Skills and Drills

The following drills are the compulsory Open House/Learn to Curl demos that should be done with each group.

Remember, an Open House or Learn to Curl is designed to "introduce" new people to curling.  They are not training sessions.  Even though your enthusiastic instructors want to share everything they know about curling, the goal only to introduce. Formal and proper training should be done at a follow-up session. The New Member or New Curler training should be scheduled after the open house.  If you combine them in one session, split the session between introductions and training.

Your membership committee or equivalent should have directed all participants to review this website as an introduction to the sport. The  beginning of the session, which is a brief off-ice overview of the sport followed by a brief Q&A, will help them with the next segment  the on-ice introduction.  Now is the time to demonstrate the mechanics of curling, the delivery and sweeping.

Learn to Curl - Delivery

This drill is used at all Open House Learn to Curl sessions and is an introduction to the curling delivery.  You will need two step-on sliders, two sliding devices, and two rocks.  With the new curlers watching, demonstrate in slow motion the proper setup and 1-2-3 delivery with a sliding device AND rock.  Don't let go of the rock. Now ask a new curler to stand in the hack, step on the slider, and squat to the setup position and follow your lead.  The instructor must be side by side with a sliding device and rock.  The two of you move through the 1-2-3 steps together.  The new curlers should hold the rock (don't let go) AND sliding device during their first deliveries.  They may release the rock after they are they are more comfortable.   Do as many reps as time permits.

Remember, this is a demonstration and trial designed to introduce people to curling.  It is not a training session.  It is designed to simplify the delivery without the complicated details of full training. After two or three trials, you, the instructor, AND the learner will have a good sense of the learners skills.  Now is the time to train them properly.  In some cases, your new learners will need to throw with a stick, where dedicated stick training should happen.

Learn To Curl - Sweeping

You will need one broom per learner and two instructors.  Line up the new curlers on each sideline.  Half of them on each line, facing the center of the sheet.  The instructor, will be in the middle of the sheet.  Demonstrate in slow motion the proper sweeping stance and stroke.  Always demonstrate and open stance. Now ask the curlers to follow your lead and sweep down the sheet.

1. Take a 45 degree position to the line.

2. Right side learners - right hand underhand grip with the head on the ice.  Left side learners arm under.

3. Place bottom overhand grip about 18" from the head.

4. Demonstrate the static sweeping stroke - push pull.

5. Have them sweep down the sheet following your SLOW pace.

Don't switch sides.  Return using the opposite hands.

Scoring Demo

With a few rocks in the house, explain in your own words how a team scores.  Avoid using curling specific terms like house, four-foot, biter, hammer, etc. since they have not been introduced to these terms yet. 

The on-ice segment of your Learn to Curl is complete.

Practice makes us better at a given skill.  The repetition of doing something properly over and over, engrains the behavior or mechanics into muscle and brain memory. Proper practice can make any skill instinctual. Most skills can be performed properly when you have the opportunity to think it through thoroughly. It’s when you’re “in the moment” that most skills are lost. When you can’t thoroughly think through the skill process, you revert back to whatever your body is comfortable with (instinct). Practice can change this. So, if you want to make the big shot to win the game under pressure, you’ll need to make the proper delivery instinctual.

Simply throwing proper practice rocks at the club will train your body to recognize a proper delivery and develop muscle memory. Throwing practice rocks can also be a trap where bad habits can be reinforced or engrained. Specific practice techniques will help you develop your skills properly.

There are two types of practice sessions.

1. Practice to make your team better.

2. Practice to make your individual contribution to a team better.

If you play on a regular team, the best practices are the ones with the entire team present.

All Practice Sessions

For practice to be beneficial, the practice drills must be comparable to your game situations.  Practice ice is NOT always like game ice.  This is why you must focus your drills on the shot metrics (splits and hog to hog times) and not the shot result.  Practicing draws on 12.0 (3.40) second ice makes no sense if your game conditions are normally 14.5 (3.90).  Adding the lack of sweeping and this makes even less sense.

Practice your shots based on the metrics.  Our top level teams practice practice draws based on a 4.00 split, which is more like their championship conditions, even if the shots only reach the hog line.

Summary

If most of your curling is in leagues (on several different teams), then you may want to concentrate on the following practice drills. First, find someone to practice with. Try and find someone who can reasonably assess your skills and provide feedback to you. Practicing alone is only good for developing your balance and gives a good sense of the overall delivery. The mistake many people make is trying to practice hitting the broom alone. It is virtually impossible for you to determine precise accuracy and line of delivery from the throwing position. The only way to accurately practice line of delivery is to throw at a broom held by a person who can provide you feedback or at a laser.

