Difference between revisions of "One-Handed Solving"

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'''One-Handed solving''' (or '''OH''' for short) is a category of [[speedcubing]] that has become very popular recently. Just like it sounds, one-handed solving is all about solving the puzzle with one hand, and it is very strict: you can't touch the cube with the table or any other part of your body during a solve. This may seem very difficult, but people have gotten averages of as low as [http://speedcubing.com/records/recs_dext_oh_333av10.html 16.19 seconds] on the [[3x3x3]], with typical competition-winning times being around 20–21 seconds.
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'''One-Handed solving''' (or '''OH''' for short) is a category of [[speedcubing]] that has become very popular recently. One-handed solving requires the participant to solve a Rubik's cube with one hand, and the rules are very strict: you cannot touch the cube with the table or any other part of your body during a solve. This may seem very difficult, but people have gotten averages of as low as [http://speedcubing.com/records/recs_dext_oh_333av10.html 16.19 seconds] on the [[3x3x3]], with typical competition-winning times being around 20–21 seconds.
  
 
==Which Hand to Use?==
 
==Which Hand to Use?==
  
It may seem obvious that the best hand to use is the dominant hand (i.e. right-handed cubers should use their right hand), but using the other hand can work just as well. One reason to use the other hand is that if you normally execute algorithms with mostly R and U moves you will find it much easier to do these turns with your left hand (and similarly L turns are easier to do with the right hand). It is also helpful to do OH with a hand that is already used to holding the cube. Either hand can be very fast, though, and you should definitely try both hands to see which one feels better for you.
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While it may appear most obvious that the best hand to use is the dominant hand (i.e. right-handed cubers would use their right hand), using the other hand can work just as well. One reason to use the other hand is if you normally execute algorithms with mostly R and U moves, you will find it much easier to do these turns with your left hand (and similarly L turns are easier to do with the right hand). It is also helpful to do OH with a hand that is already used to holding the cube. Either hand can be very fast, though, and you should definitely try both hands to see which one feels better for you.
  
==Making turns==
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==Making Turns==
  
Most one-handed cubers will hold the cube with the thumb and middle fingers (and often the ring as well) and do turns with the other fingers. Since one goal of one-handed cubing is to use as many R and U turns (or L and U) as possible, because this is much more fast and comfortable, the focus is on how to do these turns as easily as possible, and there are two main schools of thought about this:
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Most one-handed cubers will hold the cube with the thumb and middle finger (and often the ring finger as well) and perform turns with the other fingers. Since one goal of one-handed cubing is to use as many R and U turns (or L and U) as possible as they are much faster and more comfortable, the focus is on how to do these turns easily, and there are two main schools of thought on how to accomplish this:
 
* One way, used by Ryan Patricio, involves using the index and ring finger: the index finger does U by pushing LUB, U' by pushing BUL, and R' by pushing BUR, and the ring finger does R by pushing BDR. The ring finger is also free to do D and D' moves, so this method can be useful for people who use a lot of LUR or URD algorithms.
 
* One way, used by Ryan Patricio, involves using the index and ring finger: the index finger does U by pushing LUB, U' by pushing BUL, and R' by pushing BUR, and the ring finger does R by pushing BDR. The ring finger is also free to do D and D' moves, so this method can be useful for people who use a lot of LUR or URD algorithms.
 
* The second way, used by the top Japanese OH cubers as well as Brian Loftus, involves using the index and pinky fingers only. The cube is held with the other three fingers, and then the index finger does U by pushing FUL and U' by pushing BUL, and the pinky does R by pushing BRD and R' by pushing FRD. Although this method is faster for sequences of only U and R turns, no other turns are possible without rotating the cube or changing the grip, so this method of turning can require more cube rotations than the other kind. It is however possible to do u and r turns with a slight grip change.
 
