Hey David,
Answers to your questions below:
> Quick question: on Rubiks.com, it has a big WARNING message on the
>revenge/professor cube saying that due to having many more moving
>parts, these cubes are much more delicate than the 3x3x3 and are "not
>suitable for speedcubing". Does this just mean that these cubes are
>more likely to pop a piece, or that they are actually prone to true
>breakage?
That's just their warning so that if you do break it you can't sue or
anything. Basically, don't be surprised if you do twist an Xcenter
(the centers that are closest to the corners) and it breaks.
www.cubesmith.com sells replacement pieces, and I belive rubiks.com
might as well.
The rubiks.com 5x5's are the ones that a lot of people use for
speedcubing though, so no worries.
> Second quick question: When would you recommend I start learning
>how to blindfold the 3x3x3? I have only been seriously cubing for
>about a month, and I currently average maybe 1:50 or so (just
>memorized the basic 17 algs for PLL/OLL, so i expect my times will
>start to decrease as these become more second-nature to me).
You can learn how to blindfold solve anytime you want really. Again
check out the blindsolving group, but there are tutorials written on
how to blindfold solve (check out Macky's and Tyson's tutorials. I
think Leyan may also have one, but not sure). It won't harm your
speedcubing at all, and is just a different way to solve. I would
personally recommend starting with either the corners only of a 3x3x3
cube or a 2x2x2 cube blindfolded. Like anything blindfold solving
works by learning the basics and working up. Though you could learn
to solve the 5x5 first, it would be a lot harder in my opinion. I
think your time would be better spent learning the 2x2, then the 3x3,
then the 4x4, then the 5x5. Though you should know that there are
people who have done the 3x3 then gone straight to the 5x5, so it
really is up to you.
> Third quick question: are there some people who simply can't learn
>to blindfold? b/c if there are, I would bet (from knowing the way I
>think/learn/etc) that I am one of them :-(
Absolutely not. I am totally convinced that anyone could learn to do
this. It takes only the desire to do it, and dedication to practice
and train your memory. Now I do believe that some people are gifted
with a stronger memory than most, but anyone can train their memory to
do things that might now seem impossible to you right now. Your
memory, and anyone's for that matter, is definitely trainable, and
with practice you definitely could do the cube blindfolded (yes even
the 5x5), no doubt at all. One thing that working on blindfold
solving taught me is that your memory is actually much *better* than
you think it is. You'll find that you'll actually have a problem with
trying to *forget* information from a previous solve, even though a
lot of time has passed since then.
In short I think blindfoldsolving is for everyone, and is achievable
by everyone. Anyone who thinks they can't blindfold solve, I am
convinced I could teach you how to do it (and any BLD solver really
could teach you how to do it), but I would offer to help if I can.
Just look for me on yahoo messenger (cmhardw). All it takes is just
for you to want to do it.
Chris
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