Curling Terms

With curling being declared as a Winter Olympic game in 1998, it has finally got a boost it so desperately needed. The increasing popularity of curling game has compelled people to search for its terms and rules so that the sport could be understood better. Even though some may know the terminology applicable, there are several terms which may be beyond your understanding. The following paragraphs will give you all the terms applied in the game.

Curling Terms and Definitions

Backboard - The backboards are nothing, but the boards at the back of the area in which the game is played. There are two backboards at either end.
Blank End - A game which ends without any of the teams scoring a point.
Bonspiel - Whenever a tournament is being played, it's called bonspiel.
Button - The central circle which surrounds the tee. Usually it's a foot in diameter.
Burned Stone - Touching of a stone when it is moving.
Center Line - The line which passes through the center of the playing area. It's drawn from one hack, i.e. the point from which a player delivers the stone, to the other.
Circles - These are at the center of the playing area and is the actual scoring area of the game.
Come Around - A shot played by a player which curls about the guard.
Coming Home - When the players play the final round of the game, it's called coming home.
Counter - A position in which the stone can score a point.
Curl - When a stone moves in a rotating motion, because the handle is turned, it is called curl.
Delivery - Whenever a rock is thrown, it is called delivery.
Double - When two stones are removed from the playing area with a single shot, it is called double.
Draw - When a player plays a shot in such a way that it stops within the outside circle.
Eight-ender - At the end of the game, if a team scores the maximum possible points, it is called an eight-ender.
End - When both the teams have thrown all the rocks in one of the divisions of the game, it is called an end.
Extra End - In case of a tie, an additional end is played so that a game of curling ends with a result.
Freeze - A stone which stops after touching another stone.
Front End - In a curling team, the second and the lead player is called front end.
Guard - If the stone becomes stationary in such a way that it is in front of another stone, it's called guard.
Hack - The rubber pieces which are pushed off from both the ends of the ice sheet.
Hammer - The shot which is played last is called hammer.
Heavy - If a player delivers a stone with more force than required, it is called heavy.
Hit - A stone which is hit with an intention of crashing with another stone.
Hit the Broom - Whenever a player hits the stone and it lands accurately at the point in which it is aimed, it is called hit the broom.
Hog - If a player hits a stone, but it stops short, it's called hog.
Hog Line - A thick black line which is 33 feet away from the hack.
House - Houses are situated at both the ends of the ice sheet and is an area which is situated within the outside circle.
Hurry - A call given by a player hitting the stone to his teammates to sweep quickly.
In Turn - Whenever a right-handed player hits the stone and it rotates clockwise, it is called in turn.
Keen Ice - Also called fast ice, when a player needs very little effort to deliver the rock, it is called keen ice.
Last Rock - The stone which is thrown at the end.
Lose Handle - When a stone loses its rotating movement when it travels, it is called lose handle.
Out Turn - Whenever a stone rotates counterclockwise when hit by a right-handed player.
Pebble - Small frozen bulges on the surface of the ice where the stones slide.
Port - A small opening which remains between two rocks. This opening is wide enough so as to let a stone pass.
Rings - The circles of which the house is made of.
Rock - Stone.
Roll - When a stone moves once it hits another stone, it is called roll.
Second - Second is a player who throws the third and fourth rock for his team.
Sheet - The area in which a game of curling is played.
Skip - The player who leads the team.
Spinner - When a stone is thrown with too much spin, it is called spinner.
Steal - When a team scores a point without the advantage of the last rock, it is called steal.
Take Out - When a player plays a shot which is hard enough so as to remove a stone from the playing area.
Tee Line - The line which meets the center line at the house.

Curling Scoring

To determine the winner, the curling scoring pattern is such that the team scoring the most point at the end of ten ends win. When each end concludes, points are scored and the points are determined as per the number of stones near the button. In each end, a team throws eight stones and as per the rules of the game, the stones must land near the button so that the team scores. For each stone close to the button, a team scores a point.

With the information you have gained from the curling terms and definitions mentioned, hope you would be able to understand the game better and enjoy it to the hilt.