Qualicum & District Curling Club is committed to providing curling education and instruction to all levels of curlers.
- Curling Clinics – Novice
- Junior Curling – Thursdays
- High School Program – exact days to be determined
- Skills Enhancement – Saturdays
- Reading the ice
- Release of the rock/delivery
- Weight control
- Executing key shots
- Stick curling release
The Club believes that by educating and training members, we can excel as a learning centre for new curlers. With the help of careful financial planning and local sponsors, we have been able to provide scholarships for members interested in developing their skills as curlers and teachers.
Qualicum & District Curling Club is the place to come to learn to curl!
REALLY Basic Curling Strategy
Six key decision factors on each shot:
- The score?
- Big or small margin
- Who has the hammer?
- What end is it?
- Early or late in the game
- Your team’s skill?
- Things change during a game
- Opponents skill?
- Watch each shot they make
- Ice conditions?
- Look for runs, falls, condition of the pebble, temperature
Two distinctive styles of play
- Aggressive or Offensive Style
- More rocks in play
- Finesse shots – guards, come around, tap back, freeze
- designed to score more than one point
- or hold opponent to one point
- Defensive or Conservative Style
- Reduces the number of rocks in play
- Take outs, hit and roll
- Keeps the front of the house as open as possible
- designed to keep the game close or hold a lead
- or force the opponent to one point
The Score
Ahead – throw into the house
Behind – throw guards
Hammer
Yes – throw in the center
No – throw to the sides
You have the hammer advantage, and you want rocks in play. Use the 4 guard rule to your advantage and keep the center open. As play progresses, you may have center ice opportunities as the opposition tries to steal the end. Establish your centerline guards so you can get rocks in play behind the guards. Closer to the rings is better as the opposition will be faced with a difficult come around shot to move your rocks. Keep the center ice open.