Should the WCA change megaminx scramble notation from Pochmann notation to Carrot notation?

[An Animating Cuber]

When scrambling for megaminx in a WCA competition the scramblers use Pochmann notation which look like this:
R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- U
R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- U'
R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ U
R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ U'

In Carrot notation is an alternative to Pochmann which some consider better the notation looks like this:
+- +- +- +- +- U
+- +- +- +- +- U'
-+ -+ -+ -+ -+ U
-+ -+ -+ -+ -+ U'

 

[An Animating Cuber]

*Megaminx Scramble Notation. I Forgor to put that in the title

 

[NmeCuber]

When scrambling for megaminx in a WCA competition the scramblers use Pochmann notation which look like this:
R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- U
R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- U'
R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ U
R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ U'

In Carrot notation is an alternative to Pochmann which some consider better the notation looks like this:
+- +- +- +- +- U
+- +- +- +- +- U'
-+ -+ -+ -+ -+ U
-+ -+ -+ -+ -+ U'

How do you know if it's r or d moves with carrot notation?

 

[An Animating Cuber]

All megaminx scrambles Carrot or Pochmann are R move, D Move, R Move, D move etc.
you can read about it some more in this wiki article: https://www.speedsolving.com/wiki/index.php/Megaminx_notation

 

[ruffleduck]

Carrot notation is easier to read and thus it is less likely to make mistakes.

 

[Running for cube]

Personally I’m all for it. It seems less hard to make mistakes and shorter too.

 

[Jorian Meeuse]

Nah I find the current notation very aesthetically pleasing

 

[Lucas Garron]

I think the best way to answer this would be to do research to determine the following for *both* newcomers and experienced scramblers:

• Is it easy to get used to?
• Do they like it more?
• Is it faster?
• Is it more accurate?

You'd also have to think through how the notation is meant to be conveyed/reminded to those who only scramble Megaminx occasionally (which is common in areas where all the people familiar with Megaminx... are competing instead of scrambling).

The latter are the primary concern of the WCA.

 

[OreKehStrah]

Even if it’s “nicer to read” it shouldn’t change. People already are terrible at scrambling (see recent Singapore champs). Changing notations will make the problem worse.

 

[FenTheGoat]

When scrambling for megaminx in a WCA competition the scramblers use Pochmann notation which look like this:
R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- U
R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- R++ D-- U'
R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ U
R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ R-- D++ U'

In Carrot notation is an alternative to Pochmann which some consider better the notation looks like this:
+- +- +- +- +- U
+- +- +- +- +- U'
-+ -+ -+ -+ -+ U
-+ -+ -+ -+ -+ U'

I wish it would be in R U L D F B.

 

[Isaiah Scott]

I wish it would be in R U L D F B.

Yes so true

 

[abunickabhi]

Carrot notation will save space on the scrambling pdf.

But is saving the space necessary?

 

[Americancuber232]

Carrot notation will save space on the scrambling pdf.

But is saving the space necessary?

Yes, yes it is

 

[Tabe]

Carrot notation is easier to read and thus it is less likely to make mistakes.

I find it harder to read.

 

[espeed]

You'd also have to think through how the notation is meant to be conveyed/reminded to those who only scramble Megaminx occasionally (which is common in areas where all the people familiar with Megaminx... are competing instead of scrambling).

Yeah you're right. I can already hear the question "Is R or D first?" on every scramble table.

 

[OldSwiss]

That's why I only handscramble and don't work as a scrambler

For me the Pochman seems to be easier. If you lose your positon while reading the line, it's better to find the correct position if you directly see which one was an R and which one a D.

I think it's easier to read with the letters.

 

[SkewbIsTheBestEvent]

I can't find any significant differences to switch, so I would prefer pochmann.

 

[xyzzy]

If nothing goes wrong, Carrot is easier and faster to read, but like @OldSwiss mentioned, if you lose your place mid-scramble, Pochmann notation lets you recover more easily.

I don't have a strong opinion either way, but considering that my main opinion of mega scrambles is that they're not long enough (don't shoot me), if Carrot notation's conciseness allows for longer scrambles, then I'd support that.

(Also I once asked someone who was (much) faster than me at mega and they said they preferred Carrot.)

I wish it would be in R U L D F B.

Megaminx scrambles used to be like that, with one separate letter for each face. It was a nightmare.

 

[Jorian Meeuse]

I don't have a strong opinion either way, but considering that my main opinion of mega scrambles is that they're not long enough (don't shoot me), if Carrot notation's conciseness allows for longer scrambles, then I'd support that

On the topic of shooting you, how are mega scrambles not long enough? I don't really notice any distinction between normal scrambles and scrambles one or two lines shorter or longer. I haven't really tried it out a lot, but do you have any statistics that support your claim?

 

[xyzzy]

I haven't really tried it out a lot, but do you have any statistics that support your claim?

One of the projects on the backlog…

I did a quick sample of 4-row and 5-row scrambles a few years ago, and those did (seem to) have noticeable biases. I don't especially trust this experiment (small sample size + the checking was done manually rather than by computer) so I've been thinking of redoing it properly lately.