A space for people to talk about our over-glorified colourful lego blocks!

I first began cubing in year 11, eventually got to a PB of almost sub-20, then took a 3 year hiatus and recently got back into it after going to a WCA competition (as a spectator / personal uber driver for my friend who was competing).

I had sold all my cubes when I stopped and I’m now slowly building back my collection from scratch. I have all the NxN’s from 2x2 to 6x6, plus a pyraminx, a square-1, and a few non-WCA puzzles.

My mains:

  • 2x2: QiYi MS and YuXin Little Magic
  • 3x3: GTS2M – also just recently ordered the WR M Maglev which I’m very keen for (formerly mained JPerm RS3M 2020, and before that the AoLong v2 – I’ve never mained a non-MoYu cube for 3x3)
  • 4x4: RS4M
  • 5x5: YJ MGC
  • 6x6: YJ MGC
  • 7x7: (do not own one at the moment, but just ordered a YJ MGC)

Need to drink a few more home-made coffees and skip some avo toasts before I can buy a GAN.

I’ve always used CFOP, though I’m also a non-colour neutral peasant. I’m also learning Roux as well as some FMC (fewest moves) techniques. FMC is one WCA event that I’ve always been intrigued by (as someone lacking in the ‘speed’ aspect of speedcubing) and if I ever enter a WCA competition, I think I would definitely enjoy FMC the most.

Some questions to kick off discussions!

  • Mains for each NxN?
  • What method do you use for 3x3? (And if you use CFOP – favourite PLL?)
  • Current PBs (single and Ao5), and global average?
  • Favourite WCA event?

    hums_student Yay! I love that this is a thing. I'll copy across content from a previous post below re: current mains and times:

    2x2: Meilong 2M
    3x3: GAN Mini M Pro, though more recently I've been using the MoreTry Tianma V3, and that's a real contender (though much too loud). Past mains have included the GAN 11 M Duo, Valk Elite, RS3M 2020, MeiLong M, Dayan TengYun V1, and GAN 354M. I switch fairly often, but I'd say GAN Mini M Pro for sure if pushed.
    4x4: Meilong 4M
    5x5: Meilong 5M
    6x6: YJ YuShi V2 M
    7x7: YJ YuFu V2 M
    Of the above, I only ever do long sessions with 3x3 (and mains in other NxNs probably reflect that). The others are cool but don't appeal to me as much, and I'm not as good at them.

    Favourite PLL is definitely H perm, but I use the beginner method still, despite cubing for 10+ years on and off lol. It's been a long-term thing for me where I've been trying to motivate myself to learn CFOP, but I've just never done it, and now my muscle memory is so hard to break. Current PBs:

    Single solve: 10.01 (GAN Mini M Pro)
    Mean of 3: 16.87 (MoreTry Tianma V3)
    Average of 5: 17.79 (GAN Mini M Pro)
    Average of 12: 19.09 (MoreTry Tianma V3)
    Average of 100: 21.37 (GAN Mini M Pro)
    Average of 1,000: 22.59 (GAN Mini M Pro)
    Average of 5,000: 23.06 (GAN Mini M Pro)
    Average of 10,000: 23.32 (GAN Mini M Pro)

    -

    Can you solve square-1? I've been trying, but can't even get it back to cube form yet lol. Do you always solve for white, or also yellow?

    What did you think of the comp experience, by the way? I know you didn't compete, but how was the vibe? I've been considering for ages, and I know they're always supposedly really wholesome, but I'm just nervous haha.

        hums_student What method do you use for 3x3? (And if you use CFOP – favourite PLL?)

        I use a really simplified CFOP structure with intuitive F2L and 2-Look OLL to minimise the amount of algorithms I need to know haha.

        Joseph41 Can you solve square-1?

        I don't own one so no 🙁 I do have a weird windmill cube (is that what it's called?) which I can sort of solve but not properly. Square-1 looks insanely hard though! 😮

        Speaking of cubing, since this is the ATAR Notes forum after all, did you know that the legendary Feliks Zemdegs not only won the WCA World Championship in 2013 but he also smashed his VCE in the same year as well? He got a perfect study score of 50 in English as well as a 44 in Spesh, 45 in Physics and a 48 in Economics! These amazing results are reflected in the insane 99.90 ATAR which he received 🤩

              Joseph41 Can you solve square-1? I've been trying, but can't even get it back to cube form yet lol. Do you always solve for white, or also yellow?

              Can't solve a square-1 either. I've fiddled around with it enough to get it back into a cube through pure luck, but no further progress.

              I actually have red as my default cross colour. When I first learnt how to solve a 3x3, I followed a colour-neutral tutorial that said to look for the easiest cross. It just happened to be red the first time and I've stuck to it since. I occasionally solve from orange but only if the cross is significantly easier.

              Joseph41 What did you think of the comp experience, by the way? I know you didn't compete, but how was the vibe? I've been considering for ages, and I know they're always supposedly really wholesome, but I'm just nervous haha.

              I thought the vibe of the competition was fantastic and I'm now thinking of signing up for one myself. I've always been put off by the thought of being much older than most other competitors but then I spoke to a guy there competing alongside his son, and I just thought, if this mid-30s guy isn't worried about being too old, then what excuse do I have?

              leotlion Speaking of cubing, since this is the ATAR Notes forum after all, did you know that the legendary Feliks Zemdegs not only won the WCA World Championship in 2013 but he also smashed his VCE in the same year as well?

              Never realised he did VCE the same year he won in Las Vegas! His time management skills must be god tier.

              One of my Economics tutors at uni allegedly did a group assignment with Feliks Zemdegs back when they were both studying BCom lol.

