The Curling School

Equipment and Performance

Having the proper equipment is an important component to playing well. Since there is an endless list of equipment, decisions on the best equipment to use may be difficult. The following is a list of subtle differences that you should consider.

Sliders:

Sliders come in various speeds, shapes and materials. Generally, the advanced curler will use a slider that provides the least amount of friction and provides the most stability. The 'thick" Teflon slider is the most common advanced slider and can be used be the novice and advanced curler. It is fast and quiet. The only other slider that may be faster is one made of stainless steel. Stainless steel sliders are cost prohibitive for most curlers and don't provide the much additional performance enhancement. Other advanced sliders include the "red brick" slider. It is a fast slider that is very effective on frosty or rough surfaces.

Shoes:

The sliders that are built into curling shoes are faster and more stable than the slip-on sliders used by new curlers. As soon as possible, invest in a good pair of curling shoes for improved balance and stability. Your balance will depend a lot on your shoes. The better the sliding platform, the easier it is to slide balanced. In addition to performance your shoes should be comfortable and warm.

CurlTech Choice:

#1 Balance Plus Deluxe with the medium slider

#2 Any other shoe

Brushes and Brooms:

The terms brush and broom are interchangeable. Natural bristle brushes were popular until the mid 1990's. Horsehair and hog-hair brushes were the standard. Today, the standard is synthetic. Synthetic brushes are made of Cordura or other high-friction material. The biggest advantage to using synthetic brushes is the weight-to-effectiveness ratio. They require less effort to create friction resulting in much more efficient sweeping. They are also much cleaner due to the reduced amount of shedding. Curlers playing on multiple teams such as league play should purchase a broom that allows them to sweep on both sides of the rock.

CurlTech Choice:

#1 Hammer XL

#2 Performance

#3 Any other swivel type

See the Advanced Sweeping section for teams sweeping equipment.