Game 15 Recap

Game 15 was just like many of my team's other games this season.  We played a D level team and they got three points.  And similar to lots of other games this season, we found ourselves down 7-1 after two ends.  But in the next end of they missed takeouts and we were able to score 6.  I had 5 rocks in kind of a star formation and then all I had to do was get a rock anywhere in the house; I still needed furious sweeping from Lead and Second to get there.  It was back and forth after that, but we pulled out the win, and I believe the final score was 11-10.

The record is now 9-5 and the competitive record remains at 2-3.

There wasn't a game from this past week as the opposing team had to cancel on me.  Unless we're able to do a makeup game, there are only two games left for the season.

Hogline Razor Broom Review

As I've written about here, my broom is five years old, so it was pretty cool to be contacted to try out a new broom.  (I think this is a sign that people are actually reading this blog.)  But Ole from Hogline asked if I wanted to try out their Razor broom.

It was so surprising to hold a carbon fiber broom.  It's so much lighter compared to my broom.  We also compared to Lead's broom (a composite) and we could tell the difference in weight too. 

I remember Drew at the Fireball Bonspiel saying that once you've used a carbon fiber broom, you won't go back.  At first, I couldn't really feel a difference during sweeping, but that's because I'm a skip for my league games.  However, I played third at the Fireball and sometimes I switched back to my old broom and that's when I could really tell. 

In terms of comparisons to other brooms out there,  the shape of the broom head is just like most of the other brooms out there.  The price is comparable too.  The major differentiation is that the brooms are made in America (and by an SPCC member) so that's kind of cool. 

One drawback is they don't do 1" brooms, but I've only met a few people that use 1" brooms.  This might just be me, but I found it more difficult to slide with such a light broom.  I was speaking to an opposing skip who has a Razor and he said it took him a little bit of time to get used to sliding with it, but loves the broom.  So I don't think that should deter anyone from buying the Razor (or any carbon fiber broom for that matter.)

But anyway, after trying it out for a few weeks and then using it during the Fireball Bonspiel, I can definitely say I like the broom and I added it to my Amazon Wishlist.

The Spin-o-rama Contest Idea

My team and I were just talking after our game and we came up with the idea of the Spin-o-rama closest to the button contest.  For those that don't know, here's a video of Jeff Stoughton doing a spin-o-rama.



So the idea is that you have to do a spin-o-rama and then throw the rock at the house.  Everyone that gets their rock in the house (or maybe the 8 foot) qualifies for the finals.  Then, the finalists do it again and the winner gets the pot (say the entry fee is $1-5 if you want to do it.)

Wouldn't that be really fun?  We're pushing for it for the Hobber Dobber Bonspiel. 

Game 13 and 14 Recaps

Last week was another D level team and just like in weeks past, we (I) started out slow and they stole 3 in the first end.  (How do we keep letting this happen?)  But we chipped and didn't panic and when scored 4 a few ends later, we were feeling good.  And then we eventually won the game.

But this last game was our first game against an A level team since early December.  And then I learned that they only have one loss for the season so far.  (Wow).  After the game, I would learn that the opposing skip remembers what happened last season.  (My team beat theirs on the last shot of the game, as recapped here.) 

Kind of an auspicious start before the game.  I had lined up a sub, but then an hour before the game, he cancelled as he had basically been curling nonstop that Sunday (congrats on almost winning the Winter Carnival Bonspiel).  Right before our game, I spotted someone else we knew and convinced him to stay for one more game.

Ee pretty much kept the game close.  (If I had made a couple freezes, we might have scored more.)  By the seventh end, the opposing team (with hammer) was looking at something like this.  (There might have even been more guards up front.)  They have hammer and they're yellow.

If it was me (and the other skip incidentally), I would go for the point and do the raise.  Blanking the end hadn't even popped into my head as an option until I saw them throw the rock.  It was a choice of being up two without hammer vs being up one with hammer coming home (or being tied with hammer if you miss).  So in terms of risk, blanking the end was a good choice as the takeout was the easier shot.

So now we're in the eighth end.  With his first shot, the opposing skip made a great double takeout.  There goes my shot at stealing two.

And then I threw garbage for my last rock.  The raise might have given us a shot at going to an extra end, but oh well.

These two games brings the record to 8-5 and the competitive record to 2-3. 

Random Thoughts on Handicaps and Rules

After this past game, my team was discussing whether the handicap system was fair.  After a few games early in the season, all of the teams in the league are sorted into groups A-D.  If an A level team plays a C level team, the C team gets 2 points; if a C level team plays a D, the D gets 1 point; etc.  (If an A level team plays a D level team, the A team automatically gets hammer.) 

