Judging the weight of a curling stone is one of the most challenging skills to master, especially if you’re not the skip. As sweepers, we need to quickly assess where each rock will finish and make split-second decisions about whether to sweep or not. After years of coaching and playing, I’ve developed a drill that dramatically improves this crucial skill.
The “Keep Out” drill transforms weight judgment into a competitive game that makes practice both effective and fun. I’ve seen teams make remarkable progress with this exercise, and today I want to share it with you.
How the Keep Out Drill Works
The concept is simple: sweepers try to keep the rock out of the house, while the thrower attempts to place it in the rings. If the rock lands in the house, the thrower gets a point. If the sweepers manage to keep it out (either short of the rings or through them), they earn the point.
This creates a strategic challenge that mimics real game situations. When a rock looks light, sweepers must decide to let it die short. When it has enough weight to reach the house, they need to sweep aggressively to push it through the back. The closer the rock is to the top of the house, the harder the sweepers’ decision becomes.
What makes this drill particularly effective is how it forces sweepers to:
- Make quick weight judgments immediately after release
- Communicate their assessment clearly to their teammate
- Take decisive action based on their judgment
- Track their progress through a simple scoring system
Adding Communication Practice
The second crucial element of this drill focuses on verbal communication. Sweepers must call out where they believe the rock will finish. This might feel awkward at first, but it’s essential for team coordination during games.
To structure this communication practice, I recommend placing three cones on the sheet:
- Just past the near hog line
- Halfway down the sheet
- At the far hog line
At minimum, sweepers should call out their weight judgment when the rock passes each cone. You don’t need to be extremely precise at first—simply saying “heavy,” “light,” or “good weight” is a great start. Any communication is better than silence.
The Movement Advantage
One tip that transformed my own sweeping: judge weight by moving with the rock from the moment of release. Your body speed provides additional sensory information that helps you make more accurate judgments. You’ll also get a better view of the release, seeing if the thrower pushed or pulled the stone, which affects its path and speed.
This movement-based judgment takes practice, but it’s worth the effort. The best sweepers in the world use this technique to make remarkably accurate calls.
Practicing Solo
If you’re practicing alone, you can still benefit from this drill. Deliver the stone as the thrower, then get up and slider sweep it as a sweeper. However, I must emphasize: only attempt this if you’re comfortable with slider sweeping and can safely get up quickly after releasing. Safety first—if you have any doubts, find a practice partner instead.
Track Your Progress
The beauty of the Keep Out drill is that it provides immediate feedback through the scoring system. Keep track of your points and try to beat your score each practice session. This creates a measurable way to track improvement over time.
Weight judgment isn’t mastered overnight. It requires hundreds of repetitions and constant refinement. But with the Keep Out drill, you’ll find yourself making more accurate calls and better sweeping decisions much faster than with random practice.
Next time you’re on the ice, give this drill a try. Your improved weight judgment will translate directly to better game performance, helping your team make those crucial shots when it matters most.
