What should I do to become better?

[hwangs]

I want to get better with CFOP and I get 7sec cross, 16 sec f2L, and 14 sec LL. What should I work on the most? My friend gets sub 30 and he uses f2l and 4ll. Is it because of his f2l? :confused:

 

[RubiXer]

try to get cross and f2l under 15 seconds. cross-sub 3 f2l- 13~11

 

[ajayd]

F2l is ultra important, but how do you get your LL? OLL and PLL? Because if so, 14 seconds is a little slow.

 

[hwangs]

a bit of 4ll and beginners .

 

[ajayd]

Learn full PLL, that really helps.

 

[Tyjet66]

You're about where I'm at. The thing with F2L is that it comes over time with practice. Try slowing your turns down a little bit (aside from your last F2L pair once you spot it) so you can spot pieces for you next pairs. Try doing this with your cross -> F2L transition as well.

If you want noticeable improvements quickly without tons of practice, learn full PLL. That may sound daunting but it's actually a lot easier than you'd think and it can shave 1-2 seconds off your solves, if not more. Since you're you're also using 2look-OLL, you could also learn the dot cases if you'd like, but I'd suggest PLL first.

The only other thing I could think of would be using a different cube, modifying your current one, or (re)lubing it. What cube are you using?

 

[cubingawsumness]

Welcome to the forums!
Like everyone said, really just practice. Learn algs if you wish, but not mandatory. You'll be faster in no time.
Have fun!

 

[aznanimedude]

if you get that LL down, that's sub 30 right there, 14 second last layer is a bit too high i think

then after that F2L efficiency will deal the most damage to your averages i think

 

[Ruxpin]

I am an admitted beginner to speedcubing, roughly 40 second averages using CFOP, 2 look OLL and 2 look PLL. It seems to me that those who average sub 15 could easily stay sub 20 using both of the 2 look methods on the last layer, so F2L, execution (finger trick experience for lack of a better phrase), and hardware would appear to be the biggest issues holding the OP and myself back.

Based on that assumption, I have personally decided to delay learning full OLL and PLL until my F2L flows better and I learn to eliminate my countless cube rotations and regrips. That being said, I am very interested to know exactly what the "dot cases" are regarding OLL and why those specifically have been suggested.

If my logic is flawed, by all means correct me. I'm here to learn and your insights are appreciated.

 

[aznanimedude]

dot cases i think are where none of the edges or corners are oriented properly, so you just have a dot in the middle, since that center piece will always be oriented properly (obv :3)

 

[Tyjet66]

dot cases i think are where none of the edges or corners are oriented properly, so you just have a dot in the middle, since that center piece will always be oriented properly (obv :3)

Yes, those are the dot cases. I had suggested learning the dot cases first as you have to do your two algorithms to get the edges oriented, then the third algorithm to get the corners oriented. Generally the dot cases take the longest to solve with 2look-OLL so those would be most beneficial to learn first.

Personally, I disagree with withholding the learning of 2look-LL, as the sooner you learn it, the more time you have to learn to recognize the cases as well. But, of course, it's personal choice so do what feels best for you.

 

[hwangs]

You're about where I'm at. The thing with F2L is that it comes over time with practice. Try slowing your turns down a little bit (aside from your last F2L pair once you spot it) so you can spot pieces for you next pairs. Try doing this with your cross -> F2L transition as well.

If you want noticeable improvements quickly without tons of practice, learn full PLL. That may sound daunting but it's actually a lot easier than you'd think and it can shave 1-2 seconds off your solves, if not more. Since you're you're also using 2look-OLL, you could also learn the dot cases if you'd like, but I'd suggest PLL first.

The only other thing I could think of would be using a different cube, modifying your current one, or (re)lubing it. What cube are you using?

I'm using a Zhanchi. So should I learn full pll? I mean my friend can get sub 30 with 4LLL

 

[Tyjet66]

I'm also using a Zhanchi, it's an amazing cube. Is it lubed and tensioned to your liking?

I learned full PLL when I was averaging about 50-55, and I quickly dropped to about 45-48 (not solely due to PLL, but also due to practice.) I advise learning 2look-LL ASAP, but that's just my preference, other people advise otherwise. Your friend may have better look-ahead for F2L than you, or he may just be more efficient at finding optimal solutions, it's hard to say. Just remember that you'll get faster with practice, without or without learning more algorithms, so give it time.

 

[aznanimedude]

I'm using a Zhanchi. So should I learn full pll? I mean my friend can get sub 30 with 4LLL

what reason do you have not to? you'll probably end up learning them anyway i bet, might as well be now so that you have more time to practice and get LL times down

 

[Ickathu]

I am an admitted beginner to speedcubing, roughly 40 second averages using CFOP, 2 look OLL and 2 look PLL. It seems to me that those who average sub 15 could easily stay sub 20 using both of the 2 look methods on the last layer, so F2L, execution (finger trick experience for lack of a better phrase), and hardware would appear to be the biggest issues holding the OP and myself back.

Based on that assumption, I have personally decided to delay learning full OLL and PLL until my F2L flows better and I learn to eliminate my countless cube rotations and regrips. That being said, I am very interested to know exactly what the "dot cases" are regarding OLL and why those specifically have been suggested.

If my logic is flawed, by all means correct me. I'm here to learn and your insights are appreciated.

I think the dot cases can have any corner orientation, but no edges oriented. They really don't take that long to solve with 2 look imo.

 

[ben1996123]

cross and LL

 

[Tyjet66]

I think the dot cases can have any corner orientation, but no edges oriented. They really don't take that long to solve with 2 look imo.

They don't take too long but they are the slowest cases so learning them would help the most.

 

[SuperMarioFreak]

They don't take too long but they are the slowest cases so learning them would help the most.

Or you could just use partial edge control, which means that you insert the last pair with R' F R F', instead of U R U' R', if there are no edges oriented.

 

[pipkiksass]

I currently average 26-27, so a little faster than you. Maybe this means my advice will be valid?! The Zhanchi may be a bit TOO fast for you? I learnt with a Guhong 2, which is a fast cube itself, but slower than the Zhanchi. I think it's helped - I got to a just sub-30 average with the Guhong, but my PLLs were slooooow. Now I've got a good foundation of (reasonable) turning accuracy, I can appreciate the faster M turns I get with the Zhanchi. Doesn't make a whole lot of difference to my F2L, but LL algs flow a lot better on the Zhanchi. If you move to a slower cube you will probably find you are forced to turn more accurately. When you eventually go BACK to the Zhanchi, you'll be even faster and appreciate it. Apparently the SS Wind is a really good cube to learn to turn accurately.

FWIW, I learnt 1-look PLL straight away. I still use the majority of Badmephisto's PLLs, except for V, Ns, F and E. I know about 30 OLLs, and don't know the dot cases. I kinda wish I'd bothered learning more OLLs, but you don't need 1 look OLL to be sub 40, sub 30, or even sub 20 (Cyoubix did a video on this, I think). I occasionally notice an OLL come up a few times in a session, and learn it, but I'm in no rush. Personally, I think lookahead is the key - when lookahead 'clicks' for me, I get a 17-21 second solve (depending on OLL mainly!). Practice F2L until it's so easy you don't need to think about it!

edit: BTW, my lucky PB is an OLL skip, not a PLL skip!