CURLING TERMS
BACKBOARD
border at extreme end of sheet, behind the
house
BACK END
the team members who curl last in an end (Vice
Skip & Skip)
BACK LINE
the line at the far end of the house, just
touching the twelve-foot circle. A stone that completely crosses this line is
out of play.
BIG END
score of four or more points in one end
BITER
stone just touching the outside edge of the
twelve-foot circle
BONSPIEL
tournament; when a number of teams play in
several events, usually over a weekend
BUTTON
the one-foot-diameter circle at the center of the
house
CENTER LINE
line drawn down the middle of the sheet,
between one house and the other
COUNTER
stone lying closer to the tee than any of the
opponent’s stones
CURL
the curve in the direction of the turn of a stone as
it slows down to a stop; also called a bend or a draw
DOUBLE TAKE-OUT
when a shot strikes an opponent’s stone,
ricochets to strike a second one, and pushes them both out of play
DRAW
a shot that comes to rest in the circles without
striking another stone; or the amount of arc or swing of stone during its
movement up the ice; or the selection of teams and schedule of games for a
specified period of play.
EIGHT-ENDER
when a team scores eight points in one end
(very rare!)
END
a division of a game, during which each player throws
two stones from one end of sheet to the other and points are scored
FALL, FALL OUT
when a stone moves the opposite way from
the direction that it is turning, as it travels down the ice
FREEZE
when stone has just enough momentum to stop when
it touches another stone
FRONT END
the team members who curl first in an end (Lead
and Second)
GUARD
to place one stone in front of another stone to
protect it; or the name of a stone so placed
HACK
an immovable brace for the foot set into the ice at
the point of delivery. One is provided on each side of the center line for right
and left-handed players.
HAMMER
the last stone delivered in an end; so called
because it can be the decisive shot
HOG
a stone that fails to cross the far hog line
HOG LINE
a line drawn across the ice in front of the
house; a delivered stone must be released before the near hog line and clear the
far hog line to remain in play
HOUSE
a goal at each end of a sheet, designated by
concentric circles that are 4 feet, 8 feet, and 12 feet in diameter
ICE
the sheet of ice played upon; or the distance between
where the skip wants you to aim the stone and where he wants it to stop
IN-TURN
a stone that is released with the palm of the
hand turned up, towards the body
LEAD
the player who delivers the first pair of stones for
the team
NARROW
a stone that is delivered towards the area closer
to the target than the Skip’s broom is held; also referred to as "Inside"
OFF THE BROOM
a stone that is not delivered towards the
Skip’s broom; off target
ON THE BROOM
a stone that is delivered directly towards
the Skip’s broom; on target
OUT-TURN
a stone that is released with the palm of the
hand turned down, away from the body
PEBBLE
texturing of the ice surface by mist-spray,
providing a running surface for the stone
POINTS GAME
a game where typical shots are set up, played
and scored according to accuracy
PORT
an opening between two stones that is wide enough to
allow another stone to pass through
RAISE/PROMOTION
hitting a stone lightly with a delivered
stone, causing it to advance to a better position
DRAW WEIGHT
when a stone has just enough momentum to stop
in the house
RINGS
the concentric circles that make up the house,
often referred to as the 4-foot, 8-foot, and 12-foot rings
RINK
a group of players who make up a team; or a sheet of
ice
ROCK
another term for a stone
ROLL
any movement of a stone after it strikes another
stone; it is often desirable for a delivered stone to "hit and roll" or "tap and
roll" into scoring position
SECOND
the player who delivers the second pair of stones
for the team
SHEET
ice on which a game is played
SHOT ROCK
the stone lying closest to the center of the
house
SKIP
the team member who stands in the house, determines
strategy, decides how each stone is to be played, and usually delivers the last
two stones for the team
SKIP’S ROCKS
the two stones delivered by the Skip; as the
last stones delivered in an end, they are considered critical to its outcome
SLIDE
the forward movement of a player delivering a
stone
STRAIGHT HANDLE
a stone traveling without revolving
motion; the stone is said to have "no handle" or to have "lost its handle"
SWINGY ICE
when the draw or arc of a traveling stone is
greater than usual
TAKE OUT
when the delivered stone strikes another stone
hard enough to remove it from play, while the delivered stone remains in
play
TARGET
the stone’s objective; the point where the Skip
would like the delivered stone to stop
TEE
the exact center of the house
THIRD
Vice Skip; the player who delivers the third pair
of stones for the team
WEIGHT
the speed at which a stone is delivered. tee
weight, hack weight, hog weight are various terms for delivering the stone with
just the right amount of speed to reach the tee, the hack, or the hog Line
WICK
when a stone bounces lightly off another stone
WIDE
a stone that is delivered towards the area farther
from the target than the Skip’s broom is held; also referred to as
"Outside"