Individual practice drills should focus on the three main areas of curling performance:

1. Delivery line control.

2. Delivery weight control.

3. Sweeping effectiveness.

Avoid practicing actual shots individually.  This is best done with you whole team.

Delivery Line Drills

Line Drill #1  Test for Balance

Purpose: To establish the proper sliding foot placement necessary for a balanced delivery with all energy down the line.

Skill Level:  All skill levels.

Since the fundamental component to a good delivery is balance (needed for proper line), this drill is invaluable. Begin with your normal stretching routine. Take a few practice slides followed by throwing a few rocks. This will loosen up the body for this drill. With your next delivery, raise the broom or device off the ice one inch as you cross the tee line. Release the rock and follow through until you stop. Keep your throwing hand at handle level without touching the ice. As you repeat the drill, begin raising the broom earlier and earlier until you can slide without the use of the broom from the back line through the hog line.  Follow this sequence:

1. Slide

2. Test for balance

3. Release

4. Hold the delivery until you stop.

Test for balance with EVERY practice rock. If you normally put weight on the broom during delivery, you will need to make a sliding foot adjustment in order to raise your broom.  For right-handers, this will be an adjustment to the left.

Line Drill #2   Hitting the Broom (manual)

Purpose: Repetition throwing on the line of delivery.

Skill Level: All skill levels.

Have a competent person hold the broom for you. Agree on what weight you would like to throw. Your default draw or takeout weight will work well.  If player two is practicing also, throw the rock back and forth, changing the broom with each shot. Provide feedback on the shot each time. If you throw hack or takeout weight, you can both use the same rock over and over. This is a great practice drill because you begin to feel and see what it’s like to “hit the broom”.  Use the CurlTech feedback system. Indicate broom accuracy AND line.

Line Drill #3   Hitting the Broom - Laser

Purpose: Train to the perfect line of delivery.

Skill Level: Advanced.

Using a laser pointer as the line of delivery, throw rocks with feedback from the laser. This drill can be done alone with some effort. Setup the laser at about half sheet. The beam should be set at the middle of the rock's striking band and on line to your drawback point. Visually (or use a string) establish the broom at the far end. The laser beam becomes the line of delivery. Throw at the broom and, if alone setup a camera just behind the laser and record each delivery. This back and forth can be tedious. If possible have another player or coach view and record each delivery. Make adjustments as necessary.

Best line drill. The laser doesn't lie.  You may find that you can't really "sight" the shot yourself since your dominant eye may not be on the same line.  

Delivery Weight Control Drills

Weight Drill #1   Drop Drill - Foot Delay               

Purpose: To establish a proper Step (2) position, sliding foot delay and early rock movement.

Skill Level: All skill levels.

This drill isolates the Step (2) delivery position and sliding foot delay, allowing your body mass to become a key part of the delivery.  It is beneficial because it helps isolate the Step position with the hips back and shows how to move the rock down the line first before the sliding foot moves.  It is not a full-delivery drill. Setup in the Step (2) position, “hips up and back”. This is the “loaded” position ready for your energy to move forward.  From this position, WITHOUT moving your sliding foot, move the rock toward the skip's broom and roll your body forward. Don’t move your sliding foot until the rock is clearly out first. You’ll notice your slide will become longer and more powerful (efficient) with each adjustment. It is not necessary to stretch farther than about halfway to the back line.  This drill helps redefine your Power Ratio giving more power to the weight shift and gravity. 

Instructor Note: Establish a proper Step position first with the hips up and back and the weight on the slider foot. The slider foot movement between steps #2 and #3 should be in a straight line, in a single, quick movement.

Weight Drill #2   Default Delivery

Purpose: To establish a default delivery from which you will make small weight adjustments.

Skill Level: All skill levels.

Practicing draw weight is a challenge since conditions change often. Try to practice weight on a sheet that is in your normal game condition, let's say 14.5 seconds HTH. All draws should be calibrated to the HTH speed. This practice should be done by position to create your “default weight”. Leads should throw all rocks to the 2-guard position as the sweepers can bring them closer if desired. Seconds, thirds and skips should practice a default weight in the top twelve or just short.

In many practice situations, conditions are substandard, usually slower.  It is important to never practice draws to the house in poor conditions.  Instead, split-time the draws to your normal game conditions. The split time from back line to nearer hog line should be directly correlated to the HTH speed.  For example a 14.5 HTH sheet would split between 3.80 and 3.90 seconds, depending on club ice conditions. Ignore the result of the shot.  Your draw may not make the house or even be in play.

