Curling Terms
BACK RING WEIGHT- A stone thrown with sufficient momentum to reach the back rings. The portion of the 12 foot ring behind the tee line and in the proximity of the centre line.
BACKLINE -The line that runs across the sheet of ice tangent to the back of the 12 foot ring at the centre line.
BITER -A stone that just touches the outer edge of the 12 foot circle and is a potential point. BLANK END An end in which no points have been scored.
BLANKING AN END -The strategy by which a team deliberately blanks an end for the purpose of retaining last rock advantage.
BONSPIEL -A curling competition comprised of a number of different events usually played over a weekend.
BRICK -A slang term for the curling stone.
BRIER -The Brier is the Canadian Men's Curling Championship.
BROOM -A type of device used to sweep the ice in the path of the stone and may be manufactured with straw or synthetic fibers.
BRUSH -A type of device used to sweep the ice in the path of the stone and may be manufactured with hog's hair, horse hair or synthetic fibres.
BRUSHING -The act of moving the brush back and forth across the ice in front of a moving stone.
BUMPER, OR BACK-BOARD WEIGHT -A lightweight takeout thrown with sufficient momentum to reach the back board at the distant end.
BURNED STONE -A stone in motion touched by a member of either team, or any part of their equipment.
BUTTON -The one foot circle at the centre of the house.
CASH SPIEL -A bonspiel in which the prizes consist of cash awards.
CENTRE LINE -The line that runs from the mid-point between the hacks at one end of the ice to the mid-point between the hacks at the other end of the ice.
CHIP -To hit only a small portion of a stone.
CHIP AND ROLL, OR HIT AND ROLL -To hit a small portion of a stone and roll the delivered stone to another position.
CLEAN -To lightly sweep or brush in front of a stone to remove any debris.
COUNTER -Any stone in the rings or touching the rings which is a potential point.
DEAD HANDLE -A stone that is released with little or no rotation of the handle.
DOUBLE TAKEOUT -A takeout shot that removes two of the opponent's stones at one time.
DRAW WEIGHT -The momentum required for a stone to reach the house or circles at the distant end.
END -A portion of a curling game that is completed when each team has thrown eight stones and the score has been decided. A game consists of a specific number of ends, usually 8 or 10.
FAST ICE -Ice conditions that require very little momentum to produce the required weight.
FIFTH PLAYER -The substitute or alternate player on a team.
FLIPPED OUT -A stone that is released with poor technique which causes it to be wide of the skip's broom. .
FREEZE -A precise draw weight shot in which the delivered stone comes to rest directly up against a stationary stone.
FRONT RING WEIGHT -A stone thrown with sufficient weight to reach the 12 foot circle in front of the T line and at the proximity of the centre line.
FROSTY ICE -Ice that has layer of frost on the surface usually caused by excess humidity.
GUARD -A stone that is placed in a position so that it may protect or potentially protect another stone.
HACKS -The foot-holds at each end of the ice from which the stone is delivered.
HACK WEIGHT -A light weight takeout delivered with enough momentum for it to reach the hack at the distant end.
HAIR -A bristle from a brush.
HAMMER -The last stone of an end.
HEART -The crest that is given to a team to signify winning a provincial/territorial championship which leads to a national championship.
HEAVY -A stone delivered with more momentum weight than was actually required.
HEAVY ICE -Slow ice. When ice conditions are such that more than the normal amount of momentum is required to produce the desired weight.
HIT -A takeout. Removal of a stone from the playing area by hitting it with another stone.
HOG LINE -A line 10 meters from the hack at each end of the ice. A stone, to be in play, must completely cross the hog line at the distant end.
HOUSE -The rings or circles toward which play is directed.
HURRY -A command given to the sweepers to sweep vigorously.
ICE -In the playing of a takeout or draw shot it is the distance between the skip's broom and the target stone or target area, determined by the amount of curl and weight anticipated.
IN-TURN -The rotation applied to the handle of a stone that causes to turn and curl in a clockwise direction for a right handed curler.
INSIDE -A stone delivered between the skip's broom and the intended target stone or target area.
JUNK -The style of play that has many stones in play.
KEEN ICE -Fast ice. When ice conditions are such that less than the normal amount of momentum is required to produce the desired weight.
LEAD -The first player on a team to deliver a pair of stones for his team in each end.
LIGHT -A stone delivered with less than the weight required to successfully complete the desired shot.
LOST TURN -A stone that does not maintain the rotation imparted at release.
MISSED THE BROOM -A stone delivered off the intended line of delivery which is determined by the skip's broom.
NARROW -A stone delivered between the skip's broom and the intended target stone or target area.
OFFICIAL -The umpire or referee responsible for ensuring the game is played according to the rules.
OUT-TURN -The rotation applied to the handle of a stone that causes to turn and curl in a counter- clockwise direction for a right handed curler.
OUTSIDE -See wide.
OVER THE HOG LINE -A stone that is released from the curler's hand after reaching the hogline at the end of delivery
PEBBLE -A fine spray of water applied to a sheet of curling ice before commencing play.
PEEL -A take out shot that removes a stone from play and the delivered stone also rolls out of play.
PEEL WEIGHT -The momentum required on a take out shot to remove a stone from play and also roll the delivered stone out of play.
PORT -An opening between two stones that is just large enough to allow passage of another stone.
RAISE -When one stone is bumped ahead or advanced by another stone.
READING ICE -The skill by which the skip anticipates the amount a stone will curl relative to the weight required.
RINGS -The circles towards which play is directed.
RINK -A team. Also the building in which the game is played.
ROLL -The movement of a curling stone after it has struck a stationary stone in play.
RUN -Small dips or hollows in the ice that restrict the stone from curling in its intended path.
RUNNER -A take out shot that travels very fast.
SECOND -The curler who delivers the second pair of stones for his team in each end.
SHEET -The specific playing surface upon which a curling game is played.
SHOT ROCK -At any time during an end, the stone which is closest to the button.
SKIP -The player who determines the strategy, reads the ice and directs play for his team. Generally the skip delivers the last pair of stones for his team in each end.
SLOW ICE -Heavy ice. Ice that requires more momentum than normal to produce the required amount of weight. SPARE An alternate player or substitute.
SPINNER -A stone that is released so that it rotates many times as it travels down the sheet.
SPLIT-RAISE -A stone that raises another stone into the rings and rolls in itself.
STRAIGHT HANDLE -A stone that is released without any rotation applied to the handle at release.
SWEEPING -The action of moving a broom or brush back and forth in the path of a moving stone.
SWINGY ICE -Ice conditions which cause the stone to curl a greater distance than normal.
TAKE OUT -Removal of a stone from the playing area by hitting it with another stone.
TEE LINE -The line that passes through the centre of the house that runs at right angles to the centre line.
THIRD, VICE-SKIP OR MATE -The third player on a team to throw two stones in each end. Generally this player acts as the skip when the skip is delivering his stones and assists with shot selection decisions.
TOURNAMENT OF HEARTS -The Canadian Women's Curling Championship.
TURNED IN -A stone which, at release, is directed toward the target or target area and not directly at the skip's broom.
WEIGHT -The momentum imparted to a curling stone in delivery.
WICK -To hit only a small portion of a stone.
WICK AND ROLL -To hit a small portion of a stone and roll the delivered stone to another location.
WIDE -A stone that is delivered to the opposite side of the broom than the target stone or target area.
WRECKED SHOT -A shot that accidentally wicks off a stone in front of the house. Source: Canadian Curling Association.
Special Thanks:: List adapted from Leaside Curling Club Toronto
