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Stick Curling techniques / instructional video is available from SURE-SHOT.
Click on this link to see the
"LIST OF INSTRUCTIONAL
VIDEOS"
TECHNIQUES
Cleaning the Stone
If possible, bend over in the hack, rotate the
rock over on its side and clean with a mitten or with your brush. (Standing
behind the hack, placing the stone between the hacks and using the hacks to help
tilt the stone’s running surface upward for cleaning is a suggestion for some
who finds this task difficult).
Alternate Technique: Using a stick which
is capable of lifting and dragging a stone, lift and drag the stone over a mat,
placed on the ice surface, to clean the bottom of the stone.
Delivery of
the Stone
Technique for
delivering a rock with a curling stick or delivery stick is an adaptation of the normal curling
slide delivery. The fundamentals are the same:
-
line --
direct the rock to the target (the skips broom);
-
weight
-- release the rock at the appropriate speed to do it's intended job; and
-
rotation -- release the rock with the rotation that will
cause it to curl in the intended direction, as it moves down the ice.
There are two different methods
for delivering a stone with a stick. Which method is used will be dependent
upon 1) the particular stick used or possibly 2) the preference of the Curler.
Two types of sticks may be used, a curling stick or a
delivery stick. The differences in the two types of sticks are discussed in the
table below.
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Curling
Stick |
Delivery
Stick |
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A Curling
Stick is a device which is used to assist a curler in performing all
of the physical actions of handling a stone which are required
during the game of curling. A common characteristic of these
devices is that they apply the forward motion to the stone by
applying pressure to front (gooseneck) of the handle of the stone.
These
physical actions include:
-
delivery
of the stone
-
moving
stones around the ice surface using both pushing and pulling
motions
-
stopping
stones before the tee-line (i.e. may be required if the skip
changes his shot/call or if debris is encountered)
-
breaking
free debris from the stone after the tee-line and before the
hogline during delivery
-
cleaning
a stone
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A Delivery
Stick is a device which is used to assist the curler in performing
the delivery. A common characteristic of these devices is that they
apply the forward motion to the stone by applying pressure to the
back end of the handle of the stone. |
|
Examples of
a Curling Stick include:
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Examples of
a Delivery Stick include:
-
McGowan’s
-
Cue
-
FoldAway
-
Bob’s Stick
-
Extender
-
Adjuster
-
Del-iverer
-
Mac Launcher
-
Edge Advantage
-
Excalibur
Note: Some of these devices are able to
perform some of the advanced functions of a Curling Stick. Consult
the manufacturer of the individual sticks for more information on
the particular delivery sticks. |
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The
recommended delivery technique is to begin with the handle of the
stone at the 10 or 2 o’clock positions (depending on the desired
rotation to be applied to the stone). Prior to release, rotate the
handle of the stone to the 12 o’clock position. This release is
designed to mimic the recommended delivery technique for slide
Curlers and thus has the same advantages. |
The
recommended delivery technique is the same as that described for
Curling Sticks.
As Delivery
Sticks commonly push the stone by applying pressure to the back end
of the handle of the stone, some Curlers may choose to delivery a
stone by starting at the 12 o’clock position so that line of
delivery may more easily be maintained, and then releasing the
handle of the stone at the 10 or 2 o’clock position.
The Curler
may try both techniques and decide which one is more suitable to
them. |
Stance
The
rules of curling state that the curling delivery must be initiated from the
hack. This applies to Curlers who use curling or delivery sticks as well.
Right handed Curlers must start with their right foot in the left hack and
left handed Curlers must start with their left foot in the right hack.
1)
While standing behind the hacks, place the stone so that it is
centered on the imaginary straight line between the centre of the
appropriate delivery hack and the skip’s brush head (target). Begin with
the handle of the stone in the recommended starting position as designated
in the table above.
2)
Depending on
which turn/rotation the skip is requesting, either grip the curling or
delivery stick with the palm slightly down/knuckles up, so that your thumb
is on the inside of the handle – or with your knuckles down/palm up, so that
your thumb is on the outside of the handle. Whatever grip you commence the
delivery with should be maintained during the entire delivery up until the
moment when the appropriate rotation is applied. Grips, starting positions
and release techniques will often vary somewhat from player to player.
3)
Place the curling or delivery stick on the handle of the stone and
ensure that the handle remains in the recommended starting position. The
handle of the stone should remain in this position until the stone is just
about to be released.
