Trying to reduce my S-L-O-W speed

[Zarxrax]

I just got my cube about a week ago, and I have learned to solve it with the layer by layer method. I'm not sure if this method has any particular name or whatever. anyway, my average time right now is about 5 minutes. My fastest time was 3:45 (i was lucky on the middle layer).
I can solve the first layer intuitively in about one minute.
I memorized an algorithm for the middle layer, and it usually takes me between 1-2 minutes.

The last layer is where I have the most trouble. I haven't memorized any of the algorithms for it yet, so I just read them off a piece of paper. Swapping the corners usually takes me a little while because I'm a bit slow at determining which corners need to go where.
I'm also kind of slow at orienting the corners. I use one algorithm for this and I usually have to do it maybe 3 or 4 times before my corners are correct.

One thing I have been wondering about is the order of doing things on the last layer. On some solutions I have seen, you swap the corners before you orient them, and I have seen some solutions where this order is reversed. Is one way preferable to the other?

My immediate goal is to get my solves down to two minutes, and eventually be able to do it in just one minute. What are the most important things I should focus on at this point? Perhaps I should even switch to a different method?

 

[mati rubik]

practice, a lot, I avg sub 30 with layer by layer

 

[bichettereds]

same here. Im able to do layer by layer in about 1:20 using Dan Browns method. Memorize a few more algorithms and practice, practice, practice. You should be able to get it below 2 minutes in no time.

 

[daniel0731ex]

i got sub50 with lbl before i even started learning 2 step olls
keep practicing, then start 2 step oll when you're sub 80


good luck

 

[Stefan]

What are the most important things I should focus on at this point?

For starters, you should try to increase your speed rather than to reduce it.

 

[h5n1]

It's obvious he is trying to reduce his SLOW and not his speed. Right?

 

[tim]

It's obvious he is trying to reduce his SLOW and not his speed. Right?

No.

 

[(X)]

It's obvious he is trying to reduce his SLOW and not his speed. Right?

No.

yes reducing your speed isnt a good idea

 

[bichettereds]

It's obvious he is trying to reduce his SLOW and not his speed. Right?

No.

yes reducing your speed isnt a good idea

we have alot of smart asses here dont we? You know what he means to say.

 

[Zarxrax]

Alright guys, I'll just keep at it then and see how things go.

 

[JohnnyA]

Do you do a cross on the bottom of your cube? If you don't, this is a great way to start doing your first layer (you said you do it intuitively, so you may or may not do a cross)

 

[panyan]

i do this method (at the moment) and my personal record is 1.40.24, i cant wait to get my book to learn the more advanced, quicker technique. the ony thing i can suggest you you is to make sure your cube is nice and quick so that it doesnt slow you down when you do your algs

 

[cookingfat]

i do this method (at the moment) and my personal record is 1.40.24, i cant wait to get my book to learn the more advanced, quicker technique. the ony thing i can suggest you you is to make sure your cube is nice and quick so that it doesnt slow you down when you do your algs

why do you need a book? You have the internet !

 

[bichettereds]

true.. you can get everything in Dan Harris' book from his website... plus some.

 

[GalPro]

1-2 minutes for the middle layer is a lot
memorize the algorithm and practice it a lot, it should'nt take that long

 

[blgentry]

One thing I have been wondering about is the order of doing things on the last layer. On some solutions I have seen, you swap the corners before you orient them, and I have seen some solutions where this order is reversed. Is one way preferable to the other?

They both work. Some people will tell you that corner orientation before corner permutation is a better way *if* you plan to switch to Fridrich at a later time, as Fridrich does OLL before PLL. At your stage, it's not going to make a lot of difference. In a few weeks or months, perhaps.

My immediate goal is to get my solves down to two minutes, and eventually be able to do it in just one minute. What are the most important things I should focus on at this point? Perhaps I should even switch to a different method?

Good goals IMHO. Reading your post, my advice would be the following.

1. First and foremost, you must memorize your chosen solution. Reading it off of paper is fine when you are learning, but I don't consider it a "real solve" if you have to read the solution. Hey, it's only been a week, so this is no big deal. Just work on memorizing all of the steps and algorithms before you do anything else. Only then, should you work on other parts of your solve.
2. Your first layer is sorta slow; not so bad for a week of practice, but you can reduce a lot of time here. Work on your cross. Memorize your color scheme so you can put the cross in without having to turn the U face over and over again as you insert each piece. Work on your corners by doing them on the *bottom*. I use R U R' to insert a corner on the right and L' U' L to insert one on the left. These are quick. You should be able to get that first layer down to 40 seconds in no time, and even better with more practice.
3. Your middle layer is perhaps your biggest time problem, and therefore the place where you can make the biggest improvements. I dislike the majority of middle edge algs I've seen, as they require funky combinations of moves, usually including F and F', which slow me down. Try the ones listed here:

http://www.erikku.110mb.com/bedges.html

Read his explanation, as it really makes a lot of sense. In case you don't "get it", the algs he describes are:

(R U R U R) (U' R' U' R' )

and

(R' U' R' U' R' ) (U R U R)

I find them much faster than the other middle layer edge algs.

Finally, as everyone else said, it just takes practice. You're very new to solving, so you should see very rapid results with practice. I hope this helped some.

Brian.

 

[Zarxrax]

Hmm, I timed my cross a few times, and it usually takes me from 25-35 seconds.
I think in tournaments, people look over their cube before they start the timer and figure out how to do the cross before they start. When I do it, I just start timing myself immediately instead of looking it over first. Should I start trying to "presolve" my cross before I start? It seems kind of like cheating to me though. I do find that the majority of time I spend working my cross though, is spent on just hunting the pieces.

I learned the keyhole method for the middle layer yesterday and I think I'm doing pretty good with that, and I'm working on memorizing those last layer algorithms.
For the past two days though my solves keep consistently coming out at around 4 and a half minutes and doesn't seem to be getting better. When I try to go fast, my cube gets "stuck" a lot, because I don't get the sides perfectly lined up, and it wont turn. I think this it taking up a fair bit of my time.

 

[IamWEB]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofZFUgaxlTQ

I'm surprised no one mentioned this. A better beginner's method, and a great tutorial, IMO.

Watch his other videos, as well.