Let’s say that you have finally mastered the basics of skipping as a new skip. We’ll also presume that your team, including yourself, have a long ways yet to go before your performance is constantly in the higher percentages.
You can improve the results of your calls by following some fairly simple advice. First however, let me tell you of one of my idiosyncrasies. When I call for most shots, I will seldom take into consideration the success of the thrower with either in or out turns. If it is the thrower’s weaker side, I figure the shot, under game condition, will do him good. Sometimes, however, when what is required is a heavy take-out and there are no interfering stones in the way, I may offer the thrower the choice of turn.
MAXIMIZING THE TAKE-OUT SHOT
In the diagram above, the shot contemplated by the skip is a firm near nose-hit to clear the two stones and perhaps roll the shooter out. Using the "b" approach is the one that maximizes the results if the shot is on. Using the "a" approach will give almost as high a percentage of success if the shot is on.
Approach "a" however will give a better result if the shot is slightly off. In that case, the shooter will remove the gray rock if the shooter is tight, or remove the black rock if the shooter is wide. Approach "b" will provide a clear miss if the shooter is slightly wide. Of course, a complete miss is possible in either case.
MAXIMIZING DRAWS RESULTS
The diagram below illustrates a situation that has occurred often. The skip is throwing the last rock of the game and needs that point to win the match.
We all know that a draw to the button will win the match. How do you maximize your chances of success, knowing that the skip might be off on his weight?
If you are shooting gray rocks, the skip should throw is regular draw weight but broom the ice so that:
Some skips may scoff at this approach contending that any skip worth his weight should be able to draw to the button; but this suggestion is not for them and eventually you will also be as proficient. For the moment, maximize your chances of success.
If you are shooting black rocks, again throw regular draw weight but with a broom that does not crowd the gray rock; at that point the back rock is not of much use as backing but might still be helpful if the ice has good swing.
In any case, once the rock is on its way, the skip for the first part of the trajectory and then the vice-skip for the later part of the trajectory should try to detect early any curving or flattening out of the trajectory of the rock and call sweeping consequently.
TAKE OUT THAT OUTSIDE BITER
An opposition stone biting the 12 foot circle on the t-line is a pain. It’s of little if any use to you, even as a stone to freeze on, and if it stays in play, it will allow the opposition to score an extra point. You must get rid of it but how do you maximize your chance of success.
Because the path of your take-out stone will likely take it across ice that has not been used much before, a soft take-out is not recommended. You will maximize your chances of success for that shot if:
(e.g. Let us say that an out-turn throw on the center line brought the stone to the left edge of the rings from the thrower’s perspective; the curl, center to side is pronounced. On the other hand, as frequently happens, a stone aimed at the side of the house, with the in-turn would not make it back to the center line. The "flattest " turn, to use in our take out, would be the in-turn)
We use that turn then because if the thrower hits on or nearly-on the broom, it is less likely to drift, it will be easier for the sweepers to keep the rock straight and even if you only get a piece of it, it will be out of your hair. If the other turn is used, it will be harder to broom the ice properly and get the right weight; remember the ice curls a lot from center to side.
MAXIMIZING THE RAISE
When the raise is the proper shot to call for, then the skip should consider these factors when placing his brush.
(Because you will be using more weight for your raise than was required for the target stone to get where it now is, the trajectory of the shooter will be slightly flatter, thus the reason for giving less ice)
USE OTHER ROCKS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
When there are many rocks in or in front of the house and you need to make a particular shot, look to see if there aren’t rocks positioned to give you a break. Earlier we talked of using other rocks as backing, now let us use front rocks to our advantage.
Look at the diagram below (left). The skip needs to raise one of his blacks in the house for a win. The rocks on the right side are dangerous. His black on the left is a good candidate, but what if he hits it at an angle and raises the gray rock in or sends it to the left, not out-counting his opponent?
Now look at the two stones over on the left. They are lined up perfectly for a raise of the black to the four foot. On top of that, the thrower can be off the broom a little and still make the shot. If he calls for back 8 weight, and hits it perfectly, the stone will make it to the back 8 and count. If he hits to the left, the black will go straight back and make it to the four foot or top of the eight. If he hits more on the right the stone will make it in the house with the help of the sweepers.
Now check the diagram on the right. The skip absolutely needs to get rid of the gray stone. He can use any of the stones on the left for a raise take-out but those require pinpoint accuracy.
On the other hand, the two stones on the right seem lined-up for the required take-out; if they are touching or very close, you can easily tell the direction the gray stone would take if it is hit by the black. On top of that, accuracy is not as important as in the other possibilities because hitting any part of the black stone with good weight will provide the desired results.
Before you call your shot, always look around to see if stones in play can be used to your advantage.
PORT OR STARBOARD
Finally, don’t let guards fool you. Many a time, what appears to be a good guard can be used to your advantage.
If you are facing a guard that protects one of the opposition’s stones, it is likely that it can be curled around if it is a long guard, or hit on the nose for a double take-out if it is a short guard.
Several guards can also provide you with certain opportunities that you can exploit as illustrated above.
John is throwing the last rock and needs to out-count the well protected black rock to take the game. The ice runs fairly straight in the center and swings more and more as you go to the sides. His choices include angled raises, double-tap back, raise take-out or hit and roll, all shots requiring good accuracy.
But wait, is that center rock really well protected? All John needs to do is either take it out, or freeze to it. The two front guards, even if they are partially closing the port, can be used to his advantage. Since the center ice runs straight, all he needs to do, and with less accuracy than the other possible shots, is to hit between the two guards with firm or heavy weight. Chances are good that he will split the guards and continue through to hit the black counter or out-count it.
Especially for the crucial last rocks, look at all possibilities.
Norm Danylo