4)
Slowly move
the stone forward on the intended line until you have placed the appropriate
foot in the hack. Attention should be given to pointing the toe in the hack
towards the skip’s brush. Your other foot should be parallel to the hack
foot with the hips and shoulders square to the line of delivery.
5)
The curling or delivery stick should be positioned on the line of
delivery, and the arm bent (soft elbow) so that the hand of the delivery arm
is touching the body at the belt buckle. This will enable the Curlers eye,
hand, length of the stick, and skips broom all to be one direct line and
will help them maintain the intended path of the stone. For Curlers
performing the short delivery, stone momentum needs to be generated very
quickly and thus the Curlers hand should be started from their hip or behind
their hip to help them generate the required stone momentum.
6)
At this point, the forward motion will be initiated with the player
using either – the long delivery or the short delivery.
Forward Motion
Long Delivery
Note: Seasoned curlers may choose to perform
the forward motion while sliding as it mimics the traditional delivery
speed and feel they are accustomed to. This is not recommended for new
“stick curlers” or athletes with balance issues.
The long delivery consists of pushing off from the hack and
walking/striding forward to gain momentum before releasing the rock.
1)
From the stance position the delivery arm must remain firm so
that the stone begins to move in a straight line directly in front of
the Curler. The stone must precede the Curler so that both the stone and
Curler can remain on the line of delivery.
2)
The Curler must walk in such a manner as to ensure the stone
remains on the line of delivery. The speed at the Curler comes out of
the hack and ultimately the speed at which they walk or stride will
determine the speed of the stone. ie. for a guard the Curler will walk
slower, whereas if a takeout is required, the Curler may walk/stride
quickly to create enough momentum for the stone to complete the intended
shot. As you are proceeding toward your release point it is recommended
that you allow your arm to relax and bend slightly which will assist you
in directing the stone at the brush with the correct speed and rotation.
3)
When you are 1-2 strides away from your release point, begin to
rotate the handle of the stone, to the recommended release point in the
table above, in such a manner that that your thumb comes back to the top
of the stick and points at the skips brush. Like the conventional
curling delivery, producing 2 to 3 complete rotations of the stone as it
travels down the ice is recommended. Remember the stick must be removed
from the stone’s handle prior to the leading edge of the stone touching
the near side of the hog-line.
Short Delivery
The short delivery consists of delivering the stone directly from the
hack. This will accommodate Curlers who are not comfortable walking or
running to the hog-line.
1)
The same stance procedure applies ensuring the player begins with
their arm bent at the elbow. However, stone momentum must now be
produced by the Curler without walking out of the hack. To accomplish
this, a player should take one step/stride forward on to the non-hack
foot, simultaneously bending both legs thus allowing for a safe weight
transfer from the hack foot to the non-hack foot.
2)
At the same time the delivery arm extends forward on the line of
delivery, imparting the requested rotation during the extension as per
the directions above. An aggressive arm extension may be required
depending on the ice condition and the shot being played.
The short delivery
makes judging rock speed a little tougher, but with practice Curlers can
become quite good at it. The long delivery can also allow for some fine
tuning with regards to weight by adding more or less arm push upon
extension. Regardless of the technique used, Curlers must ensure the
stone is kept on the line of delivery.
Stop a Stone before the
Tee-Line during Delivery
Utilizing a curling or delivery stick which is capable of
pulling a stone backwards, to stop a stone that is in a forward motion turn the
handle of the stone so that the handle is at the 4 through 8 o’clock position
and pull backwards on the handle of the stick. This will stop the stone.
Dislodge Debris from a
Stone during Delivery
Debris may be dislodged from a stone during delivery by
using a curling or delivery stick to rapidly change the direction of the handle
of the stone between the 10 and 2 o’clock positions.
Moving Stones around the
Ice Surface
Note: some stick manufacturers do not recommend using their
stick to move stones around the ice surface, do NOT attempt this with those
particular sticks.
Forward Motion: Using a curling or delivery stick turn the
handle to the 10 through 2 o-clock positions and push forwards on the handle of
the stick to move the stone forwards.
Backward Motion: Utilizing a curling or delivery stick,
which is capable of pulling a stone backwards, turn the handle of the stone so
that the handle is at the 4 through 8 o’clock position (Note that it is easier
to rotate the handle of the stone if the stone is in motion, i.e. either a
forward or backward motion). It may be required to move the stone forwards so
that the direction of the handle may be changed to the 4 through 8 o’clock
positions.
Sideways Motion: Once the stone is in either a forward or
backward motion it is easy to apply gentle sideways forces to the stone
to move the stone sideways.
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