48 curling terms defined, including the house, button, hammer, hurry hard and bonspiel, each explained in a single line.
Curling terminology sounds like a private language until you have watched an end or two, then it snaps into place: the skip calls the line, the sweepers answer, and the rest is geometry. Below are the words related to curling that carry the game, along with the words associated with curling equipment and the ice itself. Keep the curling glossary at the end handy while you watch, it explains every call in one line.
Must-Know Curling Terms, Phrases and Slang:
- Bonspiel
- Broom
- Button
- Draw
- End
- Freeze
- Guard
- Hack
- Hammer
- House
- In-turn
- Lead
- Out-turn
- Pebble
- Rock
- Sheet
- Skip
- Slider
- Sweep
- Takeout
- Tee line
- Vice-skip
- Weight
- Wick
- Backline
- Curl
- Delivery
- Hog line
- Raise
- Steal
Curling Glossary: Every Term A to Z
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Backline | The line at the back of the house. A stone that fully crosses it is out of play and gets removed. |
| Blank end | An end that finishes with no stone in the house, so neither team scores. The team with the hammer keeps it for the next end. |
| Bonspiel | A curling tournament, often running a full weekend with several games against different teams. The word came over from Scotland with the sport. |
| Broom | The brush used to sweep the ice ahead of a moving stone. Sweeping cuts friction, so the broom is a steering tool, not just kit. |
| Broomstacking | The old custom of the two teams sitting down together for a drink after the game. The brooms end up stacked in a corner. |
| Burned stone | A moving stone touched by a player or a broom. The non-offending team decides how to handle it, usually by removing the stone or replacing it. |
| Bury | To place a stone so it sits hidden behind a guard, out of reach of a straight takeout. |
| Button | The small circle at the exact center of the house. Stones are measured against it, and the closest counts. |
| Clean | A light sweeping call. The brush skims the ice to clear debris without really changing the stone's speed. |
| Come around | A draw that curls in behind a guard and settles in the house, using the guard as cover. |
| Curl | The bend a stone follows as it travels, caused by the rotation put on it at release. How much it curls decides where it finishes. |
| Curler | A person who plays curling. A team of four is also called a rink. |
| Delivery | The whole act of pushing out of the hack and releasing the stone. Consistent delivery is the base of every shot in the sport. |
| Draw | A shot played to stop at a chosen spot in the house without removing anything. Finesse rather than force. |
| Eight-ender | A perfect end in which one team scores with all eight of its stones. Rare enough that curlers remember them for life. |
| End | A section of play, like an inning in baseball. Each team throws eight stones, two per player, and a game runs eight or ten ends. |
| Free guard zone | The area between the hog line and the house where early guards are protected. Opponents may not remove a stone there until a set number of stones have been thrown. |
| Freeze | A stone delivered so it stops right against another one, which makes it awkward to remove without wrecking your own position. |
| Guard | A stone parked in front of the house to shield the scoring stones behind it. The backbone of defensive play. |
| Hack | The rubber foothold sunk into the ice at each end. Players push out of it to start the delivery. |
| Hammer | The advantage of throwing the last stone of an end. Having the hammer means the final say on the score. |
| Hit and roll | A takeout that removes an opponent's stone and lets the thrown stone roll on into a better spot. |
| Hog line | The line a stone must fully cross to stay in play. Short of it, the stone comes off the sheet. |
| House | The set of concentric circles at each end of the sheet, the target area. Only stones in the house can score. |
| Hurry hard | The call shouted at the sweepers to brush as hard as they can, to carry the stone farther and keep it straighter. |
| In-turn | A release with the wrist turning inward, curling the stone to the right for a right-handed player. |
| Lead | The player who throws the first two stones of each end, usually setting guards and early draws. |
| Out-turn | The opposite release, wrist turning outward, curling the stone to the left for a right-handed player. |
| Pebble | The fine droplets of water sprayed on the sheet before play. They freeze into bumps that the stone rides on. |
| Peel | An aggressive takeout that removes a guard and sends the thrown stone out of play as well, clearing the front of the house. |
| Raise | A shot that bumps one of your own stones forward into a better position, often closer to the button. |
| Rink | The team of four players. Depending on context it can also mean the building or the sheet of ice itself. |
| Rock | Another word for the curling stone, the polished granite object that gets delivered down the sheet. |
