Know the game: what smart fans need to know about Curling

Often misunderstood and unexplainable, curling is a sport where players shout undeterminable phrases yet play an intricate game with deft touches and janitor-like sweeping ability. The game is played on the ice surface, which serves as the playing surface for curling. This playing surface is a specially prepared ice rink, typically located in indoor rinks, and features pebbled ice—a texture created by sprinkling water droplets onto the ice to ensure consistent stone movement and accurate play.

Curling is a team sport.

Teams play a crucial role in curling, with each team member contributing to the overall strategy and execution, including specialised roles such as Skip and Vice-Skip.

The sport has grown to a global scale, with tournaments held worldwide. Curling is featured in international competition, where national teams compete in world-class events hosted in indoor rinks around the world.

Introduction to curling

Curling is a team sport that combines strategy, precision, and teamwork on a unique playing field: the ice surface. In each curling game, two teams—typically made up of four players, but sometimes as few as two or as many as five—take turns sliding curling stones toward a circular target known as the House. The objective is simple: after all stones are played, the team with the most stones closest to the centre scores points.

Curling’s roots run deep, with historic curling clubs like the Grand Caledonian Curling Club and the Royal Caledonian Curling Club playing a pivotal role in shaping the sport’s traditions and rules. Today, curling clubs around the world foster a sense of community and competition, from local leagues to international events.

The World Senior Curling Championships and the World Curling Federation are instrumental in organising world-class tournaments and promoting curling on a global scale. Whether you’re watching a local match or a world curling event, you’ll see the same blend of skill, tactics, and camaraderie that make curling a truly unique team sport.

The aim of the team sport of curling

Curling is made up of two teams consisting of four people. Each team member has a specific role and responsibility during play, with each player responsible for throwing two stones per their turn. Their teammates then sweep the ice with brooms in the aim of directing the stones to the target at the end of the ice. The goal is for the team to get as many stones closer to the centre target than the opposition. Each team’s stones are strategically played to outmaneuver the opposing team’s stones.

Both teams compete against each other, taking turns to alternate their throws. Teams decide on their strategy and shot order before each end, which can influence the outcome of the game. The four players in each side consist of the following playing positions:

• Lead: Will throw first, then sweeps all other team players shots.
• Second: As the name suggests, throws the second stone, and then sweeps their teammate’s shots.
• Vice: Has the third stone and holds the brush for the Skip. The Vice only sweeps the first two stones, and this is more difficult as they have to navigate past the existing stones that have already been played.
• Skip: Also, the team captain always throws last and holds the brush for their teammates and tells them when to sweep, and watches the stones moving direction – the ‘curl.’

The goal is for teams to protect their own stones while removing the opposing team’s stones from scoring positions. The opposing team will attempt to do the same, making strategy and teamwork essential in every end.

A brief history of curling and the Royal Caledonian Curling Club

Although not verified, curling is considered one of the world’s oldest team sports. Back in 1540, John McQuhin, a Scottish notary observed and wrote down a sporting challenge between two people where a rock was thrown along the ice. The early form of curling involved simply throwing stones across frozen ponds and lakes.

With the first recognised curling clubs established in Scotland, it’s easy to see why this story resonates with most within the game. As the Scots emigrated across the globe as part of the British Empire and beyond, those who migrated to colder climates brought curling with them. 

Hence, curling is popular in Canada, Switzerland, the USA, Sweden and of course the United Kingdom, mainly Scotland. The rise of international competition led to the establishment of major curling championships, including the men’s world championships and women’s curling events, which have become key fixtures in the sport.

Curling has been a Winter Olympic sport since 1924 where Great Britain took the first gold. Before its official inclusion, curling appeared as a demonstration sport at several Winter Olympics. Curling’s Olympic debut as a full medal sport took place in Nagano 1998, marking a significant milestone, and Salt Lake City hosted the Olympic curling events in 2002, further cementing its place in the Games.

Equipment and gear

Success in curling depends as much on the right equipment as it does on skill. The most iconic piece of gear is the curling stone—a hefty, polished granite stone weighing about 42 pounds. Each curling stone is carefully crafted to glide smoothly across the ice surface, and its unique shape allows for the signature “curl” that gives the sport its name.

