Current PB single: 23.077s
Current PB Ao5: 33.476s
Some cool discoveries so far:
- For PLL training, the same alg can be used for solving & scrambling the cube! Because effectively the algs are for changing the locations of pieces, so executing the PLL algs with the cube already solved simply restores the cube to its previous, unsolved state!
- I probably need to use F2L algs for the more difficult F2L cases, but I've yet to identify what those cases are... :/
Some issues right now:
- Cross takes around 4 secs right now, which is too slow (in fact, that's close to the time the elite cubers spent on their WR solves!). Practice for solving the cross under 4 secs was what gave me the PB single of 23.077s, so I guess it's very important. :) For a 20-sec solve, the rough guideline is cross = 2s, F2L = 10s, OLL = 2s, PLL =6s. Surprisingly, I think my cross is way sub-par, and that's burdening my solve times the most (yes that's quite surprising!). Some cubers recommend solving the cross blindfolded to improve muscle memory, so I'll try that.
- Inspection time of 15 secs seems too short for me to consistently plan an efficient cross, let alone track the 1st F2L pair (preferably to be inserted at the back to free up slots in front where I can see, and that probably means I'll need to start thinking about the colour of the front face that I'll end up with after solving the cross, and relative to that, which F2L colour I should look out for)
- OLL: purely 2-look, as 1-look is too tedious. Probably not a priority until I've solved cross, F2L & PLL issues which are more pressing
- PLL: well, I've learnt some 1-look algs (J, R, T, F) but can't recognise them well enough. Fingertricking isn't done as well, and I'm slowly getting the "Rubik's wrist".
- 1 thing I didn't notice earlier was that: since PLL is purely for last layer, it doesn't matter how the top layer is oriented wrt the 2 solved layers! I can just do AUF afterwards, which means that I can indeed recognise PLL cases purely by looking at the last layer alone, then anticipate which colour I'd end up with at the front, and orient the solved last layer accordingly.
Some solutions:
- Acquire a deep understanding of PLL algs (1-look) by reading Sarah's cubing guide, and becoming more sensitive to colours, and in particular, how they're related to one another
- Right now, colour neutrality (CN) is what I'd like to acquire, but first, I think I'll learn to solve very efficiently with cross being white or yellow. At least those 2 colours would give me a higher chance of seeing an efficient cross, compared to confining myself to white cross alone. Then I'll see about CN. But most cubers say CN should be acquired in the earlier parts of one's cubing journey, so I'll see about that.
- Practise the cross until I can execute it efficiently, confidently, preferably whilst blindfolded, and last but not least, comfortable with the 15-sec WCA inspection time
Some measurable goals:
- Scramble the cube & just practise cross alone, perhaps focusing on just white/yellow. CN would allow me to spot more efficient crosses but at the cost of recognising F2L pairs (as I'm not familiar with all the colours yet), so maybe CN would be a concern later on
- Get the cross to below 3 secs consistently
- While solving the cross, try to track the 1st F2L pair, preferably the easiest, and also one that's to be inserted at the back slot!
- Calculate the F2L time using CSTimer splits, & hopefully I can get it down to 8 secs or less :)
- Well, OLL is pretty tough with the algs, so I'll likely still stick to 2-look OLL for the time being. But I'll learn the mirrors of the most common 2-look OLLs that I know to save the cube rotation (which I'm already used to doing, so that's a bad sign)
- Familiarise myself with PLL, 3-4 algs a day & master them. Make full use of the theory of spaced repetition to flatten my forgetting curve. Look for YouTube fingertricks to execute algs in a more ergonomic manner & also to prevent injury. Lastly, even if I don't know the full set of 21 PLL algs, try to incorporate them into my solves whenever I chance upon them. That way, I can apply my knowledge to my solves to consolidate my learning.
Some metrics for 8 July 2018 (1 week later)
- A sub-20 PB single
- Improved PB Ao5, Ao12, Ao20 (does CSTimer/QQtimer have all these features?)
- Focus on certain segments of the solve (e.g. cross) to cut down time. Aim for 3-sec cross or sub-3 cross each time. Better still, keep an eye on the 1st F2L pair that may be solved at the back slot (but well, for a start, tracking any F2L pair is good enough I guess)
- Examine complex F2L cases & refer to Feliks' outline to see which algs may be applicable to my solves or my weaknesses.
- Greater familiarity with PLL, at least be able to recognise the PLL cases I've learnt using the . Also, slowly unwind my neural circuitry to dissociate the last layer from the solved 2 layers while executing PLL, because AUF is the solution anyway.
- Probably still execute G perms with 2-look PLL, but still, time it, and cut down time on it to improve.
Time to work hard!