Take-out weight can be practiced by setting up a few rocks in the house and removing them.  Again, split timing can help.  The split on normal weight (9.5 HTH) take out should be between 2.90 and 3.10 seconds.  Avoid throwing any complete shot without sweepers.

Once the default delivery is established, small increases or decreases in weight can adjust to the different weight calls.

Sweeping Effectiveness Drills

Sweeping Drill #1  SmartBroom

Purpose: To "baseline" your brush head pressure and frequency for future improvement.

Skill Level: All skill levels.

If your club has a SmartBroom, measure your head pressure.  What ever your baseline pressure is, try to improve.  See the Sweeping page for proper stance, grip and stroke.

Sweeping Drill #2 Anaerobic Suicides

Purpose: Build endurance for a long weekend or week.

Skill Level: All skill levels.

Best done with a heart rate monitor, this drill measures your fitness level and helps prepare you to perform during games.

Start at the back line. Start moving toward the near hog line as if you were about to sweep a real shot. Sweep full-speed to the next hog line. Stop and measure your heart rate while returning to the home end. Sixty (60) seconds from the stop of the previous sweep, begin sweeping again. Repeat, The goal is get back to a throwable heart rate in 60 seconds. For many people, the heart needed to throw a finesse curling shot is 100 bpm or lower. Don't be too concerned about you initial numbers. Focus on improvement over time.

Another method is to measure how long it takes to get back to 100 bpm. This time should coincide with the time between shot at your position. Over time, the recovery time should shorten.

Minimum reps, 6.

Other Useful Drills

Slider Comfort

Purpose: Sliding comfort and repetition.

Skill Level: All skill levels.

Gone are the days when players wore their sliders the entire game.  Today, for the most part, players only slide during the delivery so the opportunity to get comfortable on the slider has diminished.  Of course, slider proficiency is the foundation to a balanced delivery.

Goal: Slide upright 10-15 feet without stepping.

This drill will give you the repetition needed for sliding comfort and stability.  Using a full, 1/4 inch slider on a firm shoe will help.

1. Start at the home end with a broom in your hand.

2. Remove your gripper.

3. Slide the length of the sheet with as much pressure as possible on the sliding foot.

4. Measure the distance you can slide without putting the other foot down.

5. Repeat as necessary.

Full-Sheet Reps: 5-10

Over time, you will feel more and more comfortable on the slider which will translate into a more stable delivery.  You may start with a "hippity-hop" motion that will change to a smooth effortless slide.

Depending on your competitive model, team practices may be a key part of your team’s performance plan. During team practices, a combination of mechanics and team related drills should dominate.  If the entire team is present, they have the opportunity to practice actual shots. This can be done by either setting up a particular shot and throwing it over and over, or by playing the "perfect team".

The Designated Shot

Pick a shot that the team throws a lot. Execute the shot with full sweeping and line calling. Agree on a standard for each shot. For example, three come arounds in a row or three peels in a row or two freezes. This drill allows the players to practice a common shot when the pressure is off. This goes a long way when the pressure is on.

The "Perfect Team"

This refers to playing an imaginary team that does not miss any shots. It begins with the skip gathering a few opponent’s rocks at the house end. After your team throws a rock, the skip then determines what the perfect shot would be in return and executes it by placing the opponent’s rock in the perfect spot.  The skip must play for both teams. This drill is very valuable because it can simulate actual game conditions without the need for an opponent.

A word of caution when playing the perfect team. They’re very good. Expect to give up multiple points. In fact, the goal of this drill is to try and limit the perfect team to one (force) or two points in each end.

One-On-One, Two-On-Two, Etc.

Playing small games breaks up the monotony of any practice. As part of practice, play a two-end game of two-on-two (or one-on-one if you have another sheet available). To make the game even more interesting, do not allow any takeouts. This forces the team to concentrate on finesse shots rather than "blasting". If a player takes a rock out by mistake, it must be replaced. Once the rocks build up, it provides a good opportunity to practice raises.

Four in the Four (best team drill ever)

This could be the best overall team drill since it requires ALL of the team’s skills and systems to be successful. It is also a great communication drill. The coach should monitor the drill to ensure proper execution of the system of Play.

With this drill, the goal for the team is to draw the four-foot, four times in a row. Start with the normal team line-up at the beginning of an end. The lead throws a draw to the four-foot with the skip in position and the second and vice sweeping. After the lead throws, the second throws and so on. Continue this until you have drawn the four-foot four consecutive times. If one person misses, you must start over. The purpose of this drill is two-fold, to see and understand each delivery for sweeping purposes, and to simply practice drawing to the four-foot (LSD). It develops a good sense of draw weight, what your sweepers are capable of, and good practice for the sweepers making weight judgment calls.