Players also rely on brooms to sweep the ice in front of the moving stone, which helps control its speed and direction. But perhaps the most specialized gear is the footwear: special curling shoes. One shoe features a slippery sliding sole, while the other has a grippy surface, allowing players to push off and glide with balance and control.

The ice surface itself is meticulously prepared, with a pebbled texture that reduces friction and lets the stones travel in a controlled, curved path. The World Curling Federation sets strict standards for all equipment and playing conditions, ensuring that every world curling competition is fair and consistent, no matter where it’s played.

Types of curling

Curling isn’t a one-size-fits-all sport—there are several exciting variations that keep the game fresh and inclusive. Traditional curling teams consist of four players, each with a specific role, but the sport has evolved to include other formats as well.

Mixed doubles is a fast-paced version featuring teams of just two players—one male and one female—who alternate throwing and sweeping. This format has gained popularity worldwide and is now a highlight at the Olympic Winter Games. Wheelchair curling offers athletes with physical disabilities the chance to compete at the highest level, with rules adapted for accessibility while maintaining the sport’s strategic depth.

The World Curling Federation oversees all these types of curling, ensuring that every competition, from local club matches to world curling championships, is played with fairness and integrity. Whether you’re watching traditional curling teams or the dynamic mixed doubles event, you’ll see the same blend of skill, teamwork, and strategy that defines curling.

Scoring in curling

In curling there are ten ends, similar to an innings where each team throws eight stones each, aiming to get the stones closest to the target at the end of the ice. The team with the last stone, also known as the hammer, has the last stone advantage, providing a key tactical benefit in each end.

Teams obtain points for every stone that is closer to the ‘button’ in the target than any of the opposing team’s stones. Only those stones inside of the ‘house’ count for points. The house consists of a series of concentric rings centered on the button, and these rings define the scoring zones—only stones within these rings are eligible to score. The tee line is a key marking that runs through the center of the house, dividing it and influencing shot strategy.

For example, if the Yellow team has three stones closest to the button than the Red team, then they score three points. Scoring is determined by measuring which stone is closest to the button after all stones have been delivered; only the team with the stone closest to the center can score in that end. Should neither side have a stone in the ‘house’ then neither team scores any points. Like bowls, only one team can score points. Teams often use their stone advantage, especially when they have the last stone, to maximize their scoring opportunities.

Additionally, the free guard zone is the area between the hog line and the tee line, but outside the house, where stones cannot be removed by the opposing team until a certain number of stones have been played. This rule encourages more complex strategies and prevents overly defensive play.

Playing curling

Play commences as follows; the Lead begins, where the Second and Vice begin to sweep. The Skip always watches the curl. During delivery, the player uses a sliding shoe on their sliding foot to smoothly glide along the ice, which is crucial for controlling the trajectory of the stone.

Applying downward force during the push from the hack helps generate initial speed and stability for the playing stones. For players with mobility limitations, delivery sticks are often used to assist in delivering the stone. Sweepers judge how far the stone travels, sweeping along the way to ensure the stone travels where they need it to, whilst the Skip hollers instructions.

Teams alternate playing stones and may use direct play to position their stones effectively. Strategic shots such as centre guard and corner guard are used to protect stones or set up scoring opportunities.

Tactics to remove stones, including targeting the opponent’s stone, are also employed, using shots like takeouts or peels. The order of play highlights the significance of the first and fifth stones, especially in mixed doubles or five stones formats, where each team throws five stones per end. Only when it is the Skip’s turn to throw a stone does the Vice takes over the role of the Skip.

Once all the stones have been thrown, the points are tallied and awarded to the team with their stones closest to the target. Hammer passes may occur at the end of play, transferring the last stone advantage between teams for the next end.

What do curlers shout?

