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Throwing Rocks Podcast Episode 2: Developing more precision in your curling game
Episode 2 of the Throwing Rocks Podcast features an interview with Kincardine, Ontario’s Maurice Wilson. In the interview, Maurice outlines the development of a training technique for finesse shots that involves simplifying one’s delivery to use fewer discrete leg drives for velocity, and replace them with varying arm extensions that are easier to train. The two articles mentioned in the pod are available here on the Throwing Rocks website. They are: Developing precision in your curling game Developing more precision in your curling game As mentioned in the episode, listeners who have questions or topic suggestions are encouraged to communicate them, either through a comment on this article, a DM to my Instagram account, or direct by email through my Contact page. The Throwing Rocks podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and a number of other podcast platforms Sound design and editing of the podcast is by Ryan Paulley.Â
Developing more precision in your curling game
In this second article of his two-post series, guest contributor Maurice Wilson outlines practice elements to help athletes develop their finesse game. A version of this material was previously published on the Ontario Curling Council website. Addition by subtraction In Part One of this article we discussed the merits of leg drive and arm extension in the pursuit of improving precision in our finesse game. Part Two will focus on the practice techniques that can and will enhance that learning process. The same equipment may be used for all of the drills discussed in this document: speed traps, clock, iPad, RockHawk timers, and pylons as well as the charts to record data that I will provide. The length of the practice will depend on the ability, expertise and attention spans of your athletes. I have had sessions from 30 minutes to four hours in length and with productive results. The key to all successful training sessions is pace and of
Throwing Rocks Podcast Episode 1: Strategy in Mixed Doubles
The inaugural episode of the Throwing Rocks Podcast features an interview with Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock and Unionville’s Shane Konings to discuss mixed doubles strategy. Steve Laycock, who curls out of the Nutana Curling Club in Saskatoon, SK was the 2003 Canadian and World Jr Men’s champion and has competed at the Brier on ten occasions, six for the Province of Saskatchewan and four for British Columbia. Steve’s mixed doubles partner is Nancy Martin, who has a long resume of success in mixed doubles with a number of different playing partners including Steve. Nancy has also twice represented Saskatchewan at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Our second guest, Shane Konings, curls out of the Unionville Curling Club in Unionville, ON, just north of Toronto. A former Wilfrid Laurier student-athlete, Shane represented Ontario at the 2021 and 2024 Mixed Doubles Nationals with his spouse and playing partner, Lauren Wasilkiw. In addition to her extensive experience in doubles play, Lauren also twice represented
Developing precision in your curling game
This guest article by Ontario’s Maurice Wilson is the first of a two-part series on delivery mechanics and mastering weight control. Portions of these two articles were previously published on the former Ontario Curling Council website. Hit for show, draw for $$ Today’s curling champions must have a complete array of skills, but first and foremost in that composite there must be great draw weight, or at the very least a world class finesse game. This skill development begins with acquiring accuracy through practice, but is refined by the advancement of precision in the finesse skills. In this context, accuracy refers to the proximity of a measurement to the true value of quantity, while precision refers to the proximity of several measurements to each other. So in curling terms, placing three shots in row on the button (that is the target) exhibits both good accuracy and good precision. However, three rocks left in the back four-foot when the target is
Coming soon: the Throwing Rocks Podcast
Coming soon – a new podcast that targets coaches and U25, U20, U18, and U15 athletes: The Throwing Rocks Podcast. We’ll include topics such as coaching, youth athlete development, high performance for U25 athletes and teams, equipment, and the science of curling. The pod will include segments on news, interviews, technical content, and listener questions, and will be available wherever you get your podcasts. Got a content idea? Have a question? Interested in a specific topic? Send me a DM on Instagram, Facebook, or via email to glenn@glennpaulley.ca.
First look: Hardline Chameleon brush
This past week, Goldline Curling Supplies introduced the latest brush in the Hardline lineup: the Chameleon brush, which features a dynamic reflective paint on a prismatic (straight), carbon-fibre handle. The Chameleon offers a high-performance, prismatic alternative to Hardline’s recreational Hybrid Helium fibreglass/carbon fibre composite handle. Hardline’s Hybrid Helium handle is also prismatic (and, notably, inexpensive), but is significantly heavier than the other models at 260 g. Chameleon handle characteristics The Chameleon’s handle is a close cousin to Goldline’s Impact carbon-fibre handle. Both are prismatic handles weighing 165 g and both feature Goldline’s “Grip-Zone Technology” for added grip for the curler’s bottom hand, though the “Grip Zone” designation is omitted from the Hardline handle. At 165 g, the new Hardline handle is very competitive in the High-Performance space, with only the Balance Plus LiteSpeed handle being lighter at 141 g. The nominal handle diameter is the de-facto adult standard of 1 1/8 inches. It is unknown if Goldline will offer a