Improving Your Game

Editor: unknown
Date: 2013-01-06

Each week during the season we'll post a new article here on ways you can improve your game and have more fun out on the ice. If you have a suggestion for a topic, an article you'd like us to post, or any comments on something we have posted, please talk to Geoff Hart.

2012/2013 Season:

Apr 1, 2013: The Skip
Skips, like goalies, are a rare breed. Not because the skip needs to be the best shooter on the team, they don’t, but because skipping can be lonely and sometimes stressful. They are alone at the far end with only the opposition for company. They also have the weight of knowing that they will throw the last rock weighing down on them (especially when an end is not going as planned).

Mar 25, 2013: The Vice (Third)
The vice is the core of any team. The communication link between the skip and front end. Arguably, the most consistent thrower on the team. Able to make draws and hits with ease. Has a good understanding of the ice and game strategy, and is able to sweep with the best of them whenever required. The vice must also know how to ‘manage’ and work with the skip.

Mar 18, 2013: The Second
Playing second is arguably the least glamorous position on any curling team yet it is a hugely important role – good seconds are hard to come by. The second continues to build on the end that the lead has established or may have to bail the team out of trouble and right the ship.

Mar 11, 2013: The Lead
If you are a fairly new curler or a novice you are probably playing lead on your team. It's important to understand that there is no hierarchy on a curling team – every position has a role to play, and if one is faltering then it makes it more challenging for the whole team. As the lead, you set up the end and your rocks are likely to determine if things will go in your team's favour or you'll be struggling to regain control that end.

Mar 4, 2013: Line
Calling line is one of the most difficult concepts for curlers to learn. Many curler's think the person in the house should be doing all the work; but that's not the case - it's a team effort, and everyone has a role to play. Read on to find out how it's all supposed to work.

Feb 25, 2013: Grip
A good grip combined with a positive release can really help with shot accuracy. If you find yourself over rotating (spinner) or under rotating stones (big curl or loses the handle), flipping rocks or dumping them, having inconsistent weight control, not being able to properly follow through, or missing the broom completely, you just might have a release problem. 

Feb 18, 2013: Balance
Balance is the key element of a sound curling delivery. If you’re shaky and unstable during your delivery, if you drop your delivery hand to the ice right after you release the rock, if you lean on the rock - then it’s time to help build up your balance skills. This article gives you tips to help improve your balance.

Feb 11, 2013: Strategy
This is the time of year when every house league game slows to a crawl so that club curlers can call ridiculously difficult shots like they just saw on TV. Here is a rule to live by: PLAY THE EASY SHOTS WHENEVER YOU CAN AND MAKE YOUR OPPOSITION PLAY THE HARD SHOTS!

Feb 4, 2013: Communication
Teams are constantly missing shots because of poor communication. Notice I said teams and not just throwers. Shot making is a team effort. Simply talking to your teammates (about the shots in your game) can generally improve your game tremendously.

Jan 28, 2013: Please Release Me
A common mistake beginners make is hanging on to the rock too long. When this happens momentum is actually taken away from the rock. This means the rock will likely end up way too light or the thrower will push the rock at the end of the delivery giving it far too much weight and little or no chance of hitting the broom!

Jan 21, 2013: Warm ups and Cool Downs
When I walk into the curling club and watch people "warming up" before their game I cringe. I see people grabbing various appendages and trying to stretch and hold them... WRONG! WRONG!! WRONG!!! This is a good way to injure yourself - learn what you should be doing instead.

Jan 14, 2013: Burned Rocks
Every curler has touched (burned) or will do so at some point. How a curler chooses to react to the situation is the important part, this articles explains what you should do, and what you should expect your opposition to do.

Jan 7, 2013: Slow Play
"Every time we met them in league play we were unhappy before we even got on the ice. Not because they were rude or great players but because they were Slow (capital ‘S’ Slow)...". 8 ends in two hours is quite achievable. Here's a bunch of small things you can do to make it happen!