what does brushing the ice do in curling
Brushing the ice in curling, often called sweeping, temporarily reduces friction to help the stone travel farther and straighter. This technique is a game-changer, letting teams fine-tune each shot's path and distance with precision teamwork.
How Brushing Works
Brushing warms the ice surface slightly—a rise of just 1-2 degrees—right in front of the stone's running band, which is the 5-inch contact area with the ice. This lowers the friction coefficient, so the stone glides farther and follows a smoother line instead of slowing or veering due to ice pebbles. Sweepers use brooms or brushes with controlled pressure and speed; faster, overlapping strokes maximize the heat effect without scratching unless intended.
Imagine the stone as a hockey puck on pebbled ice: unswept paths grab and curl unpredictably, but brushed paths become a temporary "highway" for straighter, longer runs.
Key Effects on the Stone
- Increases distance (carry): Vigorous sweeping ahead reduces drag, adding feet to the stone's travel—crucial for guards or takeouts.
- Straightens the line: Clears debris and polishes pebbles, minimizing random curls from ice texture.
- Controls or enhances curl: Position sweepers on the "high side" (direction of stone rotation) to subtly groove the ice, exaggerating natural curl; "snowplow" stance behind adds carry without altering path.
Effect| Technique| Outcome 17
---|---|---
Max Distance| Hard, fast strokes across full band| Stone travels 1-6+ feet
farther
Straight Line| Parallel brush to stone path| Reduces friction evenly
Enhance Curl| Angled strokes from high side| Creates grooves for rotation
Tactics and Team Strategy
Sweepers communicate with the skip (team captain) via calls like "hurry hard!" for max effort or "off" to ease up. Two or three sweepers fan out, rotating to cover the stone's projected path—pressure under 5 lbs cleans without excess warming. Advanced plays use hybrid warm/scratch methods: outside sweeper melts for curl while covering the band fully.
Pro Tip: Avoid crossing the sheet during opponent turns to prevent debris; teams negotiate brush pressure pre-game.
Science and Debates
Physics backs it: Heat from friction (not just melting) dominates, with brush velocity and overlap key—sweeping the same spot twice cuts friction most. Debates rage on aggressive brushing controversies, like 90-degree rotations for "carving," but testing shows high-side angled strokes work best without proof of gimmicks. Ice factors (pebble size, humidity) amplify effects, per sports science reviews.
"Sweeping faster to cover the same ice multiple times has greater effect than more pressure."
Recent Buzz (Feb 2026)
Curling's Olympic hype and club leagues spark forum threads on brushing evolution—pros like Team Scotland refine high-side tactics amid brush tech debates. No major rule shifts, but training vids trend on precision sweeping.
TL;DR: Brushing melts/polishes ice to cut friction, boosting distance, straightening shots, and tweaking curl—pure strategy in action.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.