As mentioned above, curlers use various terms that make little sense in everyday vernacular, so here are the types of shots they play and what they mean:

• Come-around shot: Making a stone curl around another one.
• Draw: A stone thrown in such a way with the intention of finishing at a specific spot at the end of the ice.
• Flash: A stone that is thrown through the house (collection of stones at the end).
• Freeze: Trying to eliminate a specific stone from play, so the subsequently thrown stone cannot succeed to the target.
• Hit: Thrown in a way to hit or make contact with another stone at the end.
• Jam: Attempting to take out a stone that has been previously thrown but makes contact with another stone and it stops to stay in play (not over the house).
• Runback/raise takeout: Aim is to hit a stone higher up the ice with it making contact with another stone.
• Peel: Hitting a stone to remove both it and the thrown stone out of play.
• Split: A precise shot where the thrown stone looks to hit a guard (protecting stone that has been previously thrown) promoting both it and their own thrown stone into the house, so they both count as points.
• Tick shot: This shot is used to gently nudge a guard out of the way but keep it in play so that the next thrown stone can enter the target area.
• Wreck: A lousy shot where a stone accidentally makes contact with another stationary stone the thrower was hoping to avoid.

Other terms that curlers shout out are related to the “sweeping of the ice.”

The curling brush used is to clear debris from the path of the stone, so to maintain the stone’s trajectory when thrown. Stones accumulate this debris from the ice, and this can severely veer a stone off its course when gliding down the ice.

So, you’ll hear the following terms being hollered:

• “Hard,” “hard line,” or “go”: The Skip is shouting to the sweepers to sweep harder to maintain the current path of the stone’s trajectory.
• “Clean”: The opposite to “hard” where the Skip commands the sweepers to lightly sweep instead to ensure the stone’s trajectory is maintained.
• “Whoa,” “Never,” or “Off”: To hold off sweeping anymore, typically because the stone is heading off trajectory.
• “Looks heavy”: When a stone has been hurled too hard and fast, the Skip tells the sweepers to ease up in the aim that the stone will lose speed and momentum.
• “Looks light”: The opposite of “looks heavy,” if the stone has not enough power behind it then sweepers will frantically sweep in the hope that the stone will travel further and reach their intended point.

Presently, most curlers are not professional; practising the sport whilst holding full-time jobs and working out at the gym before going on tour globally to compete.

That does not mean curling should not be taken seriously; the Winter Olympics provide an exciting spectacle for the sports enthusiast and punters alike.

Olympic competitions

Curling’s journey to the Olympic Winter Games is a story of tradition meeting global recognition. The sport made its Olympic debut at the 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, but it wasn’t until the 1998 Nagano Games that curling became a full medal event, thanks to the efforts of the International Olympic Committee and the World Curling Federation.

Today, the Olympic curling competition features men’s and women’s tournaments, as well as the mixed doubles event, which was introduced in 2018 and quickly became a fan favourite. Teams from around the world compete for the coveted gold medal, showcasing their skills on one of the biggest stages in winter sports.

The World Curling Federation works closely with the International Olympic Committee to ensure that every aspect of the Olympic curling events meets the highest standards. The Winter Olympics remain the pinnacle of international curling, drawing large television audiences and inspiring new generations of players to join curling clubs and dream of representing their country on the world stage.

How to bet on curling: know the game

With this guide to curling, you can now follow the excitement too! Curling is often called “chess on ice” for a reason—it’s a game of angles, tactics, and precise execution. Played between two teams of four, players slide granite stones toward a target (the “house”) and use brooms to influence the stone’s speed and direction.

Matches are played over ten ends (similar to innings), with points awarded to the team with stones closest to the centre after all stones are delivered. After all ends are completed, the winning team is the one with the most points. The mix of physical skill and strategic planning makes curling both engaging to watch and rewarding to bet on.

What to consider when betting on curling:

• Team form and rankings: Top-tier national and Olympic teams consistently outperform.
• Ice conditions: Ice variability can favour experienced teams who adapt quickly.
• Tournament format: Round-robin play often allows for safer bets compared to knockout stages.
• Skip influence: The team captain (skip) plays a decisive role in shot-calling and pressure moments.

Curling betting markets include:

• Match winner
• Correct score
• Total points
• End-by-end betting
• Handicap markets

If you’re new to curling betting, check out trusted betting tipsters who specialise in winter sports. For more experienced bettors, arbitrage betting software can help you find value across international sportsbooks.

From the Winter Olympics to World Curling Championships, this sport’s tactical intensity offers serious potential for those who want to bet with both insight and accuracy.