              It's pretty interesting looking at uni majors of different cubers. Many end up in STEM but there's also quite a few in econ (eg. Feliks Zemdegs, Keaton Ellis). Then there's also Jack Cai who did music at Monash!

                      leotlion Yeah, Feliks just seems brilliant in so many ways haha. Has done so much for cubing and the cubing community.

                      hums_student Interesting re: red cross. I think red/orange is probably my least likely cross, because I actually learnt from green. I can't remember why, but I moved to white fairly soon after I think.

                      Maybe we could go to a comp together! That way, we're both equally out of our depth haha. From what I've heard, though, age and stuff really doesn't matter in the slightest.

                      -

                      Also, my first PB AO5 in a while:

                      Generated By csTimer on 2022-08-04
                      avg of 5: 17.51

                      Time List:

                      1. 17.68 B' U' R' D2 U2 L' U2 L' R' B2 U2 R' B2 D L' F2 U2 B U2 R2
                      2. 17.40 F' U L2 B2 F2 R' F2 L2 U2 L2 U2 L' F2 R' F' L B' D R B L'
                      3. (22.72) F' L' B2 D2 R2 U2 F2 R U2 L B2 R2 F' D2 R D' B' F L2 D2
                      4. (16.01) F' D' L' U' L2 D' L2 D2 L2 B2 U' R2 B2 F L F U' B F D
                      5. 17.45 B F2 R' U2 B2 D2 R D2 L' B2 F2 L' D' R2 F' D2 R' D U

                      GAN Mini M Pro. Beginner method.

                            Oh Feliks is a really nice guy and is cracked at cubing. My PB is 34 mostly because I stopped after getting sub 40. I should get back to cubing but I never seem to find the time!

                            Also, I'm not too sure how to solve the 1x1 cube. I found a few tutorials but they're too hard to follow. I would really love and appreciate it if someone could explain how it's done.

                              6 days later

                              somebody8442 The 1x1 meme really stumped me for a while when I started cubing haha. Must get one one day!

                                Joseph41 Interesting re: red cross. I think red/orange is probably my least likely cross, because I actually learnt from green. I can't remember why, but I moved to white fairly soon after I think.

                                Interesting. Are you colour neutral (or mostly for white/yellow green/blue)?

                                Joseph41 Generated By csTimer on 2022-08-04

                                The real question is how do you set up your csTimer...
                                My set up

                                somebody8442 Also, I'm not too sure how to solve the 1x1 cube. I found a few tutorials but they're too hard to follow. I would really love and appreciate it if someone could explain how it's done.

                                J Perm has a pretty solid 1x1 tutorial, I managed to finally get sub-1 minute after following his tips!

                                Also, more than a week late but Tymon officially broke sub-5 average!

                                        hums_student Interesting. Are you colour neutral (or mostly for white/yellow green/blue)?

                                        Nah, not colour neutral, though honestly I haven't really tried much at all. White/yellow I'd say are completely the same. Green is probably the next best, and then my times would suffer if I tried for blue/red/orange. I have no doubt it's worth working on, but there are also probably bigger fish to fry when it comes to my times haha.

                                        hums_student The real question is how do you set up your csTimer...
                                        My set up

                                        This is very, very nice, and I might have to steal your setup. I had mine all nice (similar kinda aesthetic), but then had to re-set stuff on my laptop and never bothered changing it back - so now it's just that jarring default aesthetic lol. Do you use any other timers? I have Twisty Timer for phone, which does the job.

                                        hums_student Also, more than a week late but Tymon officially broke sub-5 average!

                                        Genuinely a ridiculous average, particularly given one of the solves had to be re-done due to an incorrect scramble. Surely one of the most clutch solves in history, that last one.

                                        I reckon Max must be very close to sub-five, too (got WR2 single recently). And Matty. It's only a matter of time.

                                                Joseph41 Do you use any other timers? I have Twisty Timer for phone, which does the job.

                                                I have byte cube on my phone, though I don't use it much. I'm thinking of buying a stackmat timer, though I'm also not sure whether I'm ready for that level of commitment yet. Have you ever used a stackmat timer?

                                                Joseph41 Genuinely a ridiculous average, particularly given one of the solves had to be re-done due to an incorrect scramble. Surely one of the most clutch solves in history, that last one.

                                                Yes absolutely insane! Hats off to the guy.

                                                I know people keep saying this every time someone breaks a barrier, but I wonder if sub-5 is the limit... I guess it's technically possible to get a sub-4 average but I feel like it wouldn't be achieved for a very long time.

                                                nek minit Yusheng Du gets a 3.47 average

                                                Also, do you have any favourite cubing YouTubers? I'm very basic but J Perm has literally shaved about 20 seconds off my times.

                                                      hums_student Never used Stackmat, but similarly thinking of investing. I'm not sure how much I'd really use it, though, unless I start going to comps.

                                                      YouCubers - I like J Perm, CubeHead, Tingman, Z3Cubing. Matty has really chill comp vlogs.

                                                        a month later

                                                        GAN 13 is coming soon - anybody interested in purchasing it? 👀

                                                        23 days later

                                                        Gan is way too expensive

                                                        2x2: MGC, with CLL, global high 3s
                                                        3x3: RS3M, regular cfop, global 14.8s. I might get one of the tornado v3s soon tho
                                                        4x4: Meilong, yau, global 1:07
                                                        Square-1: Volt v2, vandenberg, global 19s
                                                        I also have a pyraminx and megaminx but I rarely practice
                                                        And ofc, square-1 is the best event

                                                          rst Love this!

                                                          Tornado V3 looks awesome. I actually didn't love the V2, which I know is an unpopular opinion. It felt good to me to turn, but I never solved well on it. Did you use the V2 at all?

                                                          • rst replied to this.

                                                              rst Nice one. What are your comp experiences? Any advice for somebody on the edge about going to one?

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