Will other speed solving methods gradually die out?

[OtterCuber]

I fail to see how other methods will die out, if anything CFOP will begin to lose its dominance as other method are further developed. The reason the CFOP is dominate is because that's the method most people use, those people usually don't recommend or/and experiment with other methods thus, when people just getting into cubing look for a method, they just assume CFOP is the safest bet and will give them the best results. While it is the safest method to go with as there is a ton of optimization in algsets, tons of resources, loads and loads of channels with or dedicated to CFOP content, thousands more users than any other method (i:e bigger community) that doesn't mean you can't succeed with a lesser method, take Roux. Not only does it have the WB 3x3 OH Single, WB 3x3 OH Ao5. WB 3x3 single, and a sub-WR 3x3 Ao5 (despite a DNF). All of this was done by one person (Hello @UNO_FASY) which clearly shows that it doesn't matter what the majority says, CFOP isn't necessarily the best path.

I believe cubing will continue to gain more diversity and more cubers will begin to switch to other methods after seeing the potential and uniqueness of other methods. As more experienced cubers begin to use these other methods (Roux, ZZ, ZZ-CT, APB, Mehta, Nautilus) it will start to reach more and more cubers/new cubers and will in turn cause them to gain interest. Along the way some of those will switch to those methods and help spread it even more until one day it will have a very big influence and CFOP is no longer the default (Roux is quickly getting to this level).



I'll share my story: When I started cubing all I knew was CFOP so naturally I switched from LBL and gradually went to CFOP. Once I joined these forums, I discovered that there were other methods with users. I kept using CFOP because that's what I was used to and didn't see a point in switching although I did start using FreeFOP because doing a cross every time is stupid. I first began to really notice other methods when I saw @Cubing Forever using Mehta and making pretty good progress with it and considered switching but I was hesitant because of the weird ergonomics and out of all the different alg sets none of them really sounded that interesting.

When Nautilus was reintroduced I seriously considered switching to it because it looked really cool, I even learned NCLL and planned to switch to it on New Year's 2022, but I wasn't a big fan of NSB and NLS isn't much better than, say CFOP LS. I began searching for another method and when APB was proposed I began to do some solves with it and it began to grow on me until I eventually decided to switch to it, I believe I was the first to main the method (@Athefre correct me if I'm wrong) and I really enjoy it. I personally like variation in my solving and I use a lot of less common method, Lin for squan, Top-first for pyra, APB on 3x3, Hoya on 4x4-5x5, and I'm hoping to switch to LEOR-b for OH.

So no, I don't think other methods will die, they'll just get more popular.

Your knowledge of these exotic methods is very inspiring.

 

[kubesolver]

I don't think it's possible to make any certain predictions.
I can easily imagine speedcubing in the future where cfop is considered beginners method extension and e.g. Roux being the only method left among world class solvers

 

[Bayamo Penguin]

You might find some interesting trends here to answer your question: https://basilio.dev/cubing/megasurvey/CubingMegasurvey2021.pdf

that was very interesting, thank you

 

[abunickabhi]

Mehta method might die out if enough people do not catch it up. Mehta will suffer the same fate as Petrus method.

 

[Rubuscu]

The beginner's method people usually learn is just based on LBL (Layer by Layer) solving. In fact, CFOP can be called advanced LBL Method. This might be a strong reason for people to opt for CFOP knowing it will be more familiar to the beginner's method they use. Perhaps, we need to come up with different beginner's methods which are based on the concepts used in each speed-solving method. Thus, their will be beginner's methods based Block-Building (Roux) and Edge Orientation (ZZ). Perhaps this can slow down the dominance of CFOP.

 

[LBr]

Hi there!

As we know, CFOP is the most popular 3x3 speedsolving method. What prompts many cubers to opt for CFOP is its sheer simplicity and algorithm-based approach. However, is the massive percentage of CFOP users the result of its own merits, or are there other factors involved. In my opinion, CFOP will continuously become more and more popular and kill other methods like Roux and ZZ. As there are better sources to dive into CFOP, and since majority of cubers already use CFOP, this drags new cubers towards CFOP. So, if it continues, it is very likely CFOP will eventually dominate 3x3 speedsolving.

I think more or less all of us want diversity in the cubing community and so, do not want this to happen. What are your predictions and opinions?

I don't agree and I think that probably CFOP will remain most popular, but it won't kill other methods. The other methods will probably stay the same in popularity in comparison to cfop in the future

 

[BAnnaCubes12]

I hope they don't, but if they do, they will never be completely dead.

Yeah there will always be the YouTube tutorials for the different methods.

 

[JohnnyReggae]

I do have to agree with OP's original statement so some degree. CFOP is a natural progression from beginner's, and with the most resources around is easy for most beginners to pick up and move on to. While Roux and ZZ have their merits and those that use those methods would die on that battlefront protecting it, CFOP's popularity will continue to increase faster than the other methods. Some people do change methods later on because they prefer more intuitive solves, but again I don't think those numbers are massive.

I don't believe Roux or ZZ would disappear as there clearly are merits for them that make them more viable than CFOP in certain situations, most obvious is OH. But Roux only benefits in OH due to table abuse, and if that rule ever gets rescinded then Roux will no longer be viable for OH.

IMO at a beginner to intermediate level CFOP requires less thought than Roux or ZZ, and so will be the method that most people would gravitate towards because it is easier to learn.

 

[qwr]

But Roux only benefits in OH due to table abuse, and if that rule ever gets rescinded then Roux will no longer be viable for OH.

It will never go away - it's been more than a decade of complaints and it won't change now.

 

[BirbBrain]

Hi there!

As we know, CFOP is the most popular 3x3 speedsolving method. What prompts many cubers to opt for CFOP is its sheer simplicity and algorithm-based approach. However, is the massive percentage of CFOP users the result of its own merits, or are there other factors involved. In my opinion, CFOP will continuously become more and more popular and kill other methods like Roux and ZZ. As there are better sources to dive into CFOP, and since majority of cubers already use CFOP, this drags new cubers towards CFOP. So, if it continues, it is very likely CFOP will eventually dominate 3x3 speedsolving.

I think more or less all of us want diversity in the cubing community and so, do not want this to happen. What are your predictions and opinions?

I think that the other methods will always be a part of the community, even if they decrease in popularity. i currently have a friend who I taught CFOP but has changed to roux. Personally I use CFOP cause I can't, for the life of me, understand roux, (smol brain). but again, roux and ZZ might decrease in my opinion since cubers usually teach other cubers who in turn teach other cubers and u get the idea.

 

[kubesolver]

I think that the other methods will always be a part of the community, even if they decrease in popularity. i currently have a friend who I taught CFOP but has changed to roux. Personally I use CFOP cause I can't, for the life of me, understand roux, (smol brain). but again, roux and ZZ might decrease in my opinion since cubers usually teach other cubers who in turn teach other cubers and u get the idea.

All we need is a 3x3x3 WR with Roux to change that.
(...)
Tymon in 2035: "you just can't win with the kids who need 10 moves less on average"

 

[UNO_FASY]

but again, roux and ZZ might decrease in my opinion since cubers usually teach other cubers who in turn teach other cubers and u get the idea.

i dont actually