| Runback | A hard shot that drives one stone back into another, usually to clear a cluster in front of the house. |
| Second | The player who throws the third and fourth stones of an end, between the lead and the vice-skip. |
| Sheet | The strip of prepared ice a game is played on, roughly 150 feet long and 15 feet wide. |
| Shot rock | Whichever stone lies closest to the button at any moment. The team holding shot rock is the one currently scoring. |
| Skip | The captain, who calls the strategy from the house and usually throws the last two stones of an end. |
| Slider | The smooth sole worn on one shoe, Teflon or steel, that lets a player glide out of the hack during delivery. |
| Steal | Scoring in an end where the other team held the hammer. A steal shifts a game the way little else does. |
| Stone | The granite object the whole sport revolves around, weighing about 44 pounds with a handle bolted to the top. Also called a rock. |
| Sweep | To brush the ice in front of a running stone. It reduces friction, so the stone travels farther and curls less. |
| Takeout | A shot thrown hard enough to knock an opponent's stone out of play. |
| Tee line | The line running across the middle of the house, used as a reference for how deep a draw has come to rest. |
| Thick | Hitting more of the target stone than intended, catching it closer to the middle. The opposite call is thin. |
| Vice-skip | The second in command, who throws the fifth and sixth stones, helps plan the end and measures close stones. |
| Weight | The speed put on a stone at delivery. Guard weight, draw weight and takeout weight are three different jobs. |
| Wick | A glancing touch on another stone, just enough to nudge one of them onto a better line. |
#1 Bonspiel
A curling tournament or competition that typically lasts a weekend or longer, where teams play several games against various opponents. The term originated in Scotland and is a hallmark of curling culture.
#2 Broom
An essential piece of curling equipment used to sweep the ice in front of the sliding stone. Sweeping can reduce friction and help control the stone’s speed and direction, making the broom a strategic tool in the game.
#3 Button
The exact center of the curling house, marked by the smallest circle. Scoring depends on the stone’s proximity to the button, as stones closer to the button than any of the opponent’s are the ones that count for points.
#4 Draw
A type of shot in curling where the player aims to slide the stone into a specific location within the house without knocking out other stones. The draw is a skillful shot that shows finesse and control.
#5 End
A division of play in curling, similar to an inning in baseball, where each team throws eight stones, two per player, alternating with the opponent. One game typically consists of eight or ten ends.
#6 Freeze
A curling shot where a stone is delivered so that it comes to rest touching or very close to another stone, making it difficult for the opposing team to remove it without disturbing their own stones.
#7 Guard
A curling stone strategically placed in front of the house to protect scoring stones from being taken out by the opposing team. Guards are essential for defensive strategy, controlling the accessibility of the target area.
#8 Hack
The foothold from which players push off when delivering a stone in curling. Positioned at each end of the curling sheet, the hack provides stability and leverage for players to control their slide and the stone’s delivery.
#9 Hammer
In curling, the “hammer” refers to the advantage of throwing the last stone in an end. Holding the hammer gives a team the final chance to score or correct the end’s outcome, making it a significant strategic asset in gameplay.
#10 House
The house refers to the circular target area composed of concentric circles on the ice where curling stones aim to come to rest. Scoring is determined by the number of stones a team has closer to the center than their opponent’s.
#11 In-turn
The in-turn is a type of delivery in curling where the player twists their wrist inward, causing the stone to curl (or rotate) to the right for right-handed players and to the left for left-handed players.
#12 Lead
The lead is the first player on a curling team to deliver stones during an end. They are crucial in setting up the initial strategy with their shots, often involving guards and draws into the house.
#13 Out-turn
Opposite of the in-turn, the out-turn is a delivery method where the player’s wrist turns outward, making the stone curl left for right-handed players and right for left-handed ones. The curl’s direction is a foundational aspect of gameplay strategy.
#14 Pebble
Small droplets of water applied to the ice surface before play that freeze and create a rough texture. Pebbling reduces friction and helps control the curling stone’s speed and trajectory.
#15 Rock
Another term for a curling stone, the heavy, polished granite object players slide across the ice toward the target area, or house. Each player takes turns trying to position their rocks closest to the center of the house.
