Top Five Mistakes New Skips Make

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Most curlers make the same mistakes when we first start trying to skip at our club or local bonspiels. In this video, we'll look at five of the most common mistakes that new skips make time and time again, and how you can correct them.

[@YoPaulie21]

Really enjoy your insights - keep the content coming! Thanks. As a new skip it would be great to get some pointers on how to read ice and remembering what the ice does and where to put my broom.

[@trevorsg]

One of my tips for new skips is to set up the end so you are left with an easy shot. I think new skips subconsciously want to leave themselves with hard shots. Why? Because it's a win-win. If you make the hard shot, you are a hero. If you miss it, well that's okay, it was a hard shot anyway. Conversely, leaving yourself with an easy shot is a lose-lose. Make the shot? Great, but it was easy and you should have made it anyway. Miss it? Wow, skipper, you missed a simple hit-and-stick, you suck!
Another one I don't hear talked about enough: when you have hammer, keep the scoring area large. Without hammer, keep it as small as possible. This simple frameworks makes it easy to answer questions like "should I sweep my own rock or my opponent's rock past the tee line?" "Should I hit-and-stick or hit-and-roll?" "Should I freeze to this rock or take it out?" "How wide should I play the corner guard?"

[@fillmorehillmore8239]

Your first point is ego. Leave it at the door.

[@timothycarry]

Most of our leagues cannot throw three perfect guards in a row. However one out of three peels will be a nose hit.

[@mastnasty2861]

Pretty cool ring colours. Also like the man-bun at 1:12.

[@ScottStein]

I love this channel!!!

[@randycliff4045]

I think new skips can really benefit watching little details of the opposing throws -- how's the ice responding -- maybe do the same throw they just did with a small change -- etc. etc.

[@grantpeters3691]

Good tips. I especially think the "not peeling guards" is true.

[@trevorduersch2278]

I agree! The "not peeling guards" is something I see very frequently in my league.

[@simonpotts209]

Keep up the good videos

[@lesjeuxdedod2138]

The game on cover is "Compact Curling"

[@rvboondocker2559]

Thanks

[@Nicks1225]

The free guard zone rule is changes in recent years are awful. Theyve ruined the game.
I'm just kidding. what strange spam to receive. Great video. Spot on on the never peeling guards. My league play I find 90% of teams to be allergic to peeling.

[@tracyfitzgerald3845]

ｐｒｏｍｏｓｍ 😊

[@barbbombardir8854]

???

[@user-ib9nv6yl4d]

The free guard zone rule is changes in recent years are awful. Theyve ruined the game.

[@DavidAndNancySanker]

I'm not sure who this video is for. I feel like if you are advanced enough to understand the video, you don't need the video.

[@jooliroo]

Teaching and learning is about reinforcement of good habits and ideas. You can understand all the terms and watch dozens of professional games, but that doesn't mean you'd necessarily recognize why something was done in a certain way.
I personally enjoyed this video a lot since it explains less intuitive strategy that'll hopefully become second nature down the road.

[@stevenkawleski3269]

The free guard zone rule is changes in recent years are awful. Theyve ruined the game.