When do you use gripper on a curling shoes?

Answer 1

The gripper covers the Teflon slider on the sliding foot shoe (the left shoe for right-handed people, or vice versa). Most people wear their gripper whenever they're not shooting, so most of the time.

Some people like to sweep without their gripper on, so they can slide down the ice as they follow the rock; but for most people, it works better to have it on.