This drill is harder than it sounds. Create a rule that does not allow the team to move to the next drill until four are in the four. Pressure builds up with each four-foot draw.

To add variety, have the team rotate positions so all team members play all positions. After each shot, move up one position. This helps the entire team understand the System of Play and other team responsibilities.

Simulated Game

Have your coach simulate a game from beginning to end. Start with a real opponent. Choose a team that you will play in competition. The coach should discuss the game plan before the game just as if you were about to play them for real.

In the warm room, with your magnet board, have the team sit at a table with the skip facing the incoming shots. Have the vice, second and third sit opposite the skip. This allows the players to visualize the game as it sets up from their positions (skips see the game coming at them, the rest see it going away). The coach will act as the opponent. The value of this drill is not individual shot calling, it’s how the skip is thinking and making decisions. The vice should be part of the decision process on skip’s rocks and should be available for consultation if the skip needs it. Practice your communication system. The front end should discuss the shots like they were at the other end.

It is not necessary to throw all shots. The most important part of this drill is:

• The skip’s thinking in the early, middle and late ends

• The skips rock in all ends

• The sixth end strategy (right after the break)

• The closing strategy in ends eight through ten

This drill helps prepare your team for the thinking process in a real game. 

Sweeping Anaerobics

Throw a rock with two sweepers. Sweep hard from hog to tee. After sweeping, immediately measure the heart rates of the sweepers. This should drop quickly so the sweeper can throw a rock. Chart your progress. See the Sweeping section for more information.

Play “Skip’s Call” (off-ice)

Skip’s Call is a curling board game of strategy and tactics developed exclusively by CurlTech. Teams of any number plan and execute a simulated game against each other. Whether it’s one-on-one, two teams of four or a large group setting, Skip’s Call is an engaging way to learn strategy and tactics (shot calling) while in the comfort of your home or club. The value of playing Skip’s Call is working through shot-calling scenarios in the comfort of the warm room or at home. Any number of people can play the game. The fun part is discussing the options with the group and pointing out key advantages and disadvantages with certain shots. The game requires a knowledgeable Game Administrator to truly learn strategy but even without the GA, the discussions are valuable.

1.  Skip’s Call Basics

2.  Split the group into two teams.

3.  Assign a coach to each team.

4.  Choose a shot deck,

5.  Choose a scenario.

6.  Roll for hammer.

7.  Call a shot.

8.  Draw from the deck.

9.  Game Administrator places the rock according to the call and shot score.

10.  The GA decision is FINAL.

For the Newer Curler (0-3 years experience)

Newer curlers need delivery balance practice.  Get some firm shoes with a 1/4 inch slider.  Start thinking about transitioning to a broom instead of the sliding device.

1. Slider Comfort Drill.  This will improve your sliding stability in the delivery.

2. Test for Balance Drill (8 reps).

3. Test for Balance with split times (8 reps).

4. Sweep vigorously (open, on your good side) from hog to hog, walking back to first hog for recovery (2 reps).

5. Repeat above sweeping drill open, on your weak side.

For the Intermediate Curler (4-10 years experience)

Now you need reps throwing shots with your sliding foot in the correct position.  You should be throwing with a broom in proper position (handle under the arm) and not the device.

1. Slider Comfort Drill.

2. Practice slides testing for balance (4 reps).

3. Draws shots with the broom one inch from the ice (splits per game conditions).

4. Take-outs with the broom up.

5. Sweeping Drill as stated above.

For the Advanced Curler (seeking high-level play)

If you want to get really good, do this practice session once per week in addition to your normal league play. Deliver all practice shots with the broom off the ice.  No complete shots - only practice using the shot metrics.  Have a friend or teammate time your rocks and record the times.

1. Start with practice slides (2 reps).

2. Draws shots measured by 4.00 splits (4 reps).

3. Take-outs measured by 2.90 splits (4 reps).

4. Peels measured by 2.50 splits (4 reps).

5. Back to draws at 4.00 (2 reps).

6. Sweeping Suicide Drill with measured heart rate (4 reps).

7. Repeat above delivery drill.

You will have thrown all rocks down and back. Thirty two rocks is a lot for most people. Adjust the draw, takeout and peel reps if needed.  Dropping the shot reps to 2 each will give you a total of twenty rocks.

Expect greatness.