What is the sweeping brush called in curling?

Answer 1

Sweeping creates uses friction to warm the ice surface, creating a (very - as in pretty much microscopic) thin layer of water on which the stone 'glides'. Contrary to popular belief you cannot actually speed the rock up; rather you increase the time it takes for the rock to slow down and come to a complete stop making it travel farther than it would have, had it not been swept.

There are also two basic types of brooms: hair and synthetic. The jury's still out debating which one is better but generally:

- Synthetic is best used sweeping closest to the stone as it is easier to sweep with, allowing for more pressure and speed = more effective

- Hair brooms are great in frosty conditions or sweeping in front of the synthetic broom. Their major downfall is that the hairs tend to fall out and get stuck under the rocks, causing them to 'pick' - a curler's nightmare. This is another reason that a synthetic broom is used to sweep closer to the rock as it can 'sweep away' those hairs that have fallen out.

There have been books written on the purpose of sweeping, proper technique and which brooms to use but this is the 'Coles Notes' version - enjoy.

Answer 2

Sometimes it's called a brush, but more often it's called a broom.