Try this: Take two stackmat timers and place one above the other. Place your left hand across both timers, and then place your right hand on the top timer. Wait until the light turns green, then, as quick as you can, remove your right hand from the top and place it on the bottom timer, wait until the light turns green, and then move it back to the top. I did this a few times and my time was between .9 and 1.0 pretty consistently, and I moved as soon as I saw the light turn green. I'm guessing some people in competition might wait a bit to ensure the light is on so they don't jump the gun. Now, try this: Holding the puzzle at face level, try to span your other hand across both sensors and see if you can get the light to turn green. Then move that hand immediately to the puzzle and then calmly set down the puzzle and stop the timer. Don't throw it down like a madman, but don't treat it as a glass sculpture (maybe use a 4x4x4 or a 5x5x5 and you'll be less likely to mistreat it). See what time you get. According to the new rules, this should all take place in less than two seconds, and that's assuming the judge is saying "Go" immediately at 13.00 seconds, and I'm guessing there will be just some human delay there also. I think A4d1 and A4d2 times really need to be adjusted or you're going to get a lot of DNF's and +2's. Perhaps the rule should be say "Go" at 15.00 and then the competitor must immediately put down the cube, put the hands on the timer, wait for the light, and then begin. As long as it's one smooth motion (minus the stackmat waiting), it should be able to be done by all competitors by 20.

The point here is that in fact inspection time goes down by around 3 seconds. Because competitors will want to have a secure margin to prepare and start the timer. The procedure itself is nothing special. If you practice with a group of cubers, each scrambling another person's cube, then it is similar.

I'm a bit confused... A3d3) The competitor must put down the puzzle at the end of the inspection. so, that means I have 15 seconds (max) to inspect and put the cube down? or do I need to start solving at 15? by what A3d3 says, I need to have the cube down at 15... but A4d1) The competitor must start the solve within 15 seconds after the start of the inspection. Penalty: 2 seconds so...do competitors have to [b:3ouya9io]start solving[/b:3ouya9io] at 15 or do they need [b:3ouya9io]put the puzzle down[/b:3ouya9io] at 15? (I'll make a video showing both later)

[quote="Pedro_S":2sj3t19m]I'm a bit confused... A3d3) The competitor must put down the puzzle at the end of the inspection. so, that means I have 15 seconds (max) to inspect and put the cube down? or do I need to start solving at 15? by what A3d3 says, I need to have the cube down at 15... but A4d1) The competitor must start the solve within 15 seconds after the start of the inspection. Penalty: 2 seconds so...do competitors have to [b:2sj3t19m]start solving[/b:2sj3t19m] at 15 or do they need [b:2sj3t19m]put the puzzle down[/b:2sj3t19m] at 15? (I'll make a video showing both later)[/quote:2sj3t19m] The inspection time is going down, so A3a1 should probably change to 12. When time is up, you have to put the cube down, puts your hands on the timer, waiter for the light to turn green, and then start the solve. This must be done in three seconds to avoid penalty. In earlier drafts, this had to be done in 2 seconds, which I thought was too close for new competitors, but I think three is good.

Yes, you have to put down the cube after inspection. That seems normal to me. Yes, you have to start the solve within 15 seconds of the start of inspection. So you have to put down your at the latest at 13 seconds, because it takes some time to get the green light and start the solve. Is there a problem in the text? Thanks, Ron

I think the text at A3d3 is not clear, then... by that, one can understand he/she just needs to put the cube down and hands on timer at 15 sec...then wait for green light and go... but that's not actually how it's supposed to be done

I removed A3d3 because it is already in A3d. Thanks, Ron

I'm not sure if I've missed it somewhere in the regulations - is there anything in the regulations to handle the case when a competitor is given someone else's puzzle by accident? This would apply to speedsolving as well as blindfold solving, but I guess I would expect it to show up in Article A. When the puzzle is revealed, is it allowed for the competitor to announce that it is not his puzzle, and have it removed to have the problem straightened out? Or must the competitor solve with the puzzle given (even though it may be in a really strange color scheme, or very different in other ways)? I have seen this happen in competition, so I know this can really happen in practice. Please forgive me if I have missed that this is already in the regulations somewhere. If it is not, then I think it might be nice to add something to cover this case.

@Mike I think we don't need an article for this, since it really should not happen. It's rather obvious a competitor has to solve his own cube, not someone else's. Imagining in the regulations the organization could swap puzzles does not sound very serious. A main judge can handle the case.

[quote="Mike Hughey":2pw6pdun]I'm not sure if I've missed it somewhere in the regulations - is there anything in the regulations to handle the case when a competitor is given someone else's puzzle by accident? [/quote:2pw6pdun] This has happend a few times during competitions when I have been an official. In all cases, I have awarded the competitor a new try with a new scramble. Courtsey of the judge