Timing Rocks: Many methods... Which One to Choose?

We may use the stopwatch to evaluate the draw weight and the take out weights. In this article, I will describe the use of stopwatch for draw weight. I will write about the use of stopwatch for take out weights in the next issue.I first remind you that the higher the time observed, the faster the ice is. That is the faster the ice, the slower runs the rock and than higher is the time.
We use the stopwatch since the seventies and many methods as been developed :
  1. From de back line to stop
  2. From the 1st hog line to stop
  3. From the 1st hog line to the 2nd hog line
  4. From the back line to the 2nd hog line
  5. From the back line to the 1st hog line

Each of these five methods shows some advantages and disadvantages. These are all effective methods. The goal of this article is to help you make an enlightened and judicious choice

METHOD 1 :

from the back line to stop

We start the stopwatch when the rock reaches the 1st back line and we stop it when the rock stops. If the stone stops at the right place (in front of the « T »), the time is good. If the rock stops in front of the house, we add one half of a second to the time we got for each 5 feet we need (0.1 sec. per foot). Since two good brushers may make the rock move about 10 feet more which means one second, we throw without consideration for tenth of second. Good curlers throw rocks within half of a second, never within tenth of a second. Than a rock stopping one or two feet in front of the house miss the target by about 5 feet or half of a second ; if your stopwatch shows 26.5 sec., you add 0.5 sec. which give you a 27 sec. draw weight

ADVANTAGES :

  1. The time obtained by this method is higher than the time of the other methods ; than, the reference you get is more precise.
  2. It is easy for the skip to start the stopwatch at the back line and than concentrates on the line of throw and the release. When skipping, I like to time the rocks to have my own references rather than refering only on the brushers time

DESADVANTAGES :

  1. Since the curlers don’t have the same technique, the time from the back line and the hog line may be slightly different from one to the other. As far as I am concern, the difference in time is insignificant since it consist of tenth of second and we throw within half of second.
  2. If the rock is thrown with the right weight, but touches a stationary stone, the time we get is not valuable ; we have to forget it and time the next rock. This comment is right, but there is always other stone to time.

METHOD 2 :

from the 1st hog line to stop

This method is similar to the first one but the stopwatch is started at the hog line.

ADVANTAGES :

  1. This approach eliminate the drawback of the first method, which is a slight difference in time from one player to another.
  2. The time we get is about 3.5 seconds less than the time obtained with the first method, but remain a precise reference.

DESADVANTAGES

  1. It is difficult for the skip to start the stopwatch at the hog line, since he is concentrating on the line of throw and the release of the thrower, There are too many tasks to perform at the same time and more errors occur. With this method, the skip almost has to rely on the brushers to get feedback on draw weight.
  2. Same as the 2nd disadvantage of the 1st method : if the running stone touches a stationary rock, the time we get is no good and we have to time an other rock.

METHOD 3 :

from the 1st hog line to the 2nd hog line

The stopwatch is started at the 1st hog line and stopped at the 2nd one. We than eliminate the problems of the two first method.

ADVANTAGES :

  1. As mentioned for method 2, the technical differences between curlers do not influence the time shown on the stopwatch.
  2. The time shown on the stopwatch is good even if the running stone touches a stationary rock as oppose to the methods 1 and 2.

DISADVANTAGE :

  1. The time we get is very short : about twice shorter than the time we have with mothod 1. We generally have time varying between 13 and 14 seconds. The difference between 13 and 13.5 sec. or 13.5 and 14 sec. is enormous. This reference, eventhough it circumvents the disadvantages of the methods 1 and 2, shows a dangerous lack of precision. Telling your skip 13.5 or 14 seconds is not enough precise.

METHOD 4 :

from the back line to the 2nd hog line

This approach combine methods 1 and 3. It offers very few advantages. Eventhough the time we get is higher than the time we get with method 3 from about 3.5 seconds, it remains unprecise. Moreover, the 3.5 added seconds is questionnable.

ADVANTAGES :

  1. This method is easier than the previous one to utilize for the skip.
  2. The time shown is slightly higher than the one found with the previous method (about 3.5 seconds).
  3. As for the previous method, the time got is good even if the running stone touches a stationary rock.

DISADVANTAGES :

  1. As mentioned for method 3, the time obtained is still short and gives a vague reference.

METHOD 5 :

from the back line to the 1st hog line

I already wrote on this method in the October 2000 Issue page 20 . The article was called : « Searching for Draw Weight ? » This method consist in starting the stopwatch at the back line and stopping it at the 1st hog line. One tenth of a second is comparable to half of a second regarding methods 1 and 2 or one tenth of a second approximately corresponds to 5 feet.

ADVANTAGES :

  1. Not only this method is usefull to the thrower, but also to the sweepers.
  2. It rapidely shows the technical differences within team-mates
  3. It identifies the slower and/or the faster rocks and help matching the rocks.
  4. This method may be used with any of the other methods.

DISADVANTAGES :

  1. The time is very short.
  2. It demands a high level of concentration since we play with tenth of second.
Allow me to write about my preferences. As you probably feel it my preference goes with method 1 . Despite the disadvantages, I like it for the precision of the references we get. When I skip, I like to have my own timing and I want to start the stopwatch at the back line to be free when watching the line of throw and the release. It is also possible and advisable to combine method 5 with method 1 or any other method of your choice. Doing so, start the stopwatch at the back line and stop it at the 1st hog line using the « LAP » button, have a look at the time, restart the stopwatch pushing the same « LAP » button and stop the stopwatch when the rock comes to rest. This way you have the time of method 1 . If you haven’t been using these method, try them and make your choice; you will improve your game.
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