#16 Sheet
The specific area of ice on which a curling game is played. A standard curling sheet is about 150 feet long by 15 feet wide, carefully prepared to maintain optimal playing conditions.
#17 Skip
The team captain and strategist, typically throwing the last two stones of an end. The skip directs play, calling shots and strategies for the team, and often makes the high-pressure shots that can decide the game.
#18 Slider
Specialized footwear worn by curlers, featuring a Teflon or stainless steel sole. It allows for a smooth glide over the ice during delivery of the stone and is essential for precise shot-making.
#19 Sweep
A technique performed by players to influence the distance and direction of the stone by vigorously brushing the ice in its path. Sweeping reduces friction and can help to keep the stone moving straighter and further.
#20 Takeout
A shot designed to remove an opponent’s stone from play by hitting it with the thrown stone. Takeouts are a key strategic element and require accuracy to hit the target stone without disturbing other stones beneficially placed.
#21 Tee line
The line that crosses the center of the house, parallel to the hog line and backline. It is used as a reference point for shot accuracy, especially for draw shots aiming to stop near the center of the house.
#22 Vice-skip
The second in command of the curling team who assists the skip with strategy and often throws the third set of stones. The vice-skip also takes over the skip’s duties if needed and usually measures stones that are close to determine which is closer to the button.
#23 Weight
Refers to the force with which a curling stone is thrown; effectively the stone’s speed as it travels down the sheet. Proper weight is crucial for accurate stone placement, whether for long guards or precise shots into the house.
#24 Wick
A light contact or a glancing blow, where the moving curling stone just touches another stone enough to alter its trajectory. This tactical move requires skillful precision to utilize the stones in play to one’s advantage.
#25 Backline
The line at the back of the house in a curling sheet beyond which a stone must fully cross to be considered out of play. Stones that cross the backline are removed from play, affecting the strategy of each end.
#26 Curl
The trajectory a stone follows as it moves down the ice; it refers to the curved path caused by the spin of the stone. The amount of curl can determine the positioning of the stone and is a critical component of strategy.
#27 Delivery
The action of sliding the stone from the hack to the desired location on the sheet. A player’s delivery technique is fundamental to their ability to place stones accurately and consistently.
#28 Hog line
A line on the curling sheet a stone must completely cross during delivery to be considered in play. If a stone fails to cross the hog line, it is removed from the playing area.
#29 Raise
A shot where a delivered stone knocks another stone into a more advantageous position, usually closer to the button. This type of shot can be defensive or offensive, depending on the game situation.
#30 Steal
A term used when a team scores points while their opponent has the last-stone advantage (hammer) in an end. Stealing points is a significant shift in momentum and can often influence the outcome of the game.
FAQ
What is the stone in curling called?
A stone, or a rock. It is cut from granite, weighs about 44 pounds and has a handle bolted to the top that the player uses to set the rotation at release.
What does hammer mean in curling?
The hammer is the last stone of an end. The team holding it throws after everything else is on the ice, which is a large advantage because they get the final chance to score or to remove a rival stone.
What is the target area in curling called?
The house. It is the set of concentric circles at each end of the sheet, and its exact center is the button. Only stones sitting in the house can count toward the score.
What is a round of curling called?
An end. Each team throws eight stones in an end, two per player, and a full game runs to eight or ten ends depending on the competition.
What is someone who plays curling called?
A curler. A team of four curlers is called a rink, and the four positions are lead, second, vice-skip and skip.
What is broomstacking in curling?
Broomstacking is the tradition of the two teams sitting down together after a game, with the brooms stacked aside. The winners usually buy the first round.
The vocabulary splits into equipment (stone, broom, slider, hack), the ice (sheet, house, button, hog line, pebble) and shots (draw, takeout, guard, freeze, raise). The curling glossary above covers all three groups.
What are some Curling terms for beginners?
“Bonspiel,” “Button,” and “Sweep” are some Curling terms beginners should start with. These terms represent a Curling tournament, the center target area, and the action of brushing the ice.
What are some funny Curling terms?
“Hog line” and “Broomstacking” are some funny Curling terms. They add humor with the visual of a pig at the line of play and socializing with drinks after a game.
What is a famous Curling phrase?
“Hurry hard,” is a famous Curling phrase, often shouted by the skip to instruct sweepers to sweep faster, crucial for the stone’s speed and direction control on the ice.
