Ever found yourself unable to remove an opponent’s stone from play because you just couldn’t generate enough power? Or perhaps you’ve been asked to peel a guard but couldn’t deliver the necessary weight? I’ve been there too, and I want to share what I’ve learned about generating that crucial extra power in your curling throws.
Before diving into my tips, I should emphasize that throwing with more power requires excellent balance. Without proper stability, you’ll struggle to control your delivery regardless of how much force you generate. If balance is an issue for you, I recommend practicing stability drills first.
Four Key Techniques for Generating More Power
1. Stay Low Throughout Your Delivery
One of the most common mistakes I see is players rising too high in their park position. When this happens, your momentum gets directed downward into the ice as you kick forward, wasting energy that should be propelling you forward. Think of your body as a slingshot—stay low and pull straight back to maximize the forward energy when you release.
2. Keep the Rock Close During Your Slide
Positioning is everything in a power throw. By keeping the rock close to your body during the slide, you create the opportunity to add a powerful extension at release. Many curlers make the mistake of sliding with a straight arm, forcing them to pull the rock back before they can extend—this kills momentum. Keep it close, then extend with purpose.
3. Master Your Weight Transfer
Try bringing your sliding foot slightly farther back in the park position than you normally would. While crouched in the hack, your weight should rest on your hack foot. As you move into the park position, shift your body backward to transfer weight onto your sliding foot.
This weight transfer is fundamental because:
- Momentum equals mass times speed
- Your body weight provides the necessary mass
- Proper positioning behind the hack maximizes this effect
Without this weight transfer, you’re trying to generate power with just your arms, which will never match what your whole body can produce.
The Speed Factor: Timing Your Sliding Foot
4. Delay Your Sliding Foot Movement
The final and perhaps most crucial element is speed. To increase your delivery speed, delay bringing your sliding foot forward for as long as possible—even to the point where it feels uncomfortable.
From the park position after completing your weight transfer, allow your rock and shoulders to begin moving forward along the line of delivery while keeping your sliding foot stationary. Hold this position until you feel you can’t delay any longer, then quickly bring your foot forward and underneath your chest to prevent falling.
Advanced players might even slightly “jump the hack,” lifting the sliding foot off the ice momentarily. I personally use this technique primarily for peel shots where maximum power is needed.
Practice Makes Perfect
A drill I’ve found extremely effective involves using two rocks—one in each hand. Keep the rocks touching throughout your delivery while practicing kicking out as hard as possible to generate maximum momentum.
This exercise is challenging due to the extra weight, but it’s excellent for:
- Developing comfort with power-generating techniques
- Maintaining balance despite increased force
- Strengthening the leg muscles needed for powerful throws
Remember that power without control is useless in curling. Always focus on maintaining your line and release even as you work to increase your throwing weight. With practice, you’ll find that sweet spot where power and precision meet.
The next time you need to make that crucial takeout or peel that stubborn guard, these techniques will give you the extra power to make it happen. Get out on the ice, practice these methods, and watch your heavy weight shots transform your game.
