u/xClouds__

My cross takes about 3 seconds and my F2L takes 15. Any intuitive f2l videos don't show how to solve most f2l pairs, only the easiest inserts. Should I learn algorithmic f2l? I insert the corners first and then get the edges done and for my last layer I use 2-Look OLL and 2-Look PLL, currently learning full PLL. My F2L is the only thing keeping me sub-35 and not sub-30.

For reference I use a DaYan GuHong Pro+ M.

How do you think I can improve my times? And is algorithmic f2l a good idea?

Currently, all my (5, soon 9) cubes are stickered and I have never tried a stickered cube, and I think they are aesthetically more pleasing than stickered cubes, however I've also heard that the stickers are annoying to deal with and come off easily. I wonder what your opinions are on this topic

Thank you for taking your time to read this

Sincerely

-me

I've recently started getting back into 4x4 and started remembering it after 1 year of not solving it (PB 1:58), and I really want to learn 5x5. Does anyone have any good 5x5 suggestions below 30$?

I've been cubing layer by layer with my own method with some algorithms (25%) taken from the internet and my PB is 21 seconds with my average being 45. I just recently got back to cubing and remembered everything again and I get the same times as before.

The first layer takes anywhere between 10 and 20 seconds of my solve, with the 2nd taking 10 and OLL + PLL taking 15-ish. I get the first side done in 5 but pairing the layer takes too long imo. What should I do here?

I started showing interest for cubing in around September 2022, and I learned it in December 2022. I did not learn CFOP or beginner's method but rather my own. I solve white side first, then the first layer, 2nd, OLL and then PLL. I cubed a lot from 2022 to 2025, which in August 2025 stopped cubing because I started finding it boring after 3 years. My 3x3 PB is 21.40 or 21.80 something close to that and 4x4 1:58. I memorized only 10-15 short algorithms which I invented/discovered by myself and it seems I have completely forgot PLL by now. I cannot solve 4x4 at all either, forgot the centers and edge pairing. I can not remember any of these algorithms, and since I have not learned CFOP I don't really have anything I can look up on the internet to remember.