What are you thinking? (when you look ahead)

[joshs2000ss]

I'm going on my 2nd month of cubing. Starting with having no clue, to where I am now, which is averaging in the 1:30 range. (I know, I'm slow, but getting better :tu ) I understand that I need to work on lookahead during the inspection period and more so during the cross solve to speed up the transition from cross to F2L (intuitive).

My question is this: What exactly are you thinking when you are looking ahead during the inspection? Are you mentally producing an algorithm to get to the cross, or do you think farther than that? Then, after the inspection and during the solve, how does the lookahead work?

I guess I'm still new enough that I'm trying to mentally understand where all of the cubies are going while I'm making moves to get to a desired outcome. Is this going to be one of those all of a sudden "I've got it" things and I'll have no idea how I got there once I do? At some point, I assume that the mental decision making for each step has to diminish, otherwise, I don't see how anyone is getting times in the 0s range, but obviously it happens. Maybe I'm just slow. (kidding here)

 

[PandaCuber]

While Im solving a pair, I already know what to do in order to pair it and insert it, so I look for the next pair.
Try this?

 

[skeletonboy]

I'm going on my 2nd month of cubing. Starting with having no clue, to where I am now, which is averaging in the 1:30 range. (I know, I'm slow, but getting better :tu ) I understand that I need to work on lookahead during the inspection period and more so during the cross solve to speed up the transition from cross to F2L (intuitive).

My question is this: What exactly are you thinking when you are looking ahead during the inspection? Are you mentally producing an algorithm to get to the cross, or do you think farther than that? Then, after the inspection and during the solve, how does the lookahead work?

I guess I'm still new enough that I'm trying to mentally understand where all of the cubies are going while I'm making moves to get to a desired outcome. Is this going to be one of those all of a sudden "I've got it" things and I'll have no idea how I got there once I do? At some point, I assume that the mental decision making for each step has to diminish, otherwise, I don't see how anyone is getting times in the 0s range, but obviously it happens. Maybe I'm just slow. (kidding here)

Lookahead is just to look for F2L pieces around the cube so when you are done with your CURRENT F2L pair, you don't need to waste 5 seconds staring blankly at the cube looking for pieces. You sub-conciously execute and plan the F2L pairs. With this, you may need to turn slower so your brain can catch on to what you are doing. But with practice, you can lookahead and have a high tps.

During inspection, you can either plan the cross or cross+1st pair. But for you, just learn to plan the cross out so you can memorize and do it blindfolded. This way, when you have the "blindfolded cross" down, you can start working even further, which is the next step which is the 1st F2L pair. You sub-conciously do the cross since you have learned to do it blindfolded--and with this few seconds of cross execution time, you "lookahead" for the F2L pair. Then, you should be able to do F2L cases fairly blindfolded so you can look for the 2nd pair while executing the 1st pair. And this can go on for the whole solve including the last layer.

For now, learn blind cross. Then blind F2L for F2L lookahead. Then blind cross+lookahead for 1st pair (all in inspection time) This is a bit harder.

Good Luck, I hope I made sense.

 

[Robocopter87]

Listen, you are in the 1:30 range, I'm in the 25 second range. I still am unable to find my first F2L pair during inspection. I'm working on it. However, I average around 2 seconds for cross. I guarantee that there are other places in your solve that you should be working on instead of inspection. Having a second or two cut on your time by being able to identify F2L pairs in your inspection is not the place to start. Its important, and you should practice and get in the habit of doing so. But it isn't your main concern.

You will hear this time and time again but trust me, it is the only solution for speed. If you want to be faster. You must practice. Perfect practice makes perfect.

You will get better with time. Then your times will be better. ;P

 

[Hershey]

This might also help:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFvctUcyagI

 

[5BLD]

I plan out the first block. NOT the moves of the first block. I see how the block comes together, not remembering the actual moves.

For CFOP I plan out an X-Cross and possibly predict the next pair but I'm not experienced at CFOP with my F2L being around 10s...

For inspection the trick is to see how the cross comes together, not trying to memorise the actual moves IMO.