Curlers....please explain

[bucket]

Why is it that you can't use the opponents rocks as guards? .. and why don't they put rocks in the house when they are behind?

[farmaholic]

It is actually a sport of "strategy" and skill, some of which I don't completely understand.

Sometimes maintaining control(having the ability to throw the last rock{having hammer}), even when trailing in the score is important at different stages of the game. Sometimes they will forfeit the chance to score one point, thus giving up the hammer(the scoring team in each end doesn't have last rock in the next end) for having last rock in the next end and hopefully score at least two.

Lots can happen to change the outlook of an end when one or both teams make shot errors.

It's a slow game but there is some excitement at times.

I also believe the first four rocks thrown can't be hit out of play until the Third and Skip players throw their rocks. In the "old days" it got tiring and boring watching every rock peeled off from the beginning of the end. I think that new rule made the game more interesting, skill and strategy based.

"Reading" ice is paramount.

Re using opponent's rocks as guards, I don't think there is anything stopping that, but you run the risk of them being raised into the house and possibly becoming shot rock because of strategic placement or removing an opponent's rock. I think raising rocks into play can be a very tricky endeavor, not alot of control in a chain reaction shot...where it will travel will depend where its struck and how hard....lots of unintended consequences can result in such attempts.

[bucket]

Good reply but can't you use the rocks of other teams as a guard....I see lots of guards peeled instead of drawing in behind them ....then freeze to the rock scoring.....? ??????

Freezing almost guarantees to have a rock stick in play....

[farmaholic]

I added more to the previous post. But maybe someone else could chime in with strategies and reasons.

The games(shots) are called as the game progresses. Sometimes it pays to leave a guard sometimes its best its removed. I'm sure there are lots of armchair skips in curling too...lol

[bucket]

Too bad for the Saskatchewan skip ....she's ran 2 rocks right thru. ...

[farmaholic]

The Curlers appear to be younger and more athletic these days....unless I'm just older and fatter!

[checking]

The leads have been basically taken out of the game with the rock rule. Personally, I would speed it up by positioning their rocks as guards, and save the time. It's the seconds that set the end up. If it doesn't work, then kick the rocks off for the next end.

Oh, dear.

Curling has changed to all for the glory of a generally complicated, risky last shot for the skip, and more for the demanded brief excitement of the crowd as rocks spill in a deliberately crowded house, or a port is available for the skip to heroically draw to the button on their final rock against four opponent stones. And yet, they still manage to make bad decisions, even with time outs. Jesus, that sounds like a 100 bushel canola crop!

[bucket]

Down 4 and setting guards while the other team sits in the house.....do guards count points??????

I doubt Saskatchewan wins the Sunday game....

[farmaholic]

No, guards don't count at the end of an end. Only rocks in the house are counted and the color closest to the center pin on the button is the counting color. All that color rocks innthe house or even touching it count but an opponent's rock closer to the button than your other ones further out cancels them out....so "anything closer to the pin than the opponents closest rock to the pin that cancels out your further away ones is counted".

Sometimes when they can't decide which rock is closer they measure with a "dial indicator" on a measuring device anchored on the center pin.

[GDR]

Down 4 and setting guards while the other team sits in the house.....do guards count points??????

I doubt Saskatchewan wins the Sunday game....

I havent watched any curling this week so don't know exact situation you are talking about. But you have to set the guards early in the end using the free guard zone otherwise if you are down 4 and go right to putting stones in the house you will just trade rocks back and forth with the other team for a low scoring end that won't help.

The four guard rocks Farmaholic is talking about has actually changed to a five rock rule this year.

[Sheepwheat]

When you have the hammer, you want to score at least two. If you are in position to score less than two, it is better to throw that end. When you do not have the hammer, you want to score, or steal at least one point, or there is no point.

Those things play into strategy that outsiders may marvel at and on the surface makes no sense.

[farmaholic]

Thank you GDR, I'm not a curling guru at all. So I do have to ask if one of those first five rocks is placed in the rings can it be removed, I haven't watched that closely!

Other curling strategies... having "out lying" rocks further from the pin. Forcing the opposition into "taking" a point and losing the hammer. Stealing points in ends where your team doesn't have last rock. Placing rocks in the outer rings "across" from each other which eliminates a double take out of them.

Maybe curling could be called a form of "Ice Chess", although chess is purely academic and strategic where curling actually requires a different type of "skill" but still strategic.

I used to hate football until I came to understand the game.

[checking]

Put a rock in the rings at any time, and it can be removed immediately. Most times it isn't, particularly if it is in the back of the house, early in the end.

I think of all the shop floors that could be swept during a game, and all the blown knees in later life that could be saved.

[GDR]

[QUOTE=farmaholic;403164]Thank you GDR, I'm not a curling guru at all. So I do have to ask if one of those first five rocks is placed in the rings can it be removed, I haven't watched that closely!

In the rings is fair game they are only safe between the hog line and the front of the house. You will often see the pros just tap one off to the side but not actually remove it and that is fine. If you accidentally take one of the other teams free guards out then your rock comes off and theirs gets put back where it was. You can remove your own colour free guard if you wish. The new 5 guard rule gives an advantage to the team without the hammer cause they get 3 and the hammer team only gets 2. Once you get to number 6 rock they are all free game again, even the first 5