A curler has two primary pieces of equipment: a brush, and a pair of curling shoes. In golf, multi-million advertising dollars are spent each year by golf shoe manufacturers such as Footjoy (recently sold to interests in South Korea) to convince golfers that one golf shoe matters over another. I would argue that in curling, a shoe – particularly what type of slider is used – matters considerably more. Unfortunately, in both golf and curling it is difficult to buy shoes on the “try before you buy” plan. Hence in this article I’ll try to document the range of options for curling shoes.
Proper curling footwear offers a considerable advantage over slip-on sliders, tape, or other temporary means of enabling a slide delivery. A proper curling shoe will assist with balance, reduce the amount of effort required to throw hit weight, permit more consistency by allowing a longer and more stable slide with each throw, and permit better grip, and hence more confident footwork, when brushing.
By and large, today there are two predominate styles of sliders on curling shoes: full-foot and disc. Both have their advocates, though discs have become increasingly popular in the past decade. Both full-foot and disc sliders are available in 3 types of materials (listed from slowest to fastest):
- “red brick”, a red, striped, hard plastic that is glued to the sole of the slider shoe;
- “Teflon”, a white plastic that is somewhat softer than red brick (and scratches more easily); and
- stainless steel.
In this article I’ll provide descriptions of some of the options available from the three predominate curling shoe manufacturers/distributors in Canada (Asham, Goldline, Balance Plus) and discuss the tradeoffs of one style over another.
Full-foot sliders
All three of Canada’s leading manufacturers continue to make full-foot sliders for at least some shoes in their lineup, and this style is available in all three types (red brick, Teflon, stainless steel) although stainless steel is prohibitively expensive.
The photograph at left shows an all-leather Asham shoe with a full-foot red brick slider. Red brick sliders were very popular, at least in Western Canada, 20 years ago and I personally used a full-foot, red brick slider until fairly recently. In terms of speed, red brick is comparable to a medium-thickness Teflon slider (5/32 of an inch) but is not as fast as thicker Teflon sliders or those made from stainless steel. One disadvantage of red brick sliders is that they can suffer from excessive drag because of the multitude of edges on the bottom of the shoe, particularly the case when the curling sheet has frost. This problem was one of the reasons I switched from red brick to 1/4 inch Teflon a few years ago.
With Teflon, the thicker the slider the faster the shoe. By “fast”, I mean the longer one can glide down the sheet during delivery with the same amount of leg drive out of the hack. Teflon is commonly available in three thicknesses: 3/32, 5/32, and 1/4 inch.
One style of slider that I have not included in the images above is made by Balance Plus, that features a full-foot Teflon slider with a “doughnut” under the ball of the foot. One Balance Plus model that features this slider is the Balance Plus 300. Balance Plus was the first manufacturer to offer this design in 1996 – you can read about Balance Plus and the Balance Plus slider here. The “doughnut” can be quite beneficial for assisting with balance during the delivery. This is particularly true if the curler has the tendency to lift their slide-foot heel off the ice during the slide. Many recreational curlers, and even world champions (watch Kevin Martin’s slide foot the next time you see him on TV) tend to do that. For curlers like these, the Balance Plus doughnut can make a significant difference in stability. I have never used Balance Plus shoes myself, but I know several curlers who swear by their design.
Finally, another option is the full-foot perimeter slider, which is offered on some Goldline shoe models. The idea behind the perimeter slider is to offer the tactile feel under the ball of the foot (a similar idea to the Balance Plus doughnut) yet still have a continuous Teflon surface surrounding the complete sole of the curling shoe. My son Andrew uses this style – his shoes are from Goldline – and likes them very much.
Disc sliders
There are three main advantages of disc-type sliders over full-foot sliders. Firstly, the two-disc system is much more suitable to curlers who continue to use the “tuck” delivery, rather than slide using the CCA-approved and taught “flat-foot” delivery. Secondly, disc sliders are typically interchangeable, meaning that they can be replaced when necessary due to damage, or when the curler wants to try a different slider type yet retain the same pair of shoes. Disc sliders usually attach to the sole of the shoe with Velcro. Since a good-quality leather pair of curling shoes can cost between $200 and $300, being able to easily exchange your set of discs is an advantage. Thirdly, discs are usually over-size, extending over the edges of the sole of the shoe, hence providing a larger, more stable platform on which to slide.
Discs are available in all three types: red brick, Teflon, and stainless steel.
