Have you ever watched a curler step into the hack and just known they were going to miss their shot? I can tell almost immediately if someone’s shot will succeed based solely on their setup position. After years of teaching curling, I’ve found that proper alignment is the foundation of consistent shooting.
The concept seems simple—follow a straight line from the skip’s broom to your foot in the hack—yet so many curlers struggle with this fundamental skill. Getting your body properly aligned before delivery is the single most important factor in making your shot.
The Perfect Setup Sequence
Let’s break down the proper alignment process step by step:
- Clean your rock first (doing this after alignment defeats the purpose)
- Stand up to receive the call from your skip
- Visualize an invisible line from the skip’s broom to your foot
- Step into the hack from behind, placing your sliding foot on the line
- Position your sliding foot forward in the heel-to-toe position, parallel to the line
This sequence ensures you start with proper positioning. Many curlers make the mistake of stepping into the hack from the side or positioning their feet incorrectly, which makes following the line nearly impossible.
Body Alignment Is Everything
When you crouch down into the hack, keeping everything square toward the broom is critical. Your shoulders, hips, and knees should all face the same direction—toward your target.
I often see curlers with their knees pointing in different directions or their hips twisted. This misalignment makes it physically impossible to kick off in the right direction and maintain that straight line of delivery. Think of your body as a train on tracks—everything needs to be aligned to move forward smoothly.
If someone were looking at your delivery from behind, they should be able to draw a straight line from the skip’s broom through your rock, through your body, down to your toe, and back to the hack.
Rock Positioning and Movement
Your rock should be the first thing that moves forward on the line of delivery, with your body following behind. The rock’s initial position is crucial—if it starts off the line, your entire delivery will be compromised.
During the take-back:
- The rock comes straight back
- Your sliding foot moves straight back
- You reach the “park” position
I like to compare the park position to pulling back a slingshot. The angle at which you pull back determines the direction the projectile will travel. Keep your hips aligned and at the proper angle to ensure your forward motion follows the intended path.
The Forward Motion
As you push out of the hack, movement sequence matters:
- The rock moves forward first along the invisible line
- Your sliding foot follows, settling behind the rock
- Your body naturally follows along the same line
Avoid sideways movements at all costs. These lateral motions throw you off balance and off line—often resulting in falls or missed shots. Every part of your body should travel forward on that same invisible line toward the broom.
Practice Makes Perfect
Mastering alignment takes practice and feedback. I recommend asking a teammate or coach to watch your delivery from behind and give you honest feedback about your line. Video analysis can also be incredibly helpful in spotting alignment issues you might not feel during delivery.
The next time you step onto the ice, focus intensely on this invisible line. Visualize it before each shot. With practice, proper alignment will become second nature, and you’ll see your shooting percentage climb dramatically.
Remember, in curling, the path to success is quite literally a straight line.
