After covering the basics of weight judgment in previous tutorials, I want to dive deeper into why stopwatches matter and how they can dramatically improve your game. This isn’t just about having another gadget – it’s about gaining a competitive edge through data and observation.
The Power of Split Times
Stopwatches serve two primary timing functions in curling: measuring split times (from back line to hog line) and long times (from the close hog line to the far hog line). These measurements provide crucial information about stone speed and trajectory.
When your teammate delivers a stone, the split time tells you exactly how much energy is behind it. The longer the split time, the slower the stone is traveling, and the more likely you’ll need to sweep. For example, a four-second split time indicates the stone will travel less distance than one with a 3.8-second split time.
This objective measurement removes much of the guesswork from sweeping decisions, allowing for more strategic play and better outcomes.
Strategic Advantages Beyond Your Own Throws
The benefits extend beyond timing your team’s stones. Here’s how a stopwatch gives you tactical advantages:
- You can time your opponents’ successful shots and replicate them precisely
- You can track ice conditions throughout the game
- You can build a mental database of times and outcomes
When an opponent makes a perfect draw and you capture their split time (let’s say 3.65 seconds), you now have the exact blueprint for replicating that shot. When your skip asks for the same shot down the same path, you know exactly how hard to throw it.
Tracking Ice Changes
One of the most valuable uses of a stopwatch is monitoring how ice conditions evolve during play. On good ice, the average draw weight might clock around 14.3 seconds from hog line to hog line at the start of a game.
However, as the pebble wears down and the game progresses, the ice typically slows. By taking long times on every shot, your stopwatch reveals exactly how much the ice is changing. By the end of the game, that same draw weight might register around 13.8 seconds.
This knowledge allows you to adjust your delivery force accordingly, maintaining consistency even as conditions change beneath your feet.
The Limitations of Timing
While I’m a strong advocate for using stopwatches, I also recognize their limitations. The stopwatch is a guide, not gospel. Several factors can affect timing accuracy:
- Operator error (our thumbs don’t always react instantly)
- Variations in delivery style (big extensions, pulling rocks back)
- Release points (letting go at the top of the house versus later)
Because of these variables, I recommend teams use a balanced approach. Have one person time while another serves as what I call a “looker” – someone who judges weight based on the visual aspects of delivery, release, and feel.
Finding Balance in Your Approach
The beauty of long times (hog line to hog line) is that they eliminate differences in delivery styles, providing more standardized data. This makes them particularly valuable for team communication and strategy development.
However, the most successful curlers combine timing data with visual assessment and experience. They understand when to trust the numbers and when to trust their instincts.
I’ve seen too many players become overly dependent on their stopwatches, losing the intuitive feel that makes great curlers exceptional. The stopwatch should enhance your game, not replace your judgment.
If you’re serious about improving your curling performance, add a stopwatch to your toolkit. Practice taking consistent times, learn what the numbers mean for your team’s delivery styles, and use that information to make better strategic decisions. Just remember that like any tool, its value lies in how skillfully you use it – and knowing when other approaches might serve you better.