As with full-foot sliders, the faster the discs, the greater the cost. A current (May 2011) price list (prices in Canadian dollars) from Rick Folk’s curling store, Folk’s Curling Corner in Kelowna, BC, illustrates the difference in cost between the slider options for Asham shoes with discs. The discs are listed in order of slowest-to-fastest, and you’ll note that the faster the slider, the greater the cost. Also note that these prices are the per-disc cost; you need two discs on each shoe (two gripper discs on your hack foot, two slider discs on your slide foot):
- Gripper disc $15.00
- Red Brick: $25.00
- 3/32-inch white Teflon $30.00
- 5/32-inch white Teflon: $35.00
- 1/4-inch white Teflon: $40.00
- 1/4-inch white Teflon ring: $45.00
- Stainless steel: $80.00
- Stainless steel ring: $90.00
Recently, Asham has offered Teflon disc “ring” sliders. My son Ryan uses Asham “Slam” shoes with this style of slider, and he thinks the 1/4 inch disc ring improves his delivery. My own shoes use a “flat” 1/4 inch disc. One difference with disc-style sliders is that the gripper that slips over the bottom of the slider must be contoured to accommodate the extra width of the shoe due to the over-sized slider discs – an “ordinary” slip-on rubber gripper won’t fit properly.
Discs are of two sizes: a larger disc under the ball of the foot, and a smaller one under the heel. Potentially, you could mix-and-match discs of different types and/or thicknesses, but I wouldn’t recommend doing so unless you can try out the combination on the ice.
Balance Plus offers disc-style shoes as well: one of their models is the Balance Plus 500. With this shoe, Balance Plus offers ring-style Teflon sliders on both the ball of the foot and on the heel. I have not tried these shoes, so I cannot offer any personal experience regarding the advantages of such a design.
Toe dip
You may have noticed that the right shoe in many of the pictures have a coated toe, commonly termed a “toe dip”. All the members of my family are right-handed, so in all cases the right shoe has the gripper on the sole and is worn on the trailing leg during delivery. With modern synthetic shoes, the exterior is coated so that it reduces the drag caused by the trailing leg. Leather shoes, because of the suppleness of the leather, tends to cause additional drag. One can counteract this by “dipping” the toe of your gripper shoe with a black, plastic resin, available from all of the manufacturers (we got our “toe-dip kit” from Goldline). The resin is applied sparingly with a Popsicle stick to the toe of the shoe, previously roughened with emery cloth to ensure good adhesion. When dry, the plastic resin is still somewhat flexible but harder than the leather it is bonded to, and hence reduces drag during delivery.
Balance Plus offers toe-dipped leather shoes (a “trailing toe coating”) done at the factory.
Recommendations
What shoe you choose depends not only on the slider but other factors such as fit and availability. I would not hesitate to recommend disc sliders because of their flexibility. I would strongly recommend a 1/4 inch slider for all curlers, including Little Rockers and Bantams, since they can benefit from the increased speed as much as adults – though obviously at increased cost. I would discourage the use of stainless steel – the marginal advantage of stainless over 1/4 inch Teflon is, in my view, not worth the doubling in cost.
Summer is a great time to find curling shoes for junior curlers, since retailers are usually willing to discount their existing stock in order to make room for new fall inventory.
I’ve been using the Balance Plus 500s for a season-and-a-half now, and when I first switched to them I could not believe how much more balanced my slide was.
The front slider has two of the usual Balance Plus “doughnut” holes, one near the toe and one on the ball of the foot, and the rear slider has its own doughnut hole. I especially like the hinged shoe, as I sometimes do lift my heel off the ice (bad, bad, bad). My old shoes wore out on the inside of the slider foot heel a bit. The only bad thing I have to say about these shoes is that the top lace holes have torn through. My summer project will be to find a way to install some metal eyelets.
My daughter used the 3/16th” Balance Plus shoes last year, with one ball doughnut and one heel doughnut, and she thought they were great.
Marc – I too bought the 500’s this season, and I’m having a heck of a time keeping my balance. It seems the root of the problem is that extra slippery coated toe on the trailing foot. Perhaps I am putting too much weight up on that toe, but basically, I seem to have a rudder behind me the steers me off to the left, while my right hand with the rock, goes out tot height. The result of course is I have no idea where the line is. Very embarrassing! Wonder if you had any problem like this?
I had an eye almost pull through; the company replaced the shoes at no cost to me. 😀
Thanks for the great information. I bought a new pair of shoes 5 years ago (they were a leftover pair from last season) and cannot get used to them – the teflon slider is too slippery for me. Do you have any suggestions on how to safely (for the ice) make a slider less slippery? If I can’t find a solution I’ll have to get a new pair of shoes, as I really can’t even safely curl in these ones. I’ve been wearing my old pair but they are getting very old…
You’re quite welcome, Rhonda. I don’t know of any solution to make a slider LESS slippery other than to get a new slider installed, or to buy new shoes. Any alterations you try to make to the Teflon surface are not only going to ruin its surface, but also likely scratch the ice surface as you slide, building up snow underneath the shoes and drawing the ire of your friendly ice-maker.
