Hey guys, it's me CriticalCubing and today I give you some tips and advice for solving
the 3x3 cube one handed.
1. Hardware matters. For OH, what cube you use matters. On top
of the cube, how you set it up also matters. For example, I don't mind using magnetic cube
for 2 handed solving, but don't use it for OH since it requires extra force and makes
my solve choppy and not fluid or smooth. Another example, if you have small hands, you'd have
to opt for smaller cube instead of using the same size cube as your 2H cube. Even how you
tension the cube plays a huge role in OH solving. I personally prefer lighter tensions for OH
and medium to tight tensions for 2H. Some people use the same cube for 2H as well as
OH, and you can do that by setting up the cube for OH solving and getting used to it
for 2H as well. Overall it is the cuber and the cube for OH, so what cube you use and
how you set it up matters, and I'd advise to play around with different cubes before
choosing OH main. I personally use GTS2 for OH. It has a light crisp turning which I enjoy
very much for 2H as well as OH solving.
2. Learn OH Fingertricks and Turning Style OH is different than 2H in the sense that
you only have 5 fingers to use, opposed to 10 fingers during 2H solving. This limits
our fingertricks and freedom to move the layers freely, but there is a way around that and
OH solving has dedicated fingers to move dedicated layers. For example R move is done with our
little finger, same with R'. But for R2 you can either do R R with the little finger,
or you can double flick with little and then ring. For U' we use the index finger, and
same goes with U, but in the opposite direction. For U2, you can double flick using index and
middle, but usually people do U' U'. For L moves, you rotate so you have the L layer
as U layer, and then just use the U layer fingertricks. For D, we use the ring finger,
and D' uses the ring finger again but in the opposite direction. For D2, you can double
flick with little and ring finger. For F, we use the thumb like this, but for F' I would
recommend learning to do it with the index finger since it's much faster. Other way to
do F' is using the thumb but in the opposite direction. Finally B moves, and B moves we
do a wide F move and then just rotate. Practice these fingertricks and get used to them so
when solving, the fingers move automatically without you needing to force yourself to do
the movements.
3. Do triggers mindlessly When you initially start OH, your fingers
lack strength and flexiblity, and the only way to train it is to practice. But instead
of practicing with timed solves, you can also mindlessly spam triggers like RUR'U' or URU'R'
etc while watching TV or doing something else. This helps train your fingers while not dedicating
yourself completely to timed solves.
4. Use little finger and doubleflick. It's quite easy to use ring for doing R moves,
but learning to use the little finger is going to be much more beneficial in the long run.
The little finger is also closer to the R layer which makes using the little finger
more comfortable, and will also help with double flicking. Double flicking is important
since doing RR or DD is a bit slower and double flicking can speed it up. If you want to achieve
world class times at OH, it's imperative to use little finger over ring, and not handicap
yourself. Switch over to using little finger completely and practice RUR'U' and drill these
triggers to get yourself used to using the little finger.
5. There is no problem with using right hand. Most OH users use their left hand for solving,
even if they are right hand dominant, and usually it's recommended to use left hand
for ease of using RU moves. But there is nothing wrong with using the right hand. However you
will have to mirror the algorithms and turning style to fit OH right hand style. And depending
on what method you use, you might have to change the way you approach the method. For
example, in Roux we usually build the First Block on left, which is much more easier using
left handed, than right handed (in my opinion). Some people have mirrored to solve First Block
on right to make it easier for them. Therefore there is no problem with what hand you use
for solving OH, but you might have to make adjustments based on what hand you use (like
mirroring algs, approaching your method differently and so on).
6. OH is basically 2H done slowly. In a nutshell, that is basically it. In my
opinion, OH solving is mimicking 2H solving for the most parts, minus some minor adjustments
like solving certain cases completely RU which is fast for OH instead of doing RUF or other
movement that you'd do in 2H solving. As such you don't have to be world class fast at 2H
solving, but be good at 2H, understand the method that you are using, and improvement
with OH will come naturally with practice. OH being 2H done slowly is also the reason
I'd recommend doing OH with non-dominant hand since you can maintain a linear solving style
instead of changing your approach based on 2H or OH. For example, RU 2H F2L for OH will
need to be done using LU moves, and you'd have to adjust your lookahead and piece tracking
to fit OH style. Similarly using Roux, you might have to do First Block on right hand
side, where as for 2H you do it on the left hand side. This is basically like using 2
methods for OH and 2H, why use the non-dominant hand for OH so that you can mimic your 2H
solve style. Since OH is being done slowly, instead of doing slow-solving in 2H, you can
just do OH solves which will help you practice your lookahead and other skills for OH as
well as 2H solving. Some people are even faster at OH than at 2H solving, so you don't have
to be fast at 2H for being fast at OH. Just be good at 2H, and understand the method you
are using and that's it.
7. Do stretching exercises. Do some stretching exercises which are aimed
at fingers, the joints in your fingers, wrist and basically exercises that stretch your
hand. It helps greatly with finger flexiblity for OH solving. You can find a bunch of exercises
online by making a quick search. Another thing that I personally do is to force my fingers
to stretch, and hold that position. This is the way I practice finger strength and flexiblity.
You can also do these hand exercises before starting OH session and even for 2H sessions.
8. Method Matters? Most people use the same method that they
use for two handed solving. If you use CFOP, then you'd opt for CFOP for OH as well. However
methods like Roux and ZZ have the edge in OH solving since they are rotationless methods
and you don't have to worry about rotating. Thus if you are serious about OH and want
to achieve 10 sec averages, then the method will play a role in it. The current OH World
Record holder, Kian Mansour, uses the Roux method and he averages low 9 global. I don't
think anyone else has achieved sub 10 global apart from Kian, and the fact that Kian uses
the Roux method plays a role in his low 9 global average. In my opinion, Roux is currently
the best method for OH and you can achieve fast consistent times without turning too
fast. I'd recommend taking a look at it. Anyway it's completely fine to use the 2handed method
for OH solving, but do take a look at other methods and see if the other method suits
you for OH or not, assuming you are serious about OH and your main event is OH and you
want to become world class.
9. Don't shy away from using the table. Many people learn RU moves for EPLL like U
perm, H perm and Z perm, but you can use the MU move algorithms for OH as well. You have
to just use the table to help hold the cube in positoin which allows you to freely use
M and U moves without any problems. If you are using the Roux method for OH, table abuse
is mandatory since LSE is done with MU moves and you have to take the support of the table
to help you do the MU moves. And the way you do table abuse is also pretty simple. Put
the cube on the table so that it is supported on the DR edge and the corners around the
DR edges. Angle the cube a bit, and now you can freely use M and U moves without problem.
10. M and U Double Flick Another important double flick is the U move
double flick, and M move double flick, both of which are important double flicks that
will help you during MU UH or Z perm, and for Roux LSE. For M double flick, I personally
use pinky and then ring, and for U move double flick, I do a normal U' move and then continue
it with a finger push. I don't use the U move double flick in solves since my finger isn't
flexible enough, but I do the M move double flick all the time and I'd recommend learning
both of these double flicks and using them in your solves wherever necessary.
Those were my tips and advice for OH solving. If you want me to make a specific video, please
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next video. Take care guys, and bye.