Learn Curling at Your Pace

1

What Is Curling?

Curling is a team sport played on a long sheet of ice. Players slide 42-pound granite stones toward a circular target while teammates sweep, judge speed, and plan what should happen next.

The short version: finish closer to the center than the other team. The interesting version: every stone changes the puzzle.

2

The Sheet

The long lane of specially prepared curling ice is called a sheet. A target sits at each end so play can travel back and forth.

Thin lines cross the ice. The most important ones for a beginner are the hog lines, which a delivered stone normally must cross to stay in play, and the tee line, which runs through the middle of the target.

Beginner basics

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What Is the Hack in Curling?

3

The House

The large target at each end is called the house. Its colored rings help players judge position, but they do not have different point values.

The button is the middle

The small circle at the center is called the button. When an end is finished, distance from the button determines who scores.

A stone only needs to touch the house to be capable of scoring.

4

The Rocks

The 42-pound granite objects are officially called stones, although curlers call them rocks too. A handle allows the player to give the stone a gentle rotation at release.

That slow turn makes the stone curve—or curl—as it travels. Players do not lift and throw the stones. They slide them along the ice.

5

The Teams

Traditional curling has two teams of four. The teams alternate shots. Each player delivers two stones, so each team plays eight stones per end.

Everyone contributes. A player may deliver, sweep, judge the stone’s speed, hold the broom as a target, call the shot, or help discuss strategy.

6

Player Positions

Lead

Throws the first two stones and usually sweeps six teammate stones.

Second

Throws third and fourth, often playing a mix of draws and takeouts.

Third

Throws fifth and sixth, helps with strategy, and usually confirms the score.

Skip

Directs strategy, holds the target broom, and often throws the final two stones.

Teams may arrange throwing order differently, but the four position names remain useful.

7

How a Shot Works

1. The skip chooses the shot and holds the broom where the player should aim.
2. The player delivers the stone with the planned direction, speed, and gentle rotation.
3. The sweepers judge speed while the skip watches the path.
4. The team communicates until the stone stops.

Curlers call speed weight. A “draw weight” stone is meant to stop in play. A “takeout weight” stone travels faster so it can hit another stone.

8

Sweeping

Curling ice is covered with frozen droplets called pebble. Sweeping warms and smooths the very top of that pebble for a moment.

Good sweeping can help a stone travel farther, stay straighter, and curl less. It influences the shot; it does not let players steer the stone anywhere they want.

Sweeping and timing

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Why Do Curlers Carry Stopwatches?

Open the timing and sweeping guides

9

Scoring

After all 16 stones are played, look for the stone closest to the button. That team scores.

It earns one point for every stone closer to the button than the opponent’s closest stone. Only one team can score in an end.

If no stones are touching the house, the end is blank and nobody scores.

10

Ends

A round of curling is called an end. Teams alternate deliveries until all stones have been played, then the score is recorded and play moves in the opposite direction.

Many recreational games last eight ends. Major competitive games are often ten ends. The team with the most points after the final end wins.

Game timing

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The Curling Time Clock Explained

What thinking time means, and when the clock stops →

11

Hammer

The team throwing the final stone of an end has the hammer. Last rock is valuable because it gives that team the final chance to score, remove danger, or repair a messy situation.

How the Last Stone Draw can decide first-end hammer →

If the hammer team scores, hammer normally moves to the other team in the next end. If the end is blank, the hammer team normally keeps it.

12

Basic Strategy

Teams do not simply aim every stone at the button. Early shots create options; later shots use or remove them.

Basic shots

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What Is a Freeze in Curling?

Strategy

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Why a Team Blanks an End

Strategy tools

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Why Do Curlers Carry Stopwatches?

Teams with hammer usually want room to score more than one. Teams without hammer often try to make the end difficult and force the opponent to score only one.

Open the Beginner Strategy Guide

Practice the basics

Build your curling delivery routine →

Quick glossary

Curling Terms You Will Hear

13

Rules Beginners Should Know

• Release the stone before it reaches the near hog line.
• A delivered stone normally must completely cross the far hog line to stay in play.
• Do not touch a moving stone. If you do, say so right away.
• Early guards receive protection under the five-rock rule.
• A stone touching the sideline or fully beyond the back line is out.
• Do not move stones until the score is agreed.

14

Curling Etiquette

Begin and end with a handshake or friendly greeting. Stay still and quiet during an opponent’s delivery. Keep the ice clean. Be ready when it is your turn. Compliment good shots, including the other team’s.

Curling is competitive, but it expects honesty. If you break a rule—even when nobody else noticed—you say so.

15

What Happens at a Curling Club

For a learn-to-curl, wear clean, comfortable shoes and warm layers that let you move. Clubs usually provide stones, brooms, sliders, grippers, and instruction.

You will learn how to walk safely, deliver or use a stick, sweep, score, and play a short game. Many clubs can place beginners in leagues even if they do not arrive with a team.