How to Hold a Rubik's Cube Properly for Speed
Published by System Administrator
Why Grip Matters More Than You Think
When most people first pick up a Rubik's Cube, they instinctively hold it with their full fist wrapped around it, rotating faces using their entire wrist. While this works for casual solving, it creates a massive bottleneck when trying to improve speed. Professional speedcubers hold the cube using only their fingertips, which allows for rapid, fluid turns without repositioning the entire hand.
The standard speedcubing grip involves resting the cube on the fingertips of both hands, with the middle fingers and ring fingers providing support from below, and the index fingers and thumbs positioned to execute turns. The pinky fingers either rest lightly on the bottom layer or hover freely. This setup allows each finger to perform independent movements — a critical requirement for executing finger tricks.
The Home Grip Position
Think of the home grip as the neutral position your hands return to between moves. In this position, your left hand controls the L (Left), U (Up), and D (Down) faces, while your right hand controls the R (Right), U, and D faces. The front face (F) can be turned by either hand depending on the algorithm.
To achieve the home grip, hold the cube so the left thumb rests on the front-left edge of the F face, the left index finger sits on top of the U face near the UL edge, and the left middle and ring fingers support the back of the L face. Mirror this positioning for the right hand. The cube should feel balanced and light in your fingers — never squeezed tightly.
Common Grip Mistakes Beginners Make
The most frequent mistake is gripping too tightly. A death grip prevents smooth rotations and leads to lockups where pieces catch on each other. Another common error is holding the cube too deep in the palm, which restricts finger movement and forces wrist-based turning. Additionally, many beginners hold the cube at an angle that obscures one or more faces, making it harder to spot pieces during the solve.
- Too tight: Relax your grip until the cube can rotate freely in your fingers.
- Palm grip: Move the cube out to your fingertips so your fingers have full range of motion.
- Bad angle: Tilt the cube slightly toward you so you can see the U, F, and R faces simultaneously.
Exercises to Improve Your Grip
Practice turning each face with only your fingertips. Start with single R and U moves — flick the right face clockwise using your right index finger, then flick the top face using your left index finger. Repeat this hundreds of times until the movements feel effortless. Next, practice R U R' U' sequences (known as the "sexy move") at a slow, controlled pace, focusing on keeping the cube stable in your fingers throughout.
Another excellent drill is the "sune" exercise: perform the algorithm R U R' U R U2 R' repeatedly. This forces you to combine upward flicks, downward pulls, and double turns in sequence, training your fingers to transition smoothly between different movements. Start slow and gradually increase speed only when accuracy is consistent.
Adjusting Grip for Different Algorithms
Not all algorithms use the same grip. Some require what's called a "re-grip" — a brief repositioning of the cube in your hands to set up the next sequence of moves. While re-grips are unavoidable for certain algorithms, minimizing them is key to faster solves. As you learn more algorithms, pay attention to which grip position allows you to execute the entire sequence without stopping to re-grip. Many top speedcubers specifically choose algorithms that minimize re-grips over technically shorter alternatives.