Getting faster¶
This page contains no algorithms. It contains what makes the difference once you know the algorithms — and what will save you the most seconds if you are just starting.
What actually slows you down¶
Time yourself once and watch where the time goes. The answer is almost always a surprise:
| What you think | What is actually happening |
|---|---|
| "I turn too slowly" | You turn fast, but you stop between steps |
| "I'm missing algorithms" | You spend 40% of the time hunting for the next piece |
| "I need to practise more" | You are repeating your mistakes faster |
The pauses matter more than finger speed. A 60-second solve typically contains 20 seconds of motionless hands.
Lookahead¶
This is the core skill, and it can be trained.
The idea: while your fingers execute a known sequence, your eyes are already hunting for the next piece. You do not need to watch your hands, they know what they are doing.
The drill¶
Solve very slowly, at a third of your normal speed, forbidding yourself any pause. The cube must turn continuously, gently but never stopping.
It is frustrating and it gives you terrible times for a week. Then the pauses disappear, and you come back up much faster than before.
The 3-second rule
If you go more than 3 seconds without moving the cube, you are hunting — that is where your gain is, not in a new algorithm.
Fingertricks¶
A move should be done with one finger, not with the wrist.
| Move | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|
U |
left index | pushes the top face to the right |
U' |
right index | the most frequent motion on the cube |
R |
right ring finger | pushes upwards |
R' |
right index | pulls downwards |
F |
right index + left thumb | |
M |
left ring finger | pulls the slice towards you |
The sexy move test
R U R' U' must be done without moving your palms, using only your
fingers. If you readjust your grip between moves, the fingertrick is not
there yet. Repeat it slowly until the grip stops moving.
The hardware¶
The original cube is a real handicap
The branded Rubik's cube from a shop locks up: it will not turn unless the faces are perfectly aligned. Any modern "speedcube" at €15 is radically nicer and removes half of your hesitations.
It is the only purchase that makes a real difference. The rest is comfort.
A few pointers:
- Tension: the cube should turn without forcing, but not fall apart when you shake it. Most recent cubes adjust without tools.
- Lubricant: one drop, twice a year. Most people use far too much.
- Magnets: they make the faces "click" into alignment. Very pleasant, not essential.
A training plan you can stick to¶
Twenty minutes, three times a week, beats three hours on a Sunday.
- 5 min — warm-up. Ten normal solves, no timer.
- 5 min — cross only. Twenty timed crosses, with inspection.
- 5 min — one weak point. A single F2L case, or three PLL algorithms.
- 5 min — slow solves. With no pauses at all, as described above.
How to know whether you are improving
Do not look at your personal best: it depends on scramble luck. Look at your average over 12 solves, dropping the best and the worst. That is the measure used in competition, and the only one that moves readably.