Equipment and Gear for Curling Players: A Complete, Player-Tested Guide

Chosen theme: Equipment and Gear for Curling Players. Explore smart choices, practical tips, and real stories that help you feel confident on the ice, protect your body, and get the most from every sweep and slide.

Selecting the Right Curling Broom

Carbon fiber shafts feel featherlight and responsive, reducing fatigue during long ends, while fiberglass can offer a budget-friendly, slightly heavier option with solid durability. Try both in practice to sense how stiffness influences your sweep pressure.

Shoes, Sliders, and Confident Delivery

Teflon sliders come in various thicknesses, with thicker options providing faster glide for experienced players. Beginners might prefer thinner, slower sliders to build control. Test different speeds in drills before league night to lock in reliable timing.

Stabilizers, Delivery Sticks, and Balance Aids

A stabilizer encourages square shoulders and quiet hips. If your broom feels awkward in the off hand during delivery, test a stabilizer for a week. Many players report straighter lines and cleaner releases with less wobble.

Use breathable base layers to manage moisture, a stretch mid-layer for movement, and a wind-resistant outer layer. Avoid heavy cotton that traps sweat. Test your delivery wearing full layers so nothing tugs when you reach the slide.

Apparel: Warmth, Flexibility, and Safety

Gloves should keep hands warm without numbing feel. Choose models that maintain broom-handle sensitivity, resist moisture, and dry quickly. Rotate pairs between games when possible; dry gloves improve your sweep cadence and control under pressure.

Apparel: Warmth, Flexibility, and Safety

Timing Tools, Communication, and Strategy

Hog-to-hog and back-line splits help you gauge ice speed and stone behavior. Calibrate your stopwatch and practice consistent starts. Logs matter—compare early-end readings with late-end ice to spot pebble changes and frost developing.

Timing Tools, Communication, and Strategy

Agree on sweep-call language and hand signals before the game. Mark your broom with subtle tape cues for target ice. Equipment that reinforces communication reduces second-guessing and accelerates decisions when seconds feel like heartbeats.

Timing Tools, Communication, and Strategy

A front-end pair in our club started timing every draw during practice. Two weeks later, they anticipated late-end slowdowns and saved a must-score by sweeping early and confidently, trusting their logs rather than second-guessing the feel.

Brush Head Care and Replacement

Clean brush heads after each session, removing ice debris and lint. Rotate covers as they compress. Replace when fabric pills or loses bite. A fresh head maintains predictable friction, which translates directly into weight and curl control.

Shoe and Slider Upkeep

Wipe sliders with a soft cloth after games and store them dry. Inspect for nicks that could catch on pebbled ice. Keep grippers lint-free, replacing them when edges harden. Reliable footing supports confidence and cleaner releases.

Gear Bags and Organization

Use a ventilated bag with dedicated pockets for shoes, brush heads, and spare grippers. Keep a small repair kit: tape, extra covers, towel, and a multitool. Organized gear reduces stress and keeps focus where it belongs—on the next shot.

Stones, Handles, and Club Etiquette

Respecting Club Stones

Never slam stones, avoid hitting handles with brooms, and set rocks down rather than dropping them. Clubs invest heavily in matched sets. Treating stones carefully preserves consistency, which makes your weight judgments more dependable.

Handles, Sensors, and Care

Some handles include sensors for hog-line violations. Keep them dry, avoid twisting aggressively, and report malfunctions to staff. Clean, functional handles support fair play and provide consistent release feedback during practice sessions.

Reading Stone Behavior

Notice how earlier stones track through paths and how frost affects finish. Talk with ice techs respectfully about conditions. Your broom, shoes, and observations combine to turn equipment knowledge into smarter shot choices and calmer strategy.