I have picked up many hobbies in the past couple of years that I still continue to participate in and do. My favorite hobby that I had picked up a three years ago is cubing. Cubing is a term for trying to learn to solve puzzle cubes, mainly the Rubix cube and other versions of it, as fast as you can. They are solved by matching the colors on all sides, which involves turns of all of the faces and rows. I love the challenge of learning different algorithms so solve each of the different puzzles you pick up. The Rubix cube, being the most well known, becomes really easy to solve consistently once you recognize the patterns and steps to solve it. Below is a picture of my unsolved Rubix 3x3 cube.
Some puzzles are easier and others are harder than the standard cube. For example, the standard rubix cube is called the 3x3 cube. There is a smaller version called the 2x2 cube and much bigger versions spanning up to 20x20. There are also pyramids, shapeshifting puzzles, and many more shapes.
The main attraction of the cubing community are the competitions. Online or in person, people try to solve the different puzzles as fast as they can with a timer that they start and stop themselves. The people with he shortest times for each puzzle win.I have never gone to a competition before, but I still enjoy the hobby, timing myself to solve each of my puzzles faster. I also love the feeling when I finally learn how to solve one of my puzzles. Of the seven I have, I have been able to successfully solve six, and have learned to consistently solve four of them. The idea of learning new skills and techniques are what makes this hobby very enjoyable, and sometimes addicting. Even if I do not compete, I still time myself using the popular online timer cstimer.net to test my skills and try to improve my records.
Overall, cubing is my favorite hobby that I have recently picked up over the years. I will continue to practice my skills and learn to solve new puzzles. Whether you are at home, at school, or travel, you can bring your puzzles with you to enjoy this hobby anywhere and pass time. Friendly competitions with friends and family are highly recommended. There was never a time where this hobby wasn't exciting and joyful for me, so I recommend this to anyone out there willing to try something new.
Cubing is such a cool hobby that I've never been able to figure out how it's done. My brother has also always been really into puzzle cubes, and I know he's expanded out into bigger and different shaped ones too. Watching him solve it is mesmerizing to me, let alone watching people solve them in seconds. I could never even begin to figure it out, especially with all the different algorithms and ways to solve them, but I think it just makes it that much cooler!
ReplyDeleteI still can't figure out a Rubix cube
ReplyDeleteI got into cubing too! It was while we were in the middle of lockdown in 2020, but it's been a bit since the last time I picked it up. Do you have those specially made cubes designed to turn faster? Or do you stick to the stock Rubix cubes? I've thought about picking up the speed cubes but I'm not sure if I'm dedicated enough for it.
ReplyDeleteI have picked up a Rubiks Cube several times and unfortunately have never been able to solve it. It would be great if you could make some videos and further expand your knowledge on how to solve it, and the world of cubing.
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