Curling

[pothole]

I think many people who consider curling 'boring', is mainly because they don't understand the game. The basics are pretty simple, score 2 points or more when you have the 'hammer' ( last rock has a big advantage ) and when not throwing last rock either 'steal' a point or 'force' the other team to take 1 point. Sound easy ? IMO curling is the only true team sport and I say that for this reason. The 'skip' who calls the game has to know the following before he can even place the broom on the ice to request the player to make a shot, how all his team release the rock as this will effect the amount of curl. Where there are straight spots and ridges in the ice that will effect how far the rock will travel and how much or little it will curl. Other things to take into account are humidity as this will bring frost to the ice surface slowing down the speed of the rock and heat ( number of people in the stadium ) this has the same effect. When the player finally releases his rock, the skip needs to know where the sweepers ( they call them brushers now for some reason ) estimate where the rock will stop if they don't sweep it. Sweeping the ice in front of the rock creates a thin film of water on the ice surface which reduces friction and makes the rock run straight and further than it normally would travel. He also has to see that the rock was released cleanly and inline to where he held the broom for the player to aim at. The person throwing the rock has to know the speed of the ice and kick out of the 'hack' ( rubber foot grips set in the ice ) at the right speed to deliver the rock, he also has to 'hit' the broom he is aiming at and have a clean release. The sweepers have to know immediately he releases the rock what speed he has thrown it and relay that information to the skip. During practice the players 'match' rocks for distance and amount of curl. Just because the rocks you are throwing are numbered 1 & 2, doesn't mean they will curl or travel the same, the two worst rocks are usually given to the 'lead' ( 1st thrower ) as they are the least consistent, and all curlers ask for is consistent rocks and consistent ice. The ice is shaved and re-pebbled after every game so a straight spot one day might curl like crazy the day after as the ice will have been shaved three times. So now you know the basics take a 42lb junk of granite and slide it 120ft down a sheet of ice to within an inch of where your skip asks you to throw it. Then remember the game is also likened to chess on ice as just as important as all the above is game strategy. Hope this helps you folks to understand curling a little better. Oh I almost forgot, the rocks thrown by the opposing lead thrower, cannot be removed from play by the other teams lead if they are outside of the scoring rings ( house ), these are thrown as guards in an attempt to curl rocks behind them later in the game to generate multiple points

[Grindelvald]

I agree with treebor here. Curling is a big skill game and co-operation with teamates is essiential. Curling rocks! (no pun intended)

P.S. hope you dont mind tree but I made the words bigger on your post cause it was hard to read!

[Tomturkey46]

And don't forget the Beer, it is always needed!!!!!

The Turkey