal is to be able to execute the entire F2L without pauses, as if it's one big algorithm.

As for pausing during the last layer, maybe you just need to get better at recognizing cases and reacting to them with the appropriate algorithms. You've only been cubing for a few weeks, so it's totally understandable that your recognition isn't very good yet. Doing lots of practice solves will help you with this.

 

[pcwiz]

I would recommend just practice. At your level, more practice will EASILY make you reduce your pauses. You'll eventually get used to the cube, and quickly find each pieces. Trust me, at your level, improving it really easy. Just practice. In a couple of weeks of just practicing, you'll soon get one minute averages.

Practicing will help you execute your algorithms faster, recognize last layer cases, and other stuff. Your eyes will also get "trained" to look for other pieces just by practicing. When you get faster, that's not as easy........

Now, when you're about a 30 second average, this is the time you're worrying about keeping your moves consistent (like 3 moves every second). I wouldn't worry about now, as at your level, practice will do the trick. When you get better, improvement is much harder.... so just practice.

Also, it might help if you video tape your solve. It will look much different because you're not thinking too much, which makes your solve seem fast. Then, compare it too someone else's solve who uses the same method as you, and averages around a minute. Then, you can compare the differences between the solve, but still see what the person is doing. Then, practice on those parts where you are slow. You will naturally get faster (at your level).

Unless your current cube is trash, a new cube won't help you TOO much. It could take off I would say maximum of 20 seconds off your time, but that's it. When you get really fast like 15 seconds average, a DIY MIGHT come in handy.

 

[*LukeMayn*]

practising a lot will help with your times as it will still increase recognition and execution. A new cube won't help unless the one you have now is limiting you.

 

[Nachax]

Thanks all of you for your suggestions.

As for my current cube, believe me, it IS trash. Usually gets stuck between moves, which costs me about (I know, unbelievable) 3-4 secs per algorithm.
It is available at the local toy store for Rs20 (That's about half a dollar)

OK, so now I am practising my F2L and everything.

Thanks a lot.