Demystifying the "Gummy Cube" – An Enthusiast‘s Guide to Speed Cubing

As a fellow speedcuber, I‘m sure you‘ve come across cubes that just feel…off. Ones where the plastic seems to stick to itself, and even a simple turn feels like a slog. I‘m talking about the dreaded "gummy cube" that fills many aspiring speedsolvers with dread!

But don‘t let a gummy cube slow you down. With the right knowledge and a few tweaks, that sticky nemesis can become your trusty companion! Stick with me and I‘ll walk you through everything you need to know about dealing with gummy cubes and getting yourself on the path to faster solve times.

Smooth Sailing – Understanding Cube Lubrication

The gummy cube usually arises from one place – cube lubrication. Not using enough lube can leave a cube dry and scratchy. Too much low quality lube though, and you‘ve got a sticky mess.

Getting lubrication right is an art but don‘t worry, thousands have balanced on this tightrope before you! There are a few key principles to keep in mind:

Know Your Lubricants

Walk into any competition and you‘ll see cubes dripping with all types of oils and greases. Here are some of the most popular options:

• Silicone – Light silicone oils are fast but can become gummy in excess. Watch out for brands like Lubicle Black that tend to be sticky.

• Water-based – Watery, thinner lubes like DNM-37 provide speed but don‘t last as long.

• Cubicle Labs Lubricants – More advanced blends that aim to balance speed and control. Standouts are their Silk, which has silicone and PTFE, and Stardust with PTFE and molybdenum.

Layer Thinly

Less is more when it comes to lubricant. For each piece, a thin, uniform layer does the job. Dropping globs in one spot can pool lubricant and slow the cube down.

Break It In

After lubricating, don‘t judge a cube just yet. Solve it anywhere from 50 to 100 times to let the lubricant spread evenly throughout the moving pieces. The cube will often speed up noticeably.

The Right Amount Varies

How much lube to use depends on the cube, climate, and your turning force. Frequent solvers in humid regions may need more lubricant than casual solvers in drier areas. Don‘t be afraid to experiment!

With the right lube choices and a delicate touch, you‘ll have that buttery smooth feel in no time!

Law and Order – Abiding by Regulations

Now I don‘t want you to end up like my buddy Ravi who got a DNF for illegal corner twisting! Let‘s talk about staying on the right side of regulations:

• Inspection – You have 15 seconds max to inspect the cube before solves. Plan out your cross but don‘t start manipulating the cube.

• Solved State – All parts must be aligned within 0.5 mm. A single turn misalignment earns a +2 penalty.

• Twisting – As we covered earlier, single corner twists to fix unsolvable states are permitted. Anything more causes a DNF.

• Conduct – No distracting other competitors by being noisy or disrupting solves. GG = good game, sportsmanlike conduct is key!

Get a feel for the regulations and you‘ll avoid rookie mistakes. Unethical behavior like memorizing scrambled states is rare but will get you banned.

Now go show ‘em how it‘s done! But quietly please =)

Choosing Your Path – Speedsolving Methods

Ever wondered how the top speedcubers manage to blaze through solves in mere seconds? Let‘s dig into popular solving methods:

CFOP

The most common, uses:

• Cross – Form a cross with edge pieces
• F2L – Fill in first 2 layers
• OLL – Orient last layer pieces
• PLL – Permute last layer pieces

Roux

A blockbuilding approach with fewer moves:

• First block – Build a 1x2x3 block
• Second block – Build a 2x2x3 on opposite side
• CMLL – Orient last layer
• LSE – Permute last layer edges

ZZ

Focuses on move ergonomics:

• EOLine – Orient all 12 edges
• F2L – Fill in 2 layers intuitively
• ZZLL – Combine last layer orientation and permutation

Petrus

Another blockbuilding method:

• 2x2x2 block – Build a 2x2x2 corner block
• 2x2x3 block – Expand to 2x2x3
• EO – Orient all 12 edges
• F2L – Intuitively complete first 2 layers
• LL – Last layer with algorithms

Try each one out and see which clicks with your solving style!

Finger Gymnastics – Essential Techniques

Once you‘ve picked a method, it‘s time to get those fingers moving! Speed comes from mastering techniques like:

• Finger tricks – Clever finger moves that let you turn layers quickly. Learn tricks like the double flick for faster U turns.

• Rotationless solves – Avoiding cube rotations helps lookahead. Use wide moves like Rw instead.

• Multislotting – Insert multiple F2L pieces simultaneously to cancel moves. But don‘t force it if not convenient.

• 1-looking PLL – Recognize and execute PLLs in one look without pausing. Drill your PLL recognition relentlessly!

Practice drills for these skills in your spare time. It‘ll develop the dexterity needed for fast execution.

Hardware Matters – Choosing Your Cube

New cubers often ask me – "what cube should I use to get fast?" They expect me to name some fancy, expensive cube.

But here‘s the truth – any decent speedcube can get you down into the 10-15 second range with enough practice. My recommendation for beginners? Grab a RS3M 2020 from Moyu – it‘s both cheap AND excellent!

Here are some signs you may want to upgrade your hardware though:

• Corner cutting – Cube can‘t cut 45 degrees. Time for a cube with looser tensions or a mechanism designed for cutting.

• Lockups – Pieces catch during turns. Try lower viscosity lube, loosening the tensions, or a cube with anti-lockup designs.

• Controllability – The cube feels unstable due to fast, slick turning. Consider a softer plastic material or magnets to add control.

Avoid getting caught up in buying the latest flagship cubes until you‘re at least sub-15 seconds though. You still have lots of room to improve with any modern speedcube!

Step By Step – Progressing as a Speedcuber

As you practice and improve at cubing, you‘ll likely see your times drop in stages:

• Sub-60 – Know a basic beginner‘s method and have practiced intuitive F2L.
• Sub-30 – Start using advanced methods like CFOP, 4LLL, and some lookahead.
• Sub-15 – Utilize full CFOP, 2LLL, intermediate finger tricks and lookahead.
• Sub-10 – Master advanced techniques like multislotting, rotationless solving, 1-looking PLLs.

With daily practice and gradual refinement, you‘ll be blowing away your old personal bests in no time! Don‘t worry if you hit plateaus – they are normal and you‘ll break through with persistence.

Most importantly, embrace the journey. Speedcubing teaches problem solving, pattern recognition, diligent practice and patience. The thrill of those new personal records will come along in time.

Now grab your cube and let‘s get cubing my friend! I‘ll be right here to share more tips as you continue improving on your passion for twisting plastic. Game on!