What area to focus on?

Q

quinnhj

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Joined
Aug 17, 2008
Messages
14
So I've been cubing for around 3 months, but I only really got into it when I got my DIY a little over a month and a half ago. Even then I only cubed around 45 minutes a day at the most, but I managed to make good progress. My average is now 26, and my personal best is 18 non lucky, which I somehow got twice. I use the Fridrich method, with cross on bottom, intuitive F2L, 2-look OLL, and 1-look PLL.

My question is, should I focus more on my last layer execution, cross to F2L transition, or the entire F2L? I feel like the biggest difference would be made by working on the transition between cross and F2L, but I just realized my last layer is horrendously bad. For instance, a sample good solve might go:
Cross: 3
F2L: 10
LL:10

Cross: 3
F2L: 12
LL: 11

Cross: 3
F2L: 11
LL: 10

This of course is timed step by step, so realistically it might be a second or two longer total, but it seems strange that my LL is about the same length as my F2L. I am fine with my 3 second cross, but I just need to know whether I should focus more on my F2L or my LL for now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
Yeah, I thought the LL was bad. Any advice on how to work on execution? For me the major problem is the cube jamming up during the algorithm. Recognition isn't really an issue at all.
 
Actually, now that I look at it, recognition might be a bit of an issue: particularly the PLL recognition. Should I try to slow down the last 3 turns of OLL to get a better look? I know how to recognize most via the amount of blocks.
 
quinnhj said:
Actually, now that I look at it, recognition might be a bit of an issue: particularly the PLL recognition. Should I try to slow down the last 3 turns of OLL to get a better look? I know how to recognize most via the amount of blocks.
Click to expand...

You should be able to recognize PLL only by looking at 2 sides. I suggest you do some slow solves and practice your PLL recognition when changing from OLL.

P.S. - I heard Rowe Hessler does a like 3 or 4 second LL...but then again I don't know how fast other people do it :P
 
Well average splits for me are around

Cross-2
F2L-10
LL-7

I only get around 24 seconds on average though usually because of huge pauses in between, so yeah ive heard that to fix transition between cross and f2l(huge problem spot for most) you should memorize how to solve the cross and look for an f2l pair while solving the cross.
 
Yeah, I think I'm going to work on my transition between cross and F2L, as that should easily subtract 2-3 seconds from my time. After that, I'm going to work on 2 side recognition for PLLs, as well as learn my OLLs. About the 2 side recognition, I know how for some stuff, but are there any links regarding that?
 
>.> your cross is amazing compared to mine >.> this is my breakdown:
Cross:3-5secs (mainly in the high 4's)
F2L:7-9secs
OLL:3-5 secs
PLL:1.5-3.5secs
Random recognition: 0.5-2secs
so on good case scenario: 15secs
On a bad case scenario: 25.5secs
On a normal case scenario: 20.5secs
 
Thanks for the compliment on my cross! I'm really focusing on the cross to F2L transition, but I'm also focusing on my LL recognition. I got the execution of my algs relatively fast with a 1:09 PLL attack, and the recognition is getting MUCH quicker. However, if anyone has a link that helps with recognition via only two faces, that would be greatly appreciated. I'm also venturing into the intimidating 57 OLLs, starting with the dot cases.
 
i was about to say, everyone else doesnt seem to be paying much attention to the fact you do 2 look OLL.
what would be a good idea when learning the OLLs, would be to go through every situation, doing it normal 2 look OLL, and noting down every OLL that gives you a bad case (i.e headlights, and the case with twisted FL and BR corners), and learning those first. for example there are plenty of shapes that give you a sune/doublesune/antisune that arent really necessary to learn first. also, go over and over and over your 2 look OLLs. you can easily get sub 1 sune/antisune, and 1-1.5s double sune/Pi. you could also learn a couple of ways of doing them (no rush) to get a little COLL involved... for example, i know that if all the corners are correct relative to each other in the double sune case, then do a double sune. if i immediately notice they aren't (i dont actually know the case) then i do the F(sexy movex3)F' case.
you're likely to get a really easy edge PLL afterwards :) and recognition is slightly faster because you'll be expecting it...
you can learn some more PLLs too. i know 4 U-perms, 2 F perms, 3 Z-perms (as of 5 minutes ago), 2 H-perms, & 3 N Perms (i only got round to learning one N before i discovered conjugated Js). these were all very easy to learn, & 4 i worked out.
look ahead is the most important thing for f2l, before turns per second. tps can be increased easily, but look ahead takes a lot of work.
i think joel van noorts page gives PLLs from only 2 faces, so that your recognition is better.
dot OLLs are a good place to start (i recommend Badmephistos site), but using rudimentary LL edge control you can avoid them. first reduce the case to the simple RUR' or then LH version, then insert with RFR'F' or its mirror. it orients the two edges on F and R, so if you notice while finishing the third f2l pair that no edges are oriented, you can use this to give you a true two look OLL.
 
Thanks for the advice escher! I'm starting my OLLs now, so that should help, and my F2L is progressively getting better, so that should go down. As for hte 2 side recognition, I'm thinking I might set up the case, and look for patterns along the sides. Think that might work?
 
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