The One-Answer Question Thread [closed]

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sk8erman41 said:
Can you please explain. I have been wondering this for awhile. How to specifically PRACTICE lookahead. I find that lots of advice is that it comes with time but then it is also said a lot that solving over and over doesn't help you learn anything new and that intentional PRACTICE is needed to improve weak areas. Even the "how to practice" thread mentions lookahead but not specific exercises. I am sure that the response is probably "slow down and lookahead" with probably more emphasis on the "slow down" part in reference to practicing, but any specific means you use to increase effeciency? Turbo-tracking is another one I know of but any others?
Click to expand...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWiARuEZiNA&hd=1
Here's the original metronome video I saw like 8 years ago from Katuyuki Konishi
Master Katsu came up with this technique for practicing look-ahead but the more technical skill you should pay attention to with a metronome is tracking.
You should not have to 'find' a blue-yellow edge later that you've already spotted 3 times during the solve. This is an example of look-ahead by tracking.
This can also be practiced by deconstructing your F2L insert algorithms to find out which pieces are unaffected in which layers.
I first realized when using ZBF2L ( 12 algs, just to reduce OLL to 7 cases ) that it helped my transitioning and I could start seeing my OLL several moves before it was available for my eyeballs to behold. The best way to practice is to do an average of 12, and find a few of your slowest solves. Reconstruct them very slowly and ask yourself why you weren't tracking pieces that were in plain view the entire time, and try to see which pieces are completely unaffected after certain steps so you know where to look. Your eyes need to be ahead of your hands. This isn't something you can grind out over time. I would know, I've been cubing for 9 years and I have only recently started changing my habits to improve. For me, look-ahead is more of a choice and less of a skill. Hope this helps.
(づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ
 
sk8erman41 said:
Can you please explain. I have been wondering this for awhile. How to specifically PRACTICE lookahead. I find that lots of advice is that it comes with time but then it is also said a lot that solving over and over doesn't help you learn anything new and that intentional PRACTICE is needed to improve weak areas. Even the "how to practice" thread mentions lookahead but not specific exercises. I am sure that the response is probably "slow down and lookahead" with probably more emphasis on the "slow down" part in reference to practicing, but any specific means you use to increase effeciency? Turbo-tracking is another one I know of but any others?
Click to expand...

Other ways to practice are to do each F2L pair without looking. So find your pair and then close your eyes (or look or away or whatever you want). You can also practice tracking the next pair. First try doing it just before inserting the current pair. The insertions are usually three moves long. So find a pair right before these last three moves and watch where they will go while you do the current pair. Eventually you will be good enough to predict the position of the next pair and even do it without looking. So you may want to do the insertion and next pair with eyes closed. Eventually your look ahead is good enough that you can do two pairs without looking at all. These are some methods. Mainly you are practicing doing one thing while looking at something else so your brain and fingers work independently.
 
sneaklyfox said:
Other ways to practice are to do each F2L pair without looking. So find your pair and then close your eyes (or look or away or whatever you want). You can also practice tracking the next pair. First try doing it just before inserting the current pair. The insertions are usually three moves long. So find a pair right before these last three moves and watch where they will go while you do the current pair. Eventually you will be good enough to predict the position of the next pair and even do it without looking. So you may want to do the insertion and next pair with eyes closed. Eventually your look ahead is good enough that you can do two pairs without looking at all. These are some methods. Mainly you are practicing doing one thing while looking at something else so your brain and fingers work independently.
Click to expand...
This. You can practice tracking by finding two pairs then closing your eyes and solving one while mentally tracking the other. This really forces you to not think at all about the pair you are solving, and is my favourite lookahead practice technique. To make it easier to start off, try tracking just a corner. To make it harder, try solving the second pair too before you open your eyes, as sneaklyfox said.

Also when tracking one pair while inserting another, with eyes open, try to move smoothly with no pause into setting up the second pair, and turn as fast as you can. Then pause after you have set up that pair, and repeat.

There are perhaps more targeted practice techniques for lookahead than for any other aspect of cubing! :)
 
What is the best downloadable timer for the mac? had prisma for pc before college but now have a mac and the prisma mac link is a dead link. thanks!
 
cubeaddicted said:
Which is the best - Traxxas 30k, Traxxas 50k, Calvin's lube 30k or Calvin's lube 50k
Click to expand...

The difference between the brands is minimal from what I understand.

Personally I lube the core and sometimes 2x2s and 3x3s with 50k.
I use 30k for most cubes though and add in some 10k for 6x6 and up.
 
KYLE ALLAIRE DROPS BOMBS! said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWiARuEZiNA&hd=1
Here's the original metronome video I saw like 8 years ago from Katuyuki Konishi
Master Katsu came up with this technique for practicing look-ahead but the more technical skill you should pay attention to with a metronome is tracking.
You should not have to 'find' a blue-yellow edge later that you've already spotted 3 times during the solve. This is an example of look-ahead by tracking.
This can also be practiced by deconstructing your F2L insert algorithms to find out which pieces are unaffected in which layers.
I first realized when using ZBF2L ( 12 algs, just to reduce OLL to 7 cases ) that it helped my transitioning and I could start seeing my OLL several moves before it was available for my eyeballs to behold. The best way to practice is to do an average of 12, and find a few of your slowest solves. Reconstruct them very slowly and ask yourself why you weren't tracking pieces that were in plain view the entire time, and try to see which pieces are completely unaffected after certain steps so you know where to look. Your eyes need to be ahead of your hands. This isn't something you can grind out over time. I would know, I've been cubing for 9 years and I have only recently started changing my habits to improve. For me, look-ahead is more of a choice and less of a skill. Hope this helps.
(づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ
Click to expand...

sneaklyfox said:
Other ways to practice are to do each F2L pair without looking. So find your pair and then close your eyes (or look or away or whatever you want). You can also practice tracking the next pair. First try doing it just before inserting the current pair. The insertions are usually three moves long. So find a pair right before these last three moves and watch where they will go while you do the current pair. Eventually you will be good enough to predict the position of the next pair and even do it without looking. So you may want to do the insertion and next pair with eyes closed. Eventually your look ahead is good enough that you can do two pairs without looking at all. These are some methods. Mainly you are practicing doing one thing while looking at something else so your brain and fingers work independently.
Click to expand...

mark49152 said:
This. You can practice tracking by finding two pairs then closing your eyes and solving one while mentally tracking the other. This really forces you to not think at all about the pair you are solving, and is my favourite lookahead practice technique. To make it easier to start off, try tracking just a corner. To make it harder, try solving the second pair too before you open your eyes, as sneaklyfox said.

Also when tracking one pair while inserting another, with eyes open, try to move smoothly with no pause into setting up the second pair, and turn as fast as you can. Then pause after you have set up that pair, and repeat.

There are perhaps more targeted practice techniques for lookahead than for any other aspect of cubing! :)
Click to expand...

Thanks everyone. This is very helpful. I wish this info was included in the how to practice thread it would be helpful for people in the future.
 
Approximate Shipping from HK Now Store to US

Greetings SS community. I tried searching for this but didn't come up with any solid answers, but can someone in the US who has ordered from Now Store tell me roughly how long it took for your puzzle to reach you? I will be ordering from West Point Utah. I know it will probably take a little while due to customs and what not. Thanks!
 
About 2-3 weeks. You can order expedited shipping by contacting Calvin personally, but you will have to add him on Skype.
 
Any finger trick tips for

L U L' U' L U' L' ? (Or the right handed variation)

The last U' gets me. I tried doing it with my right index but its awkward and I can't get the layer accurately.
 
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