Learn To Curl - Tip #12 - Matching Rocks

[@niceguymemer]

Love watching your videos! Keep them up!

[@onabaseballbasis5910]

You literally just make the sport all that much more fun! And you always explain the details that i never get! Never stop making videos your amazing!

[@CurlUpWithJamie]

Thank you so much! Thats amazing to hear!

[@onabaseballbasis5910]

Jamie Sinclair wouldnt say it if it wasnt true!

[@sydneyboyd9436]

Hey I am a junior curler from England (15), and I was wondering if you could do a video looking into footwork whilst sweeping? BTW there is only one dedicated rink in England and it is in a old barn on a farm!!! Love the videos, they are really helpful!

[@CurlUpWithJamie]

I can definitely do that! Thanks for the idea! Wow, in a barn?? That sounds awesome!

[@sydneyboyd9436]

Jamie Sinclair Thank you!! The man that owns the rink came down from Scotland and had dairy cows. They weren't making much money so he decided to turn their barn in a rink! It is Fentons rink!

[@CurlUpWithJamie]

If I'm ever there I will have to check it out!

[@sydneyboyd9436]

Jamie Sinclair You definitely should!

[@markolson1552]

Awesome insight into the "black magic" that teams should be doing more often!

[@jeffmonaghan]

Greatest, most charming smile in the sport ... floors me every time!

[@CedarRapidsCurling]

The Rock Book is only good until the Head Ice Tech for a club takes all the handles off for maintenance during the off season, and doesn't put them back on the same stone or set of stones.

[@GeometricMason]

Or until they decide to sharpen the rocks... and don't know what they're doing

[@mikemoloney6448]

Hi Jamie did you ever have a chance to talk to Kevin Martin, He apparently has a log book on all of the rocks they used in the briers he played in?

[@CurlUpWithJamie]

Oh i have no doubt! He must have quite the extensive rock book!

[@misterjeroen1]

Do you use al the time you get prior to events and championships to check out the stones or do you also spent time on checking other things like the quality of the ice, differences between sheets, ...? Because 8-10 minutes per set/sheet isn't much... Again great video by the way! :)

[@CurlUpWithJamie]

We definitely take in all the information we can from past years but the most valuable information is gathered during those 8-10 minutes per sheet. So its extremely important for us to be organized and on the ball in that time.

[@aaronciha5027]

Do you know what rocks are matched at the Green Bay Curling Club?

[@CurlUpWithJamie]

unfortunately not... sorry Aaron

[@tomjordan4829]

In a game do you have to throw the rocks in their numbered order? Or can you throw any number at any time? We always organize them and throw them in order 1-8.

[@CurlUpWithJamie]

Normally, yes. You would throw them in order starting with the lead. Only time we would change that order is if we found a rock that is different than the others. Lets say the #7 rock was a slow rock, then we would give that rock to our second (because she normally throws a lot more hits and a slow rock isn't as much of a factor for hits). And the skip would then take one of the seconds rocks.

[@edspeer7944]

Are you able to match rocks prior to competitions such as the tournament of hearts?

[@CurlUpWithJamie]

yup! They normally give every team 10 minutes per sheet prior to the event to match rocks.

[@le_Gay]

Do you have any tips to help me stop lifting my foot off the ice when throwing up-weight?

[@CurlUpWithJamie]

Actually it not a bad thing. As long as your sliding foot is going straight back and straight forward (i.e., no sideways momentum) its ok to "jump" the hack. Even I do it. Its a great way to generate more power and speed for those high hard peels. Just make sure you have great balance!

[@le_Gay]

THANKS!!!!!

[@timothycarry]

I keep trying to keep a log but my club papers the rocks before all the big spiels.

[@CurlUpWithJamie]

you will find that often times back rocks are always bad rocks. So even after a paper, you might see the same tendencies come back.

[@silencilliste]

I have lots to learn about curling, but the fact that rocks don't weigh the same is quite a mystery to me at the moment.

[@CurlUpWithJamie]

They are all super close... but they're rocks... so not perfect. It definitely adds another layer of depth to the sport!

[@kboggs90]

Are they all the same weight, or are some heavier than others?

[@CedarRapidsCurling]

On any given sheet, all 16 stones (your 8 and the opponents 8) will weigh within an ounce or two of each other. For a stone to be competition legal, they must weigh between 38 and 44 pounds. The standard is 42 pounds.

[@CurlUpWithJamie]

Nice work!

[@MrShirleydoherty]

Are curlers ever allowed to bring their own personal rock when playing?

[@CurlUpWithJamie]

No. Every curling club, arena and federation have their own curling stones that you have to use. Plus carrying around your own pair of curling stones (42 pounds each) would be very inconvenient...and heavy!