Sweeping in curling is a key strategy to control the stone's path and distance on the ice. It works by temporarily reducing friction through heat and lubrication, allowing teams to fine-tune shots in real time.

Core Physics

Sweeping generates friction that melts the pebbled ice surface into a thin water film. This lubricates the stone's path, making it slide farther (up to 2-3 meters more) and straighter by minimizing its natural curl.

Without sweeping, the stone slows quicker due to higher friction and follows a more pronounced curve from its rotation and tilt.

The ice's pebble texture aids sliding overall, but sweeping polishes debris and enhances control.

Strategic Role

Teams decide when to sweep based on shot needs—like speeding a light stone past guards or straightening a curler to hit the house center.

The skip calls "Hurry!" for hard sweeping (more distance/straightness) or "Whoa!" to ease off and let friction resume.

Sweepers must gauge ice conditions, stone speed, and pebbling, as effects vary per sheet.

Effect| Sweeping On| Sweeping Off
---|---|---
Distance| Increases (farther travel) 19| Decreases (quicker stop) 3
Curl| Reduces (straighter line) 59| Increases (sharper arc) 1
Cleanup| Removes debris for smooth glide 1| Allows buildup, potential snags 7

Sweeper Technique

Effective sweeping demands athleticism: rapid, pressure-filled strokes with specialized brooms (nylon/poly blends post-2015 "brushgate").

Sweepers stay ahead of the stone, communicating with the skip for line and weight adjustments.

Pro tips from forums note exaggerated strokes to clear fully without dumping speed prematurely.

Fun Historical Tidbit

Curling dates to 16th-century Scotland with corn-husk brooms; today's carbon- fiber gear revolutionized precision. Imagine early players discovering this "heat trick" by accident—turning a simple scrub into a game-changer!

TL;DR : Sweeping heats/melts ice for less friction, boosting distance and straightening curls to outscore opponents.

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