I was watching curling during the Olympics and was shocked by the very poor form for the delivery of the stones by the Us team. They lost. Apparently, most curlers have slipped into using this form today, They slid way out onto the ice and pushed and turned their stones during their delivery which tended to make them miss the broom. After seeing curling at the Olympics, I sat down at my computer and wrote a set of instruction on how to deliver a stone. While I am over ninety years old and have not been able to curl for over 50 years, I did curl as a player and a skip for a number of years at the Wauwatosa Curling Club. My father was an outstanding skip for many years and was one of those who started the Wauwatosa Curling Club. I remember well how to deliver a stone. The method of delivery determines how well and how often you are able to get the broom.
DELIVERY OF THE STONE
Curling is a game that requires extreme precision and accuracy by all players. It takes time and practice to become a good curler. The delivery of the stone requires an adherence to a basic form of delivery that has been used by the best curlers for well over a hundred years. In recent years the quality of the ice surface has been greatly improved by the use of ice making machines which makes possible greater accuracy and consistency by the players.
It is very important for all players to aim straight at the skip's broom that is to be "on the broom". It helps the skip determine how much turn the stone will take and enables him to be sure of where the broom must be placed for future shots by players that follow. This is especially true in the first few ends of the game because the amount of turn changes according to the condition of the ice for each game. It is very important for the lead and second players to get their stones on the ice where the skip wants them because this enables the skip to build the end the way he wants to. The only way to get the broom and the weight is to have a proper delivery of the the stone.
To start, a player squats down and checks his stone to make sure it is clean as he wipes off the bottom. Next he puts his right foot firmly in the hack with the stone on the ice and the closed end of the handle forward. He places his four fingers under the handle with the thumb and palm of his hand off and not touching the handle. While still in the squat position, his body is upright, head and chin up, and his eyes looking straight at the skip.The skip holds a broom to give the player the exact direction the stone should travel as he indicates the turn and weight for the shot. While the player has left foot on the ice and his left hand holding a broom out for balance, he puts his body weight mostly on his right foot. He is now ready to deliver his stone. Now the curler moves his stone with his right arm extended as far forward as he can without changing his body position. With one smooth motion he moves the stone backward as he lifts it off the ice with his right arm still straight and holding the stone with his fingers only How far he swings it back determines how far or fast the stone will go forward down the ice.The forward swing is aimed at the skip's broom while giving the stone a quarter turn and releasing it just as it touches the ice. It is not banged down on the ice The whole forward motion and release is made all in one smooth delivery. The left foot moves out sideways and back a little for balance during the delivery. For the in-turn the player ends up with the palm of his hand flat and facing upward as the stone is released. For the out-turn the palm of his hand is flat and facing downward as the stone is released.
The follow-through after the stone is released is not critical, However, the curler does not attempt to alter the direction or speed of the stone as it is released. The curler can slide out on the ice a few feet with his right knee on the ice so that his body follows through with the motion of the stone. However, some good curlers do not feel that it is necessary to follow through while releasing their stone.The method described above for releasing the stone has been used by the best curlers for many many years. It is the only way to achieve a consistently high degree of accuracy. It is not necessary nor good practice to slide way out on the ice while releasing the stone. Such a delivery tends to make the curler push and turn his stone while he is releasing it which is very poor practice.
The above directions are intended for a right handed man. However, a left handed man can use the same form but he puts his left foot in the hack made for him. Today, there are many excellent women curlers who are enjoying the game of curling. The same directions for delivering the stone apply for all. The curler need not be exceptionally big or strong to be good at delivering and releasing the stone at any required speed. Some of the best curlers have been lighter weight but well coordinated. The momentum and turn for the shot come only from the forward swing of the stone prior to delivery. Turning or pushing the stone during release will certainly get the shot off the broom and should be avoided. By hanging the stone on the finger tips the player avoids the tenancy to push the stone.and assures a smooth delivery. No sliders or special shoes are required for proper delivery of the stone.
Robert W. Smeaton
Mr. Smeaton feels that curling is a skill sport that is fun for the players but to be able to deliver the stone accurately requires adherence to a proper form of delivery. Like golf, there is only one proper form.
March. 2002