Improving Your Game - Line

Editor: unknown
Date: 2013-03-04

Posted: Mar 4, 2013
Contributed: Colin Sinclair

Be Fine With the Line

If you’re relatively new to curling, you’ll probably be playing front end on a team and never really consider line call. To fully understand the demands of calling line and the importance of communication, newer curlers should find the opportunity to play at back end and see shots coming at them and having to call line.

Before we get into it, what exactly is “line call”? Line is the arc the rock makes as it travels down the ice towards its target. Calling line is telling the sweepers when to sweep and when not to sweep in order to either hold the line or affect the curl of the rock’s travel.

Be prepared. Remember these few simple tips about calling line and you’ll be more comfortable in the house!

1. Communicate back and forth with your sweepers
I cannot emphasize this one enough! From the moment the thrower releases, the sweepers need to be telling the person in the house where the weight is. This means where they think the rock will end up without sweeping. It doesn’t matter if their judgment is off, it will get better with practice – they need to practice – saying nothing does not help things get better or the person in the house call line. Even information like “it’s light” or “it’s heavy” helps – to start out. Pass this information along even on take-outs. Also, the sweepers should continue to provide weight updates to the skip all the way down the ice. The skip or third’s job is to call the line… not the weight!

2. Don’t be afraid of a little volume
It’s loud out there with other games going on and your sweepers need to be able to hear you. Use your OUTSIDE VOICE be assertive. Let your sweepers know what you want and why.

3. Watch for the break
What I mean by this is that at every club, on every sheet, there is a point where the rock will begin to break (more noticeable on draws). This is where the rocks will really start to curl. Here at the Brampton Curling Club it’s usually a few feet before the hog line. If you wait until the rock begins to curl before calling the sweepers on it’s usually too late – anticipate the break! It is important to watch to see where the breaking point is and call your sweepers on before then. Conversely, if the rock is traveling on a straight path (like the 4’ line) when you call for sweeping it may back the rock out a little – so you’ll have to be patient and understand that the break will be later – if at all.

4. Put yourself in a position where you have the most accurate view of the oncoming rock’s line and follow the line as it moves
Usually the best way to do this is to initially call the shot standing up and then squat down once the thrower releases to see the line better. This puts you down at rock level so you’ll be able to see how things are moving. Let your sweepers know about the line whenever possible.

5. Never, ever help your sweepers on a take-out.. ever!
Line is critical on take outs and far more important than the three or four unbalanced strokes you might get in, that is if you manage to avoid knocking over a teammate or burning a rock in the process. Stay in house and call line! That is where you are most effective!

6. Try not to argue line call back and forth with the thrower
This just confuses the sweepers. Although it is always helpful if the thrower can relay to the sweepers any information about the weight they feel that they have just thrown. The person in the house is calling line – listen to them.

7. Don’t be afraid of making a mistake
We all do even Kevin & Glenn (arguably the best in the game right now). It is better to call and err than never to call at all. We learn from our mistakes…

8. Be on the lookout for plan B, C, D, and even E
If you know the shot called isn’t going to work out the way you anticipated don’t give up – never walk away! Start looking for ways to make an errant shot useFUL not useLESS. Maybe you can peel off a guard instead of hitting the one in the house, or perhaps you can call your sweepers off and hog a light rock instead of letting it junk up the front – unless you want the junk. Make sure that you are not lining up a run back or creating a guard you do not want. The alternate shots are endless as long as you’re looking for them. Many games are won and lost on plan ’B’s’, ‘C’s’, ‘D’s..

These are just a few pointers to get you started. Don’t be intimidated take every opportunity that you can to play in the house. As you spend more time in the house you will grow more and more comfortable.