What is a freeze in curling?

A freeze is a form of a draw shot that stops in front of and next to another rock. This is typically so the rock is so close to another that it is more difficult to take out.

What are the 3 main types of shots in curling?

There are three primary types of shots in curling: a guard, a draw and a takeout. Each type of shot serves a different function. The GUARD is a stone intended to stop in front of the house, not too far past the hog line.

What is a runback in curling?

Also called a runback Reading the ice When a curler considers how the condition of a sheet of ice will influence the path of a thrown stone, similar to how a golfer reads the undulations and texture of a green before determining where and how hard to hit a putt Reverse handle.

Do they freeze the curling stones?

Unlike skating ice, which is made to be as smooth as possible— “burnt,” in industry parlance—curling ice is pebbled. Between games, it is sprayed with droplets of water, which freeze to form microscopic bumps. As all curlers know, pebbling is essential to the sport; without it, a curling stone wouldn't curl.

What are the terms used in curling?

Glossary of curling terms

• BACKLINE. The line across the ice at the back of the house. ...
• BITER. A stone that just touches the outer edge of the circles.
• BLANK END. An end in which no points have been scored.
• BONSPIEL. A curling competition or tournament.
• BRUSH. ...
• BURNED STONE. ...
• BUTTON. ...
• COUNTER.

Why is last rock in curling called the hammer?

By knocking all stones out the opponents could at best score one point, if they had the last stone of the end (called the hammer). If the team peeling the rocks had the hammer they could peel rock after rock which would blank the end (leave the end scoreless), keeping the last rock advantage for another end.

What are the numbers they yell in curling?

1 to 3 indicates a rock in the free guard zone, 4 to 6 the rings in front of the tee line, 7 being on the button, and 8 to 10 the rings behind the tee line. Sometimes, 11 is used to indicate a stone thrown so that it passes through the house and out of play.

Why is curling ice bumpy?

Pebbling was designed to mimic the natural snow and pebbles that were on the ice when curling was played outside. Curlers sweep the ice to help the stone travel farther and straighter. Sweeping in front of the stone reduces friction and helps the curlers control the amount of curl the stone undergoes.

Do curling stones ever break?

Do curling stones ever break? Due to the high quality granite the stones are made from, it is very rare that you would see a curling stone itself break from impact. Most times curling stones break, it involves the handle coming loose.

Why is it called a hog line in curling?

The “hog line” gets its name from an old Scottish slang term for a weak lamb, which was likely to be culled from the flock. Likewise, a “hogged stone” is one that doesn't reach the far hog line and must be removed from play.

What is bumper weight in curling?

Bumper Weight - Sometimes referred to as board weight. Burned Stone - A stone in motion that is touched by a member of either team, or any part or portion of their equipment. A burned stone is immediately removed from play by the party who burned it.

What is hammer in curling?

The team that gets to throw the last stone in a given end is said to have the “hammer.” When a team scores points in an end, their opponent gets the “hammer” in the next end. 0:23.

What does 14 mean in curling?

As a point of reference, a draw to the button requires a hog-to-hog split time of about 14 to 15 seconds, and a hack to hog line split time of 3.5 seconds. The ice conditions for a given game may be slightly different, and may require slightly shorter or longer split times.

What do corner guards do in curling?

A corner guard is a guard that remains away from the centerline. Corner guards mainly protect the outside parts of the 8 Foot and 12 Foot. Corner guards are thrown by the team with the hammer.

Are all curling stones from Ailsa Craig?

For the 2022 Beijing Olympics, all 132 curling stones have been extracted from the quarry on Aisla Craig. The granite available from the isle: Ailsa Craig common green granite, Ailsa Craig blue hone granite, and Ailsa Craig red hone granite, are prized for their tiny molecular structure.

What is the green light on a curling rock?

If you have watched curling before, you may have seen two green lights illuminate near the edge of the stone as it is released. These lights are connected to a sensor that can tell when a curler releases a stone, and is a part of the electronic hog line device.

How expensive are curling stones?

Brand new curling stones cost between $500 and $900 each. Refurbished stones cost about $450 each, and used stones cost between $200 and $350 each, depending on condition and type of granite.

Is curling ice slippery?

The slippery science behind curling starts with the ice itself. Curling ice must be perfectly flat – far flatter than a typical ice hockey rink – and is sprayed with droplets of water before each game to produce a pebbled surface.

Why is curling ice pebbled?

Basically, curling relies on friction — or a lack thereof — in order for players to score. This is done in a process called "pebbling," which Curlingbasics.com describes as "the spraying of water droplets onto the ice," therefore creating a more pebble-like texture on the ice as it freezes.

What kind of ice is used in curling?

The Basics. Curling is played within a curling rink on a playing surface ice called a 'sheet' with granite stones. The goal of the game is, after all 16 stones are played (8 by each team), to have a stone of your team's closest to the center of the house, called the 'tee' (see rink below).

What does hurry hard mean?

The phrase 'Hurry Hard! ' is a directive given to the sweepers to have them begin sweeping harder and faster. This is the most common phrase used and has become engrained in Curling culture, however, any sort of directive that is short and sweet can be used.

What happens if you hit a rock in curling?

(c) If a moving stone is touched, or is caused to be touched, by an external force, all stones are allowed to come to rest and then placed where they would have come to rest if the incident had not occurred.

What does normal weight mean in curling?

– Normal/Takeout/Hit: Several names, all the same thing. This is your general, all purpose, garden-variety takeout weight, one that ends up with the hit rock moving enough to leave play. This is heavier than control, but lighter than peel.

What does a blanked end mean in curling?

A blank end is when neither team scores points, meaning there are no stones on the sheet in the house. It is common for a team to purposely blank an end to retain the hammer for the next end.

What determines who goes first in curling?

STARTING A GAME

All curlers shake hands with their opponents and teammates with “Good Curling” (etiquette). 2. A coin toss is used to determine which team delivers the first stone. This is customarily done by the thirds.