Curling Terms

With curling being declared as a Winter Olympic sport in 1998, it has finally got a boost it so desperately needed. The increasing popularity of the sport has compelled people to search for its terms and rules, so that it can be better understood and enjoyed. Even though some may know the common terms, there are several others which may not be familiar.

Backboard- The boards at the back of the area in which the game is played. There are two backboards at either end.

Blank End - A game that ends without any of the teams scoring a point, is known as a black end.

Bonspiel - A curling tournament is known as a bonspiel.

Button- The central circle which surrounds the tee is called a button. Usually, it's a foot in diameter.

Burned Stone - When a stone is touched when its moving, it's called a burned stone. Burned stones are removed from play.

Center Line - The line that passes through the center of the playing area, is known as the center line. It's drawn from one hack, i.e., the point from which a player delivers the stone, to the other.

Circles - These are at the center of the playing area, and are the scoring area of the game.

Come Around - A stone released by a player that curls behind another stone, is known as a come around.

Coming Home - When the players play the final round of the game, it's called coming home.

Counter - A position in which the stone can score a point, is known as a counter.

Curl - The curved path the stone takes after a shot, is known as the curl.

Delivery - The motion the player makes while releasing the stone, is known as the delivery.

Double - When two stones are removed from the playing area with a single shot, it is called a double.

Draw - A stone curled in such a way that it stops just outside the house, is known as a draw.

Eight-ender - At the end of the game, if a team scores the maximum possible points, it is called an eight-ender.

End - When both the teams have thrown all the rocks in one of the sessions of the game, it is called an end.

Extra End - In case of a tie, an additional end is played so that the game ends with a result, known as an extra end.

Freeze - A stone which stops after touching another stone, is known as a freeze.

Front End - In a curling team, the second and the lead player are called the front end.

Guard - If the stone becomes stationary in such a way, that it guards another stone, it's called guard.

Hack - The foot-hold the curler uses to start the delivery, is known as a hack.

Hammer - The shot which is played last is called the hammer.

Heavy - If a player delivers a stone with more force than required, it is referred to as heavy.

Hit - A stone which is released with an intention of hitting another stone, is known as a hit.

Hit the Broom - Whenever a player releases the stone, and it comes to stop exactly where it was intended to be placed, it is known to have hit the broom.

Hog - If a player intended to hit a stone, but the stone stops short, it's called a hog.

Hog Line - The hog line is a thick black line which is 33 feet away from the hack.

House - Houses are situated at both the ends of the ice sheet, and is an area which is situated within the circles.

Hurry - A hurry is a call given by a player releasing the stone to his teammates to sweep quickly.

In Turn - Whenever a right-handed player hits the stone and it rotates clockwise, it is called an in turn.

Keen Ice - A keen ice is when a player needs very little effort to deliver the rock. It is also called fast ice.

Last Rock - The stone which is thrown at the end of an end, is called the last rock.

Losing The Handle - When a stone loses its rotation when it travels, it is called losing the handle. Sometimes, it may start rotating in the opposite direction.

Out Turn - When a stone rotates counterclockwise when hit by a right-hander, is known as an out turn.

Pebble - Water droplets are intentionally sprayed on the ice surface to get the regularity, which allows the stone to curl. This surface is known as the pebble.

Port - A port is a small gap between two stones, wide enough to let a third stone pass through it.

Rings - The boundaries of the house, which are solid circles, are known as rings.

Rock - Rock is the graphite stone which is used for curling.

Roll - When a stone moves after it hits another stone, it is called a roll.

Second - Second is a player who throws the third and fourth rock for his team.

Sheet - The area in which a game of curling is played, is known as a sheet.

Skip - Skip is the player who leads a team.

Spinner - When a stone is thrown with too much spin, it is called a spinner.

Steal - When a team scores a point without the advantage of the last rock, it is called a steal.

Take Out - When a player plays a shot which is powerful enough to remove a stone from the playing area, it is termed as a take out.

Tee Line - The line which meets the center line at the house, is known as the tee line.

With the information you have gained from the curling terms and definitions mentioned, hope you would be able to understand the game better, and enjoy it to the hilt.