This past game happened to be played at 6PM, in between the 4PM and 8PM leagues.  Also, the 4PM game on our sheet went long and we didn't start our game until almost 6:15.  Does that give the handicap team an advantage because there are fewer ends for the other team to catch up? 
If a good team is up three and is able to make takeouts, the game might be (essentially) over after a few ends.  There are only a couple of teams in my league that I would put in that category.  I consider myself pretty good and I'll miss easy takeouts just by being a little wide or I didn't read the ice correctly.

So anyway, I don't have an answer.  I've been beaten by D teams and and I've won games against D teams that weren't even close.  I've skipped a D level team one season and I was very appreciative of the handicap then. 

I think if the league had teams that were a little closer in experience/skill, I would propose something along the lines of A vs. B = B gets 1 point/A gets hammer, A vs. C = B gets 1 point and hammer, A vs. D = D gets 2 points/A gets hammer.  But it probably wouldn't make that much of a difference.  Anyway, I'll stop rambling about this.

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On another subject, during this past season, we've noticed several teams with some minor infractions.  Things like skips "warming up the ice" (don't do it) or not knowing what to do with rocks touching the back line (they're still in play) or measuring a rock with your broom before the end is over (don't do it).  I'd just like to implore you, especially if you're a skip or third to read through the rules of the game.  There are several books for this, including Curl to Win and Curling For Dummies.  It's less than 20 pages in  both of these books.  Or if you don't know the rules, don't be afraid to ask.

Hopefully that wasn't too much of a rant.  Just needed to get that out.

Game 12 Recap

This past game was against another D level team.  I always ask the opposing skip how they're doing during the season and I was surprised to learn that they had a .500 record.  So they've been able to take advantage of the handicap.
And again I started the game slow.  The opposing team actually stole four in the first end.  And then in the second end, I missed a (what should have been easy) takeout that would have scored three; we ended up only scoring one. 

But then we stole one on the next end and then they scored one and then with hammer, my team scored four.  Now we're down two and it might be a game.  And then we stole four in the next end.  In the final end (we got the buzzer in the previous end), I placed as many rocks as possible in the house and it was like they couldn't make any more takeouts.  Earlier, they were getting hit and rolls
and even a couple tick shots.  I guess the lesson is not to lose hope.

Sorry no diagrams today.  I didn't really feel that conflicted with shot calling.  (Usually, there's a situation where I just know that I have to remember it.)  Our record is now 7-4.

Game 10 and 11 Recaps

Wow.  That was a bit of a layoff.  Surprisingly, I haven't had any days with zero hits.  It was probably helpful that I posted the gift guide.  (Thanks to the anonymous person that actually clicked on an amazon link and bought something.)

You might notice that I haven't posted a Game 9 Recap.  This is because the team canceled on us like two days before our scheduled game.  So I scheduled a makeup game and they said they could make it and then the day before they cancel again.  I'm a little miffed (just tell me that you can't make it.)  Lead thinks we should force a forfeit from them since they canceled twice.  There's a tiny chance this might matter in the final standings as we're both A level teams.

I'll recap Game 11 first.  I had my whole team together and we're playing a D level team so they got three points.  This was definitely the worst game of the season, at least one where there wasn't a teammate missing.  Vice believes (and I agree) that we were kind of intimidated by the three point handicap.  We really tried to score big ends and it ended up backfiring.  In the first end, the other team stole 2 and we're looking at 5-0 and that's just tough to see.  It's possible that if I had played more conservatively, we would have chipped away at the score.  I didn't though.  I think the final score was something like 10-2.  Just bad.

Game 10 was a tough game.  Our opponents were a C level team.  This surprised me because they had beaten us handily at the Novice Bonspiel a couple years ago.  We were fighting to keep pace the whole game.  In the eighth end, we were down three, but had hammer.  Surprisingly, the opposing skip had missed both of his takeouts and we were able to tie up the game and take it to an extra end.  We played one rock each, but they had hammer.  I'm looking at this for my shot. 

Vice and I considered playing a guard for our rock in the house (1).  The opposing skip had made takeouts for the game and thought we might as well force a draw to the button.  Perhaps if the opposing skip hadn't done too well on takeouts, we might have tried for a guard/top of the house type shot (2).  But then we decided to just draw to the button and hopefully get behind the guard (3).  But alas, the rock picked (not blaming Vice's beard for this one) so the rock was in the open.

Now, the other skip didn't throw a takeout.  Probably a good idea to make sure the rock stays in play.  But I think most people would have thrown the rock with back line weight or maybe a little more and use my rock as a backstop.  The opposing skip actually threw light.  His teammates were furiously sweeping and then we end up having to measure the rocks.  His rock was closer by 2mm.  Oh well.

With these two games, the record is now 6-4 with the competitive record remaining at 2-2. 

