glossary - Curling Basics - curling explained; excellent for beginners

A stone thrown with sufficient momentum to reach the back of the house

A line at the back of the house, extending across the width of the  sheet, which is parallel to and located 1.829 m. (6 ft.) from each tee line

A "stone" that just touches the outer edge of the outside circle of the "house"

An "end" resulting in no score for either "team" because at the end of this "end" no "stone" is in the "house". A "stone" is in the "house" if it lies within the "twelve foot" (3.7 m) zone or any portion of its edge lies over the edge of the ring

A curling competition or tournament

A term used to describe the "stone" which will be the last stone delivered in that end; also called "hammer"

A device used by players to sweep/clean the ice in front of a moving "stone"

A "stone" in motion touched by a player or any part of a players equipment

The small circle at the centre of the "house"

A "takeout" that hits a small portion of a "stone"

A "guard" that is placed in front of the "house" in the area of the "four foot"

The line dividing the playing surface down the middle. It joins the  midpoints of the "tee lines" and extends 3.658 m. (12 ft.) beyond the  centre of each "tee line"

A shot that curls behind another stone

The curved path of a "stone" as it travels down the sheet of ice

A "stone" that removes two of the opponents "stones" from play

A delivered "stone" which stops inside or in front of the "house"

A delivered "stone" that bumps another "stone" into the "house"

The momentum required for a delivered "stone" to reach the "house" at the "playing end"

The 8 foot-diameter (2.4 m) circle in the "house"

A portion of a curling game that is completed when each "team" has thrown eight "stones" and/or the "score" has been decided; tournament style games usually run for 10 ends

A defect in the "ice" which causes "stones" thrown in that area to curl negatively

The 4 foot-diameter (1.2 m) circle in the "house"

The area at the playing end, between the "hog line" and the "tee line", but excluding the "house"

A form of a "draw" shot that stops directly up against another "stone"

The momentum required for a delivered "stone" to reach the front part of the "house" at the playing "end"

The portion of the "12 foot" ring in front of the "tee line"

A "stone" that is placed in a position so that it may protect another "stone"

The foot-hold at each end of the ice which is used by a player to start the delivery of a curling stone

The momentum required for a delivered "stone" to reach the hack at the playing "end"

A term used to describe the "stone" which will be the last stone delivered in an "end"

A "stone" that knocks an opponent's "stone" out of play, and then rolls to another position in play

A "takeout" where the played "stone" stays in the spot where it made contact  with the stationary "stone"; also called "nose hit"

A line extending across the width of the "sheet" that is parallel to and located 6.40 m. (21 ft.) from each "tee line"

A "stone" that is removed from play for the "end", because it was not released before it reached the hog line at the "delivering end"

A "stone" that is removed from play for the "end", because after being  delivered, it did not come to rest completely beyond the inside edge of  the hog line at the "playing end"

The end of the "sheet" from which the first "stone" of a game is delivered

The area within the concentric circles at each end of the "sheet"

A command which instructs players to sweep harder

The rotation applied to the handle of a "stone" by a right handed curler which causes the "stone" to rotate in a clockwise manner

The first player on a "team" to deliver two "stones" in each "end"

A "stone" in motion either from a delivery or from being struck by another "stone"

A shot in which the player curls the "stone" in the opposite direction in  which the "stone" is expected to curve, due to significant defects in  flatness of the "ice" surface; for example, if the curvature of the "ice" causes all "stones" to drift sharply to the right, a "skip" may request the  shooter to aim to the left of the desired location and curve the "stone" to the left as well

The rotation applied to the "handle" of a "stone" by a right handed curler  which causes the "stone" to rotate in a counter-clockwise manner

The water droplets applied to a sheet of ice before commencing play.  These droplets freeze, which then reduces the friction between the ice  and the stones

A "takeout" that removes a "stone" from play as well as the delivered "stone"

A shot in which the delivered "stone" bumps another "stone" forward

A delivered "stone" hits a stationary "stone", which then starts to move and it hits a third "stone" out of play

The player who throws the third and fourth "stones" for a "team"; on most teams they also "sweep" for all other players on their "team"

The specific ice surface upon which a curling game is played

In a "hit", refers to the "stone" being thrown

At any time during an "end", the "stone" closest to the "tee"

The player who directs play for the "team"; on most teams the "skip" plays the seventh and eights "stones" for the "team" in an "end"

Slippery material placed on the sole of the sliding shoe, which makes it easier to slide on the ice

The action of moving a "broom" or "brush" back and forth in front of the path of a moving "stone" to clean or polish the ice surface; "sweeping" changes the running-lenght and -direction of a "stone" being in motion

A "stone" that "hits" another "stone" and removes it from play

Four players competing together. A team may include a fifth player (to  act as an alternate) and a coach. Mixed Doubles have one male and one  female player, and may include a coach

The exact centre of the "house"

A line extending across the width of the "sheet" that passes through the centre of the "house" parallel to the "hog line" and "back line"

Each "team" is given 38 minutes of thinking time for a 10 "end" game.

"Teams" can use this time to think, talk, plan and strategise their next move.

 

A team’s game clock stops once the "stone" has reached the "tee line" at the delivery end

The player who throws the fifth and sixth "stones" for a "team"; usually also serves as "vice-skip"

The person(s) responsible for the conduct of the game in accordance with the rules

The player who directs play for the "team" when it is the "skip's" turn to deliver

The amount of force/speed given to the "stone" during the delivery

A shot where the played "stone" touches a stationary "stone" just enough that the played "stone" changes direction