If they are disc sliders, you could go to a thinner disc, which wouldn’t slide as much.
Thx for info! I’ve just returned to a state that has a curling club after a long absence from curling. I want to invest in a good pair of shoes – here’s my dilemma. I am a left-handed curler but sweep right-handed – that is, I prefer to slide on my left foot when sweeping. I’m thinking of putting teflon discs on the right (delivery) foot – then getting a removable slider for the left shoe when sweeping (and putting a gripper over the right shoe). Or should I put discs on both shoes, then use a gripper on the right when sweeping? Any suggestions?
Hi Lu – You could certainly purchase a removable slider for your left shoe while wearing a gripper over your right foot. But my recommendation would be not to use a slider at all while sweeping, since the slider almost certainly robs you of power through the sweeping stroke.
Hi! Great article by the way, very informative. I was thinking of buying my very first pair of curling shoes when someone I know gave me a pair of Asham curling shoes with the red brick slider.
The only problem is that I am a lefty and it is for a right handed shoe. I don’t mind learning how to delivery with my right but I know that my natural side would suit me better. Can I just purchase a slip on slider and use it like a lefty shoe?
Hi back, and thanks for the compliment. I wouldn’t recommend throwing with your other hand unless you really are ambidextrous. If you continue throwing with your left, you can try a slip-on slider on your right shoe, and wear a gripper on your left. But I think you’ll find that option unsatisfactory because slip-on sliders are very slow (because they are thin), and you’ll find it limits your delivery significantly.
My granddaughter (7 yrs.) is attempting curling. You mentioned steel sliders. This might sound “weird”, but can she use her old tap shoe? We’re leery to spend too much money until we know she likes the sport.
Also, do you know of a second-hand sports store that sells kids’ curling equipment?
Thank you
Hi Bev – no, this isn’t something I would recommend. I think a stainless steel shoe is too slippery for a 7-yr old – moreover the soles of her dance shoes are likely too hard to offer much, if any, grip on the ice when she needs it.
Would the asham 2 discs with the doughnut hole provide the same stability as the balance plus full slider with the 3-hole system?
That’s the idea, but I personally have not tried either shoe. My sons like the Asham doughnut slider but I prefer flat 1/4 disks. I’ve never worn Balance Plus shoes so it is difficult for me to give an opinion. Some of my fellow coaches (Marc Bernard being one) love the Balance Plus shoe with the 3-holed slider and wouldn’t consider using anything else.
After much research, I went with Balance Plus and am very happy with my choice. In my reasoning, the larger peripheral surface of the Balance Plus, makes it a more stable sliding surface compared to the Asham discs.
Right now, I got my first pair of curling shoes for my first ever junior season. I starter with the slip – on slider at my curling club. But fast I upgraded to the goldline regal perimeter slider. With the 5/32 teflon slider. I must say that my balance and plan have improved since I am playing with them. I absolutely love them Even tough I was looping for something else I am really satisfied.
Is there any way I could take care of my curling shoes when I am not playing? I mean for the teflon slider?
Thanks.
By the way. I love your Web site. Full of nice advice!
Hi Carolanne – I curl often enough that I simply keep my gripper on over my shoes at all times, even when they’re in my bag. While Teflon is relatively soft (compared to red brick or stainless steel) I don’t think the slider surfaces need extraordinary protection. Probably the best thing you can do is replace your slip-on gripper at least once per season – they wear out quickly.
Hi! Thank you for the useful information!
Right now, I choose my first pair of curling shoes. Initially, I chose the shoes with disc sliders, however you did not recommend them because of their flexibility.
I’m not understand a little how does flexibility affect. Is the shoes with disc sliders suitable for the beginners? Or it ll be better to choose the full-foot sliders? and why?
Could you explain it in more detail?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Margarita – I think you misunderstood me. In the article I RECOMMEND shoes with discs. It is not that the discs themselves are “flexible”, but that one has the flexibility with that shoe design to interchange discs to suit your preferences, or to replace a disc if it becomes damaged.
Thank you for helping.
Yes you are right, I misunderstood you. Now everything is clear. Thanks, you’re doing a great job!
I have been curling for about 2 years now, and I am finding that I still struggle a lot with up weight shots. I am currently using a shoe with a 3/32 teflon slider. I consider my form and balance to be pretty good, I think I’m just a smaller female curler who can only generate so much power out of the hack. If I spend the money to move up to a 1/4 slider do you think I will see any difference?
