I've had a 3x3x3 for a few years and so far, I solve it with the beginner method. I watched a J Perm video on the F2L approach and now I'm trying to learn to do that faster. At the moment, I'm still faster going one layer at a time.
If you also started with the beginner method and then learned to use F2L, how long did it take for you to get faster with F2L?
Like I said in another recent post, I'm not looking for a WR. I just want to be as fast as my kid at this point. She learned F2L from the start. :)
You are faster with the layer but layer method because you are used to it and have practiced it a lot. Just keep working at f2l and you will get faster with it before long.