Curling Delivery
Before a curler delivers a curling stone, they receive three pieces of information from the skip. They are:
- The intended location of the shot: This allows the thrower to judge the weight required to execute the shot.
- The line: This allows the thrower to aim at the skip's broom so that the stone can curl as it travels down the ice and stop at its desired location.
- The handle: This allows the thrower to release the stone with a pre-determined rotation. This rotation is how a stone curls as it travels down the ice.
After a curler receives this information, they can begin the delivery. First, the thrower will move the stone forward a few inches so that it is not stuck on the ice. Second, they will move the stone back to the hack, move their sliding foot and broom (or stabilizer) backwards, and bring their hips up. Finally, they push out of the hack and lunge, as they begin to glide down the ice towards the skip's broom.
Holding a Broom When Delivering
Most curlers hold a broom when they are delivering a stone to provide them with balance when pushing out of the hack. In a curling delivery, you are constantly shifting your body weight. During a delivery, it is important that your body weight is evenly distributed between the left and right halves of your body. Holding a broom (or other stabilizing device) makes the delivery more balanced and precise. In reality, curlers should be able to perform a delivery without any stone or broom in hand and push out of the hack perfectly balanced.