Why do curlers wear microphones?

All curlers wear a microphone during games, a concept that casual viewers get reacquainted with every four years during the Winter Olympics. Anyone watching a curling broadcast knows exactly where the next stone is supposed to end up — or not end up.


What are the curlers yelling?

Some of the most common commands heard are “hurry,” which means to sweep as fast as possible; “whoa,” which means to stop sweeping; and “yup,” which means to sweep.

What are curlers clicking on?

A stone, or a rock, is what is thrown by curlers during the game. It is made of granite and has a standard weight of 19.6kg. The house is the target area curlers aim for. One curler shoots a stone towards the house, made up of three concentric circles, and sweepers guide the stone to its intended destination.


What are the curlers holding in their hands?

Stabilizer. This is a device you can use to balance yourself while throwing a rock; you hold it in your non-throwing hand. There are several types available, and some curlers choose to not use one and use a broom for balance instead.

Why do curlers have a stop watch?

The timing of rocks is becoming more and more prevalent, even in social club play. You can use a stopwatch to determine if a teammate's rock is light or heavy, and further, you can use it to assess the relative speed of the ice - important information to pass on to your skip and other teammates.


Microphones...upside down or right-side up? Does it matter?



What is hanging from curlers waist?

Whether you have a stopwatch on your broom, or around your waist it can be a very useful tool to help both you and your teammates with your curling game. Just remember that it is only a tool – trust your eyes, and use your own judgment as the ultimate deciding factor!

Why do curlers say hurry hard?

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.

Why do curlers yell out numbers?

During a game, sweepers might call out numbers. These numbers indicate how far the sweepers think the rock in play will travel.


What happens if curlers touch the stone?

(a) If a moving stone is touched, or is caused to be touched by the team to which it belongs or by its equipment the touched stone is removed from play immediately by that team.

Why do they brush in front of the stone in curling?

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. The sweeping quickly heats and melts the pebbles on the ice leaving a film of water.

Why do they mop the floor in curling?

The basic principle behind sweeping is deceptively simple. The heat produced by the friction generated by sweeping melts the ice and produces a thin layer of water over which the heavy granite stone slides more easily since the friction between the stone and water is less than that between the stone and ice.


How much does an official curling stone cost?

A single curling stone certified for the Olympics costs over $600. That makes a full set of 16 stones worth $9,600. Since 2006, every stone used in the Olympic Winter Games has come from Kays of Scotland. The company has produced curling stones since 1851.

What is on the bottom of the sweeper in curling?

Head / Brush Head: The plastic part of the broom at the end of the shaft that holds the pads in place is known as the brush head.

Do curlers get fined for swearing?

It is common practice for Curling Canada to issue fines without specifying the amount, this often happens when a player is caught swearing during a live broadcast. Steve Laycock did not appear at the post-game media Zoom session, which is usually reserved for winning teams.


Do curlers have their own stones?

To play curling, a set of stones are needed. They are made of a special type of granite and weigh almost 20 kilos each. Each curler has their own brush and a pair of special curling shoes with one sole that grips the ice and one slippery sole – called a Slider – to be able to slide with a stone during delivery.

Why do curlers blank an end?

Blank Ends

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 is the five rock rule in curling?

From the clubs to the world championships, curlers are adapting to the newest wrinkle in the sport this season. Rocks in front of the rings can't be removed from play until five rocks have been thrown in an end. Previously, the rule was four rocks in what's known as the free guard zone.


What do the colored rings mean in curling?

The scoreboards below show the exact same four ends of a game: Red started with hammer and scored 2 points in the first end; Red stole 1 point in the second end; Yellow scored 4 points in the third end; Red scored 2 points in the fourth end.

Are the stones heated in curling?

Each curling stone is equipped with a heat sensor that can sense if a player releases the stone too late - past the hogline - for a violation.

What does the P mean in curling?

A Power Play can only be used once per game by each team but it is not allowed if the game goes to an extra end. The team with the last stone in that end is the in-house stone. During a power play, the in-house stone is placed with its back edge on the tee line.


What does the hammer in curling mean?

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. 'It feels like floating' US Curling Captain John Shuster on Carrying the US Flag in 2022 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony.

What does NSFW mean in curling?

LSFE (plural LSFEs) (curling) Initialism of last stone in the first end.

Why don t curlers fall on the ice?

The curling stone's concave bottom, which limits how much it comes into contact with the ice, and the pebbles reduce friction. Essentially, the pebbles melt a bit when the heavy stone runs across them, creating a micro-layer of water upon which the stone can glide.


Is curling physically demanding?

What many don't realize is that there is a great deal of physical activity involved in curling. It is a full body activity and requires an amazing amount of physical strength and endurance to compete. Sweepers apply and downward pressure and move the brush back and forth while jogging sideways on ice.