The number of turns it takes me to solve:

[Xzilalnx2]

5-9 turns : to solve cross
12 turns : to solve first layer
23 turns : to solve second layer
6-12 turns : to form cross in last layer
8-15 turns : to solve cross in last layer
8-16 turns : to correctly position last layer corners
18-34 turns : to correctly orient coreners and solve cube (permute corners)

That is 80-121 to solve a cube. Which of my steps is least efficient and what can I do to improve on that step?

I average 2:15 seconds to solve. 1:45 is my best time.

 

[Lofty]

None of your steps is really inefficient at what it is trying to accomplish. Well except for the last step, orienting your corners. If you want to lower you move count you are going to have to start learning more algorithms and combining your steps. You can get much faster with this method but if you feel like you have a good grasp of it I would recommend moving on to a more "advanced" method. There are several to choose from Fridrich, Petrus, Roux and Heise are the most popular but search around and see what you like.

 

[popstar_dave]

5-9 turns : to solve cross
12 turns : to solve first layer
23 turns : to solve second layer

I'd say this is one place where you've got a fair bit of room for improvement. By combining the second and third steps here, you should be able to do all three of these steps in 30-35 moves.

I learnt the basics of an intuitive F2L using Doug Reed's guide that used to be here. Unfortunately, it's not there anymore, but I've heard good things about some YouTube videos.

This won't immediately speed up your solving times, but down the track it certainly will.

Jasmine Lee's guide is a good place to start learning how to speed up your last layer, too.

Keep rockin' it. You remind me of myself late last year. I'm now down to averaging in the mid/high 30s range, and I'm certainly not improving as fast as a lot of the folks around here do.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[hait2]

think if you changed your LL to the most basic orientation-first version (Sune, Aperm, Uperm, that's it), you'd end up with move counts of 33-66 instead of 40-77

But search around, maybe you should try a different method altogether. Petrus is quite nice.

 

[wddglr]

a great tutorial on f2l is that one by badmephisto
its of great quality and it is explained very well
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-xbcAMfWwM - p1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GxLM_dZqg4 - p2

also i would recommend fingertricks and triggers
they can help you alot

maybe you should practice a bit more, to get at most 1:30 ish averages
then you can go into f2l, then 2 look oll, then pll, then full oll (while practicing your f2l and looking ahead)

after that, you'll be able to get times under 30 seconds

 

[Crossed]

my tip: keep practicing more. I'm using the same method as you, and I have no problem solving it in under 1 minute. Often i get 40's while solving with this method.

 

[trying-to-speedcube...]

If you don't want to learn A LOT of algorithms (which I am doing right now...) I highly recommend switching a bit on your last layer.

This is still a 4 look LL, but faster.

Your method:

Edge orientation
Edge permutation
Corner permutation
Corner orientation

Faster:

Edge orientation
Corner orientation
Corner permutation
Edge permutation

This is a lot faster, and you'll have to learn 3 new algs and 2 mirrors.
Your times will drop to about 1 minute, then I think it's time to slowly move on to Fridrich.
First, I would learn PLL (the last step of Fridrich) to improve your times more on your last layer, so you can turn 4 look LL into 3 look LL. Then, you'll have to look what's next up on another thread, because I haven't come that far yet.

P.S. my times with the "faster" 4 look LL, averaging just above the minute, and best time 45.85, where I needed just one of the 4 looks (yup, noobs can be lucky too)

Edit: Best non-lucky: 50.06

 

[jonny guitar]

Just for a reference for you. I counted 10 solves last night and all of them were around 58-65 and I know I am wasting some moves still. I use Fridrich, 2 look last layer.

Invest the time in 2L2 and you will drastically cut down the moves. The LBL is a good starting point but very inefficient. 4 months of hard work learning it and the OLL/PLLs and you will be down around to at least 45.