what does the curling broom do

A curling broom does two main things: it changes how the stone travels on the ice and it helps players with balance and aim during their shot.

Quick Scoop: What the Curling Broom Actually Does

1. Controls speed and distance

When players sweep in front of a moving stone, they slightly warm the ice, creating a super thin water layer.

• This reduces friction, so the stone can travel farther.

• It also helps keep the stone from slowing down too quickly near the house (the target rings).

2. Influences direction (the “curl”)

Sweeping can make the stone go straighter and slightly change its path.

• Sweeping more = stone goes straighter and a bit farther.

• Sweeping less = stone “curls” more, taking a more curved path.

This is why teammates sweep like crazy when they want to hold the line on a precise shot.

3. Clears and smooths the ice

The broom also brushes away small bits of debris or rough spots on the ice.

• That reduces the chance of a tiny chip or frost grabbing the stone and knocking it off line.

• In high-level play, this fine control over the ice surface is a big part of strategy.

4. Balance and aiming tool

The broom is not just for sweeping; it’s also a physical aid.

• Players use it as a balance support when sliding out of the hack to deliver the stone.

• The skip (team captain) holds the broom as a visible target for where the shooter should aim.

5. A bit of evolution and “tech drama”

Older curling brooms were made of corn straw or hog/horse hair, like old- school household brooms.

Modern brooms use synthetic pads and lightweight carbon‑fiber or fiberglass handles so players can sweep faster and harder.

Some advanced broom heads became controversial because they could “over- control” the stone, leading to new rules from curling’s governing bodies.

In simple terms: the broom is how curlers fine‑tune the stone’s speed and path in real time, turning curling into something like “chess on ice” with a science twist.

TL;DR: The curling broom warms and smooths the ice to make the stone go farther and straighter, helps adjust how much it curls, clears debris, and doubles as a balance and aiming aid for players.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.