F2L

[speedcuber]

My avg timing for cross + intuitive F2L is 30+secs. Can anyone tell me if there is any rooms for improvement?

[Jt]

Of course there is, cross can be cut down to 2-3s and the rest of the F2L to 10s, making your total first 2 layers time about 12-13.

[speedcuber]

Of course there is, cross can be cut down to 2-3s and the rest of the F2L to 10s, making your total first 2 layers time about 12-13.

Hmmm.... but how? I mean how can i cut down my f2l as they need at least 8~15 turns to fix 1 side and by the time i have fix 1 side my timing has increased by 3~4 secs!!

[Jt]

Of course there is, cross can be cut down to 2-3s and the rest of the F2L to 10s, making your total first 2 layers time about 12-13.

Hmmm.... but how? I mean how can i cut down my f2l as they need at least 8~15 turns to fix 1 side and by the time i have fix 1 side my timing has increased by 3~4 secs!!

Each f2l pair can be done in about 6-8 moves on average. Try to figure out different ways of setting up f2l pairs for insertion. If you are still unable to, look up cubing sites and see their solutions, and try to understand it(very important that you understand and not learn blindly).

[headache]

The cross - matter of practice

F2L - the secret is multitasking. Your insertion of each single pair must become second nature to the point that, when you are inserting the current pair, your eyes can check out the girl admiring your solve for and locate the next pair. So much so that it seems there is no pause in your execution of the F2L.

So practice until you can insert automatically without looking at the pair being inserted.

To train you'll need to go slow. SLOW is necessary when you are starting out - to coordinate automatic insertion and your roving eyes.

Pretty soon, you'll be able to insert while looking for the next pair and, at the same time, admire the pretty girl boarding the MRT.

 

[foxdi]

practice till u can insert the pair the moment u see the 2 pieces .

then try to get use not looking at the pair ur inserting .

then try to get use to look for other pair while inserting .

lastly ,  is to get use to insert pairs + find next pair + look at girls like what headache say   .


how i do practice , i slow down on every last insertion move and pause to look for the next pieces . same for cross .

[headache]

how i do practice , i slow down on every last insertion move and pause to look for the next pieces . same for cross .

You probably sped like a coyote at the start of the insertion and needed to slow down to check near the end of the insertion. I used to do that. Now I try to maintain consistent speed.

It also means that I am able to check for the next pair right in the middle of the insertion.

Pros - am I doing this right?

[foxdi]

how i do practice , i slow down on every last insertion move and pause to look for the next pieces . same for cross .

You probably sped like a coyote at the start of the insertion and needed to slow down to check near the end of the insertion. I used to do that. Now I try to maintain consistent speed.

It also means that I am able to check for the next pair right in the middle of the insertion.

Pros - am I doing this right?

lols , i saw tt way to practice on some webby . dan knight practice like this too ,  .

i have the lowest tps of all cubers around i think lols .

im just slow in finding pieces , so i need extra pauses lol  .

[headache]

You are being modest.

Your time is fantastic despite the "pause" execution.

Heck - even harris chan pauses (in his 11s solves)

[Jt]

I'm confused on which is better, fast+try to lookahead, or slow and steady. During a period of time, I tried the former, and I saw a 1s spike in my timings(benson noticed it also). But now, it doesn't seem to be working anymore

[foxdi]

I'm confused on which is better, fast+try to lookahead, or slow and steady. During a period of time, I tried the former, and I saw a 1s spike in my timings(benson noticed it also). But now, it doesn't seem to be working anymore

i would say hmmm ,

when your not tired , slow and steady would have better timings . ( needs more concentration )

when your tired , fast+try to lookahead ( forced to concentrate ) .

LoLs !  .

after all its still the cuber`s preference 

[solveITfast]

What I Do Is To Look Ahead.......

When U Make A Move...Think Of Where The Other Pieces Will Move And Hence Think Of Your Next Move......

Can`t Help Much On The Cross....Sometimes Its Luck If U Have Simple Movements To Make.......

Just Practice.....Practice aND  Practice.......

[Jt]

What I Do Is To Look Ahead.......

When U Make A Move...Think Of Where The Other Pieces Will Move And Hence Think Of Your Next Move......

Can`t Help Much On The Cross....Sometimes Its Luck If U Have Simple Movements To Make.......

Just Practice.....Practice aND  Practice.......

Bro, do me and everybody else a favour, allow us to keep our sanity. PLEASE DON'T CAPS THE FIRST LETTER OF EVERY SINGLE WORD, IT IS AN EYESORE! Either cap the first letter of every sentence(proper punctuation), or don't caps at all. =.="

[bonoan1027]

First of all, cross does not have to be that hard. It should only take 2-3 seconds with 6-8 moves just as Jt said. During the 15 second inspection, try choosing one of the first face's corners that might will end up in the U layer (assuming you do your cross on the bottom). This technique, corner tracking, is a good way to link the Cross step to the F2L step since it is easier to look for edges once you have found the corner that it goes with.

Next, F2L should be practiced slow and steady until you can get sub 10 in Cross+F2L. Slow and steady, meaning that you shouldn't rush the solve and you make sure that you don't make any pauses. Of course, going slow and steady can only get you so far, therefore you should start turning as fast as you can while keeping the lookahead that you practiced thus getting your F2L to sub 8 .

I hope this helps.

OT: I haven't been in this forums in a while! Good to be back. 

[Jt]

try choosing one of the first face's corners that might will end up in the U layer (assuming you do your cross on the bottom). This technique, corner tracking, is a good way to link the Cross step to the F2L step since it is easier to look for edges once you have found the corner that it goes with.

Hmm.. I should try this technique you speak of.. Perhaps I can make some f2l improvements there