While not universal, there are some easy tricks. For example, if the smallest group is toward the front, the configuration is the reverse. If the largest group is toward the rear (2,3,4), the configuration is the reverse. If the largest group is toward the front (2,3,4), the configuration is the reverse of the reverse. If neither the largest or smallest are to the front or the back, then a transformation must be done. The problem is this becomes more complicated than the mental juggling (which is what I do).