Thank you for giving it a try! :-)
This is a game about resource-management. You have to consider if its better to use a resource now, or to save it for later use. If you see an item, you have to consider if it is worth the detour or not.
Since I can watch replays of every game, I know that the top players even explore for speed-upgrades in the early levels. This extra speed gives them some room to explore even more. But you have to develop a sense of knowing when to stop exploring in favor of a good placement.