Analyze Your Mechanics

Let the CurlTech Technical Team analyze your delivery and sweeping mechanics. Our team has years of experience analyzing and teaching curling. There is no other program like this in the world. The level of analysis is detailed, comprehensive and based on your curling goals. Whether you want to make more shots in league play or you are Olympic bound. Once we analyze your mechanics, you will have a clear path to your goal. The initial analysis is designed to "baseline" your mechanics. We are available for as much follow-up analysis as you need for a nominal fee. Below is an actual analysis for your review.

Complete the request form accompanied by a video of your delivery and sweeping. Our team will e-analyze the mechanics complete with a detailed analysis and suggestions for improvement. Allow 3-5 days for the completed analysis sent via email.

Cost $100

Process:

Complete the Request for Analysis form (coming soon - under construction).
Email us (info@curltech.com) a video of your delivery and sweeping. The delivery should be a side AND front view. Sweeping from any angle.
The Technical Team will spend 1-2 hours analyzing the video. Once complete, we will send, via email, a completed analysis report.
Once your analysis has been received, send a check to CurlTech.

Sample Analysis - Bill Miller

This is an actual analysis of a 38 year old male that has curled for eight years and wants to play in regional events leading to world play.

Delivery - Setup, Alignment, and Forward Press (1)

Your setup looks mostly good. Your rock is positioned just inside of your throwing shoulder, which is preferred. Keep in mind that your rock starts inside the center line. This will means your out-turns cross the line and your in-turns never get to the center line. This means the center line is not a good reference point. Beware.

Try moving your sliding foot forward to a heel-to-toe position. This will increase the natural body motion as you bring it back to the Step (2) position. Place your broom head one foot farther forward to keep the shoulders square (and keep it forward for the entire delivery).

Delivery - Drawback and Step (2)

When you feel more comfortable, delay the sliding foot slightly after you begin to move the rock back. This is the first delay in the double-delay process. Your hips are moving properly to an up-and-back position. Keep doing this. Your weight should be on your sliding foot at the Step (2) position with the sliding foot in a heel-to-toe position again (but reversed - you sliding foot is now heel-to-toe behind the hack foot).

Delivery Foot Delay

Here's one of your biggest opportunities. Your rock and sliding foot are moving forward together. This forces you to "push" from the hack where most of your energy is created. You may have been taught this way. However, moving the rock out first and delaying the sliding foot will allow your body to move forward and drop into place - using momentum and gravity to help generate power. This puts your body mass in play and changes the Power Ratio to the body mass instead of the leg push. See the "CurlTech Performance Drop Drill" to practice this.

Delivery - Slide and Balance (3)

Your slide looks comfortable and stable. Your sliding foot however, is slightly too far right. This is stable but not balanced. You lean on your broom to compensate. In addition, this "over kicked" sliding foot is causing a noticeable drift to the right caused by the sliding foot energy moving from left to right. This right-moving energy is taking you off line and is "bleeding" valuable forward energy needed for repeatable weight control. There's an easy fix. Position your sliding foot one inch to the left as you slide. This will allow you to slide straight with all energy down the line, toward the skip's broom. At the beginning, you will notice a lack of stability on the left side and it will take some repetition to feel comfortable.

Delivery - Release

Your grip is good and the rock handle starts a 45 degrees. As you slide, you start the rotation too soon, causing an over-rotation at release and some lateral energy inside the line. Hold the angle longer, about three feet from your release point then rotate to the 12 o'clock position. This will allow you to rotate the rock without adding lateral energy. Unless your local ice is very straight, you will need at least 3-5 rotations on a draw. The more the ice curls, the more rotations are needed. No more than five rotations on a draw.

Delivery - Follow Through

The follow through is an important part of the delivery. It allows you to "settle" after the delivery process. This is good time to assess you shot and balance. Try to stay in your delivery position for three seconds after release.

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Sweeping - Stance and Grip

Your "open" stance looks great. We encourage you to practice sweeping open on the other side as well. Avoid sweeping closed since it makes the footwork more complicated. Your grip is also good. Try to move your body to 45 degrees (half way between facing the rock and the skip). Keep your lower hand above the handle and not to the side.

Sweeping - Brush Stroke and Pressure

We can't tell exactly how much pressure you're applying, but based on the broom angle, the pressure looks good but not great. There's an opportunity to gain more pressure by shifting your weight off your heels and more forward over the brush head. You can also slow your stroke from six strokes per second to 4 sps. This will also increase pressure.

Sweeping - Footwork

If your stance is 45 degrees, that means your hips are also at 45 degrees. This requires a slight cross over foot work to keep you moving down the sheet. Try to "shuffle" a bit more instead of walking. This will also help you get off your heels.

Summary

You have good solid mechanics with a few opportunities stated above. We think your goal of playing well at a regional level is attainable. Generally, players of that caliber make 60-70% of their shots. For you, this will require good line control with your sliding foot in a good, balanced position. Test for balance often. Good weight control is also essential. The more your body gets involved with the delivery (instead of just your leg), the more repeatable the weight becomes. Delaying the sliding foot is the solution. Our suggestion is to dedicate one day per week to practice balance and foot delay. Using the "Advanced Curler" practice session described on the Skills and Drills page, you will see dramatic results in a few weeks.

Good luck and we hope to here from you soon.

The CurlTech Technical Team

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