What could I work more on?

[Heders]

I do cross, intuitive F2L, and know a few OLL's and two PLL's (both the OLL's and PLL's sometimes require 3 or more looks to be completed). Here is an example of a solve I did the other day:

I average around 50-60 seconds, and have done 40-50 a few times. Right now, getting below 30 seems like a lot of work.

All tips are appreciated!

Thanks

 

[Kirjava]

learn 4LLL, then 3LLL, then 2LLL

practise F2L throughout

 

[Heders]

learn 4LLL, then 3LLL, then 2LLL

practise F2L throughout

Thanks a lot! A question though - what is LLL? X-look last layer? I assume you mean orientation of the last layer.

 

[Kirjava]

I do not mean orientation of the last layer. 4LLL is indeed four look last layer.

 

[retep]

Thanks a lot! A question though - what is LLL? X-look last layer? I assume you mean orientation of the last layer.

To break it down:
4 look last layer = orient edges, orient corners, permute corners, permute edges
3 look last layer = orient edges, orient corners, permute last layer (both corners and edges at once)
2 look last layer = orient last layer (corners + edges), permute last layer (corners + edges)

reducing the amount of looks means increasing the amount of algorithms you need to know. There are 21 PLLs and 57 OLLs in total so you need to know all them for 2LLL, however you only need the 21 PLLs and only a few (not sure exact number) OLLs with 3LLL (most people stick with this for quite some time). and with 4LLL you only need 6 (I believe) PLLs and the few OLLs

Also work on reducing/eliminating pauses. You had several rather long ones in there. This mostly comes with practice in recognizing the cases until you get to the point where recognition is nearly instant and you need to start looking ahead so you completely eliminate pauses in both looking for the pieces and figuring out what to do. But of course this all takes time and practice.

 

[balloon6610]

Just learn full PLL and 2-look PLL (3LLL that is) + Good F2L then you will sub 30 in no time at all

 

[Eazoon]

for now practice on a rubiks brand.

 

[Rpotts]

for now practice on a rubiks brand.

That is terrible advice, you should use whatever cube you find best, most would agree that a Dayan Zhanchi or Guhong, or perhaps an FII or Alpha V are far superior to a Rubik's brand. It's better to switch to a better cube sooner so you can actually learn to use finger tricks and avoid creating bad habits like wrist turning that Rubik's brands and other bad cubes can reinforce.

 

[emolover]

You should also work on your look ahead an work on some block-building which will later help you with X-cross.

Also get a Linyun, everything else sucks in my opinion.

 

[Alphonsus]

When I was around 40 50 secs I learned F2L along with full PLL. Both would dramatically drop your times. Search around on YouTube for intuitive F2L videos. Getting to sub30 shouldn't take too long.

 

[Godmil]

What everyone else said (except Eazoon - that's terrible advice, and emolover - he's only recommending the LingYun because it's the least popular of the good Dayan's (and hence in his mind the coolest)).
If you watch the video you'll notice everytime you do an insert (like R U' R' etc.) you do it really quickly... but then pause for 1-2 second afterwards. If you just turn slower then you should be able to spot your next piece while doing the insert. Get used to that and you'll knock several seconds off your time.

 

[applemobile]

Use your inspection time! You barely inspected for 5 seconds. In a competition you get 15 seconds, and when not in a competition you get all you want. Use it to try plan as much of your cross as you can. Also, you several times turn the cube upside down to check if slots were empty, try learning to recognise empty slots by the side view, or even better, remember the slots you have already filled. Something that only practice will teach you.

 

[Heders]

Thank you everyone for your great insights and tips!

I have to disagree with Eazoon though. I started out with a Rubik's brand cube, but it's completely useless for practice in speed cubing - even as a beginner as the cube (at least where I live) is even more expensive than, say a Guhong or a Zanchi. I forgot to mention it in the video description and in my post, but I own a Dayan Guhong V2, which is lubed with "Speedlube" (lube similar to Lubix from a Swedish retailer).

Again, thanks everyone though! I'll keep you posted with videos and hopefully improved times!

 

[Ninja Storm]

Rubik's brands help with accurate turning, something crucial at your stage. You can make a Rubik's brand extremely good with some modding.

 

[RNewms27]

Rubik's brands help with accurate turning, something crucial at your stage. You can make a Rubik's brand extremely good with some modding.

Which is a waste of time and effort when he could be practicing. Turning is always practiced, with every cube.

If look-ahead is a problem, buy a good cube and tighten it. And turn slowly. Rubiks brands are quite useless unless you want to use it before a session to make a main cube feel effortless.

 

[Mollerz]

Thank you everyone for your great insights and tips!

I have to disagree with Eazoon though. I started out with a Rubik's brand cube, but it's completely useless for practice in speed cubing - even as a beginner as the cube (at least where I live) is even more expensive than, say a Guhong or a Zanchi. I forgot to mention it in the video description and in my post, but I own a Dayan Guhong V2, which is lubed with "Speedlube" (lube similar to Lubix from a Swedish retailer).

Again, thanks everyone though! I'll keep you posted with videos and hopefully improved times!

Keep practicing with the GuHong V2. If you use a slow cube, namely a Rubik's Brand, you will develop bad fingertricks which you will have to relearn at a later stage. If you can learn to turn accurately whilst you are slow you will improve faster.

 

[Kirjava]

for now practice on a rubiks brand.

Rubik's brands help with accurate turning, something crucial at your stage. You can make a Rubik's brand extremely good with some modding.

Guys, it says not to propagate this myth on the FAQ.

Please stop damaging our knowledgebase.