Hi Stephanie – thanks for your question. It would be improper for me to comment on your ability to throw up-weight hits sight unseen. Technique plays a significant role in generating speed out of the hack, not merely size or leg strength. However: to answer your question, yes you will for certain notice a difference between a 3/32 slider and one that is 1/4 inch. You will be able to slide much further with reduced effort, giving you greater control over your release point for draw shots. And you will be able to slide faster for up-weight shots.
I use a push stick. What should I look for in curling shoes as I do not need a slider?
Hi Brian – I’ve never used a stick, so that is a difficult question for me to answer. The slider thickness will remain somewhat important since the speed will impact how much leg drive you need to start your delivery – if you plan on throwing with a slider at all.
Thanks for the informative article I just got a good deal on a pair of asham disk shoes can’t wait to try them
I recentely purchased my 1st pair of curling Shoes Asham and i love the grippers for sweeping but find the slider just a way too slipery and I am totally out of control when throwing the stones. Is there any way to reduce the slipage? One guy told me to put some duck tape over teflon. Would you agree with this or is there something else I can try?
Hi Tim – I certainly would not cover your disc with duct tape – you’ll have to use multiple pieces of tape and you’ll find the overlapping ridges will scratch the ice. Since Asham manufacturers discs of various materials and thicknesses, instead I would try a different disc under the ball of your foot. Try a thinner Teflon disc, or even go to Red Brick.
Thanks Glen I will give that a try tomorrow night, I was so out of control with the teflon slider that I removed it and just went with the velcro on the ball of the foot and the red brick gripper on the heel. It was a bit better but I would not think that the velcro would last very long against the ice surface.
Hi Glenn. Thanks for the informative article. I have twin boys that are 14. They have been curling since they were 9 and have only used the slip on slider. This year they would like to start using curling shoes. What would you recommend for them at this stage? The shoe with the discs or the full slider and what thickness? I am not a curler myself, so this is all foreign to me. I appreciate my help you can give me.
Hi back, Michelle. Since your boys have five years of experience, I assume they are competent players and if so I see no reason why they shouldn’t move to curling shoes with a 1/4 inch Teflon slider – they will appreciate the extra speed for throwing hit-weight shots.
Almost all of the manufacturers have moved to a multi-section slider, rather than a single piece of Teflon, under the shoe because thicker sliders can be prone to cracking under the middle of the foot. Asham’s slam discs would then be a good choice, and so would Balance Plus new 500 models that have a two-section slider – as far as I am aware Balance Plus 300 shoes with a single-piece slider are no longer available. As to which to get – that’s a matter of personal preference. It would be great if you could find someone at your club whose shoes would fit your boys so they give them a go before you purchase anything. I know it’s unlikely they wear the same size (I have twin boys myself) but a 2-minute trial with a few practice slides can be very helpful.
Thank you so much. I think they’ll appreciate the disc sliders. They are just nervous to try something new. looking forward to the new purchase.
Hi Glenn! I have a pair of curling shoes and am finding that while I am curling my gripper disks will tend to accumulate some of the “dirt” that may be on the ice on the inside edges of the disks. I have always slid down the ice while sweeping rocks, which is just the way I was taught when I began to curl long ago. When this happens I have to rub the dirt off during a game which is far from ideal. The gripper disks I have are new this season. Would there be a reason this is happening? Is there something I can do to stop this from happening? Do I just need to change out my gripper discs more frequently a season maybe? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Hi Trevor – Ice gets dirty, it just does. That dirt (lint, gravel, hair, insects, carpet fibres and dirt) does get on the bottom of your shoes, but with black grippers it often remains “invisible” and (eventually) finds its way into your curling bag. With coloured gripper disks it’s more noticeable. You can scrub them with a brush and some mild detergent (rinse well) and they should be fine. However, the rubber does become smooth over time and you’ll get less “grip”. Then it’s time to replace them.
Thanks Glenn! I will give them a scrub for my next game!
Hi, Glenn. So glad I found your site. I bought a new pair of curling shoes yesterday and am having 2nd thoughts about them. My old shoes had very thin Teflon and while I curl 2 or 3 days a week my balance out of the hack is not wonderful. My new shoes are 1/4 inch Teflon goldline podium gold. I haven’t tried them yet …… do you think they’re too advanced for me?
Hi Sue. You picked a great shoe, suitable for someone of any age if they require the speed that a 1/4 inch Teflon slider will give you. You might find these shoes a bit too fast for your ability. If balance is an issue with your delivery, you might consider a Balance Plus design with a “doughnut” hole underneath the ball of your slider foot. That doughnut (Asham has them too) helps many people with their balance. My fellow coach Marc Bernard swears by them.
