Out of the box it actually turned pretty smooth, outer layers spin more freely than the middle layers and the tension was super loose...after some maintenance and lube its performance is great. It is one of my favorite cubiods to solve as it is quick and not to complicated, it also looks cool sitting on display...I recommend this puzzle for anyone who wants an easy but different solving experience or just for collection!! Don't forget the 2x2x4 and the 2x2x6 to complete the set!!