* The second way, used by the top Japanese OH cubers as well as Brian Loftus, involves using the index and pinky fingers only. The cube is held with the other three fingers, and then the index finger does U by pushing FUL and U' by pushing BUL, and the pinky does R by pushing BRD and R' by pushing FRD. Although this method is faster for sequences of only U and R turns, no other turns are possible without rotating the cube or changing the grip, so this method of turning can require more cube rotations than the other kind. It is however possible to do u and r turns with a slight grip change.
  
==Training The OH Hand==
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==Training the OH Hand==
  
 
For most people who want to try OH, their fingers will not initially be anywhere near strong or fast enough to perform [[algorithm]]s quickly, so there are several ways to train the hand:
 
For most people who want to try OH, their fingers will not initially be anywhere near strong or fast enough to perform [[algorithm]]s quickly, so there are several ways to train the hand:

Revision as of 23:01, 18 January 2010

One-Handed solving (or OH for short) is a category of speedcubing that has become very popular recently. One-handed solving requires the participant to solve a Rubik's cube with one hand, and the rules are very strict: you cannot touch the cube with the table or any other part of your body during a solve. This may seem very difficult, but people have gotten averages of as low as 16.19 seconds on the 3x3x3, with typical competition-winning times being around 20–21 seconds.

Which Hand to Use?

While it may appear most obvious that the best hand to use is the dominant hand (i.e. right-handed cubers would use their right hand), using the other hand can work just as well. One reason to use the other hand is if you normally execute algorithms with mostly R and U moves, you will find it much easier to do these turns with your left hand (and similarly L turns are easier to do with the right hand). It is also helpful to do OH with a hand that is already used to holding the cube. Either hand can be very fast, though, and you should definitely try both hands to see which one feels better for you.

Making Turns

Most one-handed cubers will hold the cube with the thumb and middle finger (and often the ring finger as well) and perform turns with the other fingers. Since one goal of one-handed cubing is to use as many R and U turns (or L and U) as possible as they are much faster and more comfortable, the focus is on how to do these turns easily, and there are two main schools of thought on how to accomplish this:

  • One way, used by Ryan Patricio, involves using the index and ring finger: the index finger does U by pushing LUB, U' by pushing BUL, and R' by pushing BUR, and the ring finger does R by pushing BDR. The ring finger is also free to do D and D' moves, so this method can be useful for people who use a lot of LUR or URD algorithms.
  • The second way, used by the top Japanese OH cubers as well as Brian Loftus, involves using the index and pinky fingers only. The cube is held with the other three fingers, and then the index finger does U by pushing FUL and U' by pushing BUL, and the pinky does R by pushing BRD and R' by pushing FRD. Although this method is faster for sequences of only U and R turns, no other turns are possible without rotating the cube or changing the grip, so this method of turning can require more cube rotations than the other kind. It is however possible to do u and r turns with a slight grip change.

Training the OH Hand

For most people who want to try OH, their fingers will not initially be anywhere near strong or fast enough to perform algorithms quickly, so there are several ways to train the hand:

  • Doing specific moves over and over. Just doing RU' or RUR'U' repeatedly can be useful for training the fingers involved in those positions.
  • Performing algorithms. Simply solving a lot without a break, or doing OLL or PLL attacks, can be very useful for training not only the different types of movements required for a solve but also the endurance of the fingers involved. Slowing down at the end of a solve would indicate that you need more endurance.
  • Executing random moves or scrambles. Johannes Laire suggests this method of training; it is useful for exercising the whole hand and not just the fingers that are involved in turns.

"One-Handed Amnesia"

Many beginning OH solvers have found that when they start doing OH solves they often forget algorithms while they are solving, even if they know the algorithms very well for two-handed solving. This might be because sometimes people learn algorithms using muscle memory, and thus are unable to perform them slowly or one turn at a time. If you want to start OH solving, be prepared to have to relearn some of the algorithms that you thought you knew. @see speedsolving.com alg Amnesia thread

See Also

External Links