Hi Glenn: I’ve been using Asham shoes with the 1/4 ring disks for a number of years and do like them. However, I slide flat-footed so am wondering if the rings might cause some drag. And, if so, would you recommend a full slider (ie Balance Plus with the doughnut holes) for most flat-footed deliveries? I am assuming that fit is not an issue. Thanks.
Hi Keith – I think it’s largely a matter of preference. I too have tried the Asham rings (like you, I also slide flat-foot) but I didn’t find the rings a great help to me, and moreover the ring I was using tended to scratch the ice because the bevel on the bottom edge wasn’t gradual enough. On the other hand, both my kids wear Asham shoes and both use the ring slider and love it. That said, Balance Plus makes a great shoe and their 500 series shoes have a loyal following, including my friend, coach Marc Bernard at Wilfrid Laurier University.
Thanks Glen. I have the same issue with ice scratches … I have to be extra careful about pivoting around on my slider foot when I’m not wearing a gripper
Back on the ice after several years. Bought new shoes with the slider discs. They are apparently “slower” but I have problems keeping them from sliding sideways. I slide flat. Any suggestions on technique.?
In my experience, Art, sideways motions of your slide foot are symptomatic of a delivery fault rather than the shoe. But I cannot comment on your delivery since I’ve never seen it. I suggest you reach out to a local or Provincial coach for an analysis of your delivery, and see if the coach can help to set things right.
Hi Glenn,
I am a 43 year old female, right handed, beginner curler. I absolutely love the sport and plan on doing it as often as I can for as long as I can. This is my second season of curling and I am looking at getting my first pair of shoes. My question for you is do I make the investment now and get a really nice pair of shoes with a 1/4 inch slider or would that be too fast for me? I obviously want to be safe, but upgrading a slider would be difficult for me since I live in a state that does not have a curling store anywhere nearby. I feel pretty confident with my delivery currently, but have only used an over the toe removable slider. Any advice on the slider and whether I should spend the money on the upgrade for a toe coating?
Hi Andie – I am wondering what you’re using now. If you’re using a pull-on or step-on slider you will certainly find a 1/4 inch Teflon slider considerably faster. Perhaps too fast – it will take some adjustment to get used to it. A good option would be to go with the Asham disc system – order shoes with a thinner disc to start (say 5/32) and if you need to go with something faster a set of 1/4 inch discs will cost you around $50.
You recommend Asham discs, but IMO… the Balance Plus has a larger peripheral surface and is more stable. I chose the 500 series.
The wonderful thing about choice is that one gets to choose. I like the Asham shoes not only because of the interchangeable slider discs, but one can do the same with the gripper pads – they are easy to clean in the sink, and then re-attach to the sole. But I’m glad you’re pleased, John, with your Balance Plus shoes. An excellent product.
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Hi I’m am new to curling and have a ruptured disc with some loss of nerve function in my left sliding leg. Consequently I have balance issues when delivering the stone and at times tip over onto my right hand and have noticed too much weight over the rock as well. All in all, would a Balance Plus 500 shoe assist in balance issues? And if so what type of discs would you recommend and what thickness as well?
Hi Dick. The Balance Plus 500 would, I think, be an excellent choice – the doughnut in the bottom of the sole should help with stability, I would think more than with other shoes. The Balance Plus models don’t come with interchangeable discs like the Asham shoes, they are made-to-order. Since you have balance issues as a result of your left leg, I would recommend a slower slider, such as 5/32, rather than 1/4-inch. You also might find a stabilizer device helpful for your delivery, if you’re not already using one. If a stabilizer interests you, I suggest trying a couple of different models before purchasing one.
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Hi Glenn,
Great Article! Are you still recommending 1/4 shoes for starters.
I’ve played curling 6 or 7 times in the past and joined a curling league recently. Currntly shopping for shoes. I’ve been offered a pair of Goldline G50 1/4 for the price of the 5/32 but I’m not sure if the shoes will be too much to handle or ok . Thanks
I’m 32 and pretty lightweight with no physcial limitation if that changes anything.
Hi Mathieu – I think either will be fine, the 5/32 will be a bit slower but will offer you greater stability. If you have excellent balance, then a faster shoe like the 1/4 inch will be fine as well. Since you’ve played a few times already, you should have a sense of what your skill level is like and, most importantly, how your balance is when delivering a stone. If you are sliding well, then go for the 1/4 inch since you’ll be able to use the speed once the season is well underway.