Blindfolded Cubing for Beginners: Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Have you just started your journey into the incredible world of blindfolded cubing?
It’s an exciting and rewarding skill, but like any discipline, beginners often run into the same pitfalls. These mistakes can make the process feel frustrating or even impossible, when in reality they are just natural parts of the learning curve.
In this post, we’ll go through the most common mistakes that beginners face in 3BLD (3x3 Blindfolded solving) and explore practical solutions to overcome them.

Mistake #1: Rushing the Process

We all want to be fast — that’s part of the fun of speedcubing.
But when it comes to blindfolded solving, rushing too early is a recipe for slow progress in the long run. Many beginners jump straight into fast solves without first developing the accuracy and understanding needed. The result? Frequent mistakes, forgotten sequences, and a lack of confidence.

How to fix it:
Adopt the mindset that accuracy comes before speed. Focus on solving slowly and carefully, making sure you don’t miss a single piece in your memo or execution. Over time, consistency will build the muscle memory and mental flow you need, and speed will come naturally.

Mistake #2: Relying Solely on Rote Memorization

Many beginners believe that blindfolded cubing is just about memorizing a sequence of letters. While memorization is essential, it’s not enough. Without understanding how the cube’s pieces move and interact, you’ll often feel lost when the memo doesn’t go as planned. This shallow approach prevents true problem-solving and makes it harder to adapt to new scrambles.

How to fix it:
Start by building a solid foundation — be sure you can comfortably solve the cube sighted before attempting blindfolded solves. When you do move on to memo, don’t just memorize letters as they are. Instead, use mnemonics or visualization: transform letter pairs into words, silly sentences, or vivid mental images. This makes recall significantly easier and more reliable.

Mistake #3: Going All-In Too Soon

Jumping directly into a full blindfolded solve can feel overwhelming.
Beginners often try to memorize both edges and corners in one go, only to get lost halfway through and have to start over. This not only slows progress but can also be discouraging.

How to fix it:
Break the process into manageable steps. First, practice solving with your eyes open until the moves feel natural. Then, try “pseudo blindfolded” solves, keeping your eyes closed but allowing yourself to peek if necessary. Another great approach is to start small: practice solving just the edges blindfolded, and once you’re confident, move on to the corners.

Final Thoughts

Blindfolded cubing is one of the most rewarding challenges in the cubing world, but it takes patience and the right mindset. Mistakes are not failures — they are stepping stones to mastery.
By slowing down, focusing on comprehension, and gradually building up your skills, you’ll avoid the most common pitfalls and get to your first successful 3BLD solve much faster.

Stay patient, enjoy the process, and remember: solving a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded is as much a mental game as it is a physical one.

Published on 2025-08-16