Game 8 Recap

I was worried about this game because I've practiced sliding with the opposing skip and vice before and I know that they're very consistent.  (They're also an A level team.)  Fortunately, their vice could not make it to the game so that was good.  I got to have my whole team together.

In the end, I had nothing to worry about as this was definitely one of our best games of the season.  We had a solid 9-4 win, which included an end where my team scored 5. 

I'm going to diagram my miracle shot.  The opposing team had a couple shots in this end where their plan B somehow ended up with rocks in the house behind the mess of guards. 

With all of the guards and the curl on the ice, I thought going off the corner was my best shot.  Surprisingly, I made the shot, though the roll was a little bit too far.  I was also surprised that the opposing skip missed the takeout twice.

In the fifth end, the opposing team put together a nice end to score two, which made the score 9-2.  For the 6th end, I realize that the strategy is to take everything out and keep the ice clean.  But I feel weird about doing that.  Instead, I just play rocks in the house.  If they want to freeze or take them out, that's fine.  By my first shot, I had an open takeout on their shot rock.  If I made the shot, my team would sit five (really, it just wasn't their night.)  I don't try to run up the score out of a sense of meanness; it's just not in my nature to not try to score.  Anyway, Vice made me throw a guard on their rock instead of the takeout.  They scored two for the end and Vice gets credit for being much more sportsmanlike than me.

This brings our record to 6-2 and the competitive record to 2-2. 

Game 7 Recap

This game came on the Sunday following the Fireball Bonspiel.  I remember telling my brother about the possibility that I might hoist the trophy (or whatever the prize is) for the bonspiel at 3PM and then curl just a few hours later for my league game.  As it turned out, I didn't play on Sunday at all.  As the father of a young baby, not playing on Sunday was nice as I really hadn't spent very much time with my wife and baby during a hectic thanksgiving weekend.  But competitor me is getting a little tired of not even getting to Sunday in my last three bonspiels.

Anyway, back to the game.  When I walked into the club, I looked up at the board and saw that I was up against another A team for this game.  (I've since checked the "competitive" list and they're on there.)  Vice couldn't make the game as he was still on the road coming back from his sister's wedding that weekend.  I couldn't find a sub so we were playing with three.  I was somewhat comforted by the fact that my opponents were also playing with just three.

It just wasn't our night though.  We couldn't make anything the whole night.  In the third end, my opponents were sitting two and I had an open draw to score 1.  I ended up being 10 feet short of the house. 

This brings us to the fourth end and my second shot.  My team is down 3-1 and I already knew that we were struggling with both weight and line.  My team is red and the circled (in green) rock was my first shot (again short of the house). 

I have one obvious shot: raise my previous stone into the house.  Of course, I feel weird about that shot based on my previous shot and the previous end.  So instead, I think, "Well, let's save 1 point and keep hammer and hopefully set up for a better end the next time around."  I go for the takeout on the left side.  I put a lot of weight on the rock, but it still curled back enough to hit the guard so the other team still scored two for the end.  Both a bad call and a bad shot.  Things didn't really improve from there.

This brings the record to 5-2 and the competitive record to 1-2.  For our next game, our opponents are on the competitive list, but I'll have my whole team back, which hasn't hapenned in a few weeks.

Holiday/Christmas Gifts for Curlers

So you know a curler and you want to get them a gift, or you're a curler and want some items for your wishlist.  Here are some ideas:

1. Books.  My personal favorite gameplay books are Curl to Win by Russ Howard and Curling Secrets by Colleen Jones.  Fit to Curl by John Morris is great for the fitness types.   Curling, Etcetera by Bob Weeks is great for the trivia buffs. 

2. Clothing.   Loudmouth pants (the pants worn by the Norwegian men's curling team) are still popular here in St. Paul, so that trend might continue another year.  There are many t-shirts out there, but this one is the cutest.  (Future post idea: Top 5 curling shirts)  I'm sure you were wondering about this, but they do make curling themed underwear as well.

3. Equipment.  I could suggest lots of equipment, but I think it's better if a curler just adds exactly what they want to their wishlist.  If you really want to spend the money, I'm guessing you'd make a curler feel really special if you got them a carbon fiber broom (here's one option).   Broom bags are reasonably priced gifts, but I would suggest it only for someone that goes to bonspiels.  I normally wouldn't suggest a broom head has a gift, but this one is good for a skip (credit to nohocurling for posting that).

4. Games.  There's a new card game called Hurry Hard.  (No idea if it's fun.)  On the Button Gifts has some nice curling themed games as well.

5. Other.  There's curling jewelry and glasses and paperweights and all sorts of other stuff.  Here's a good collection of mostly glassware and here's probably the most random selection of curling themed items. 

Any other ideas for curling themed gifts?  Let me know.