Can someone explain what numbers such as 1, top 12 or back 8 mean when sweeping.?

Answer 1

those are what the sweepers would yell out to the skip, indicating where the rock is going to stop. Some teams use a number system such as: 1 refers to just over the Hog line , 4 would be in the top 12 foot ring, 7 would be tee line weight, 10 is through the house. or they may just yell "top 12" indicating that the stone has just enough weight to make it to the top of the 12 foot circle, "back 8" would mean that the rock has enough weight to carry it to the back of the eight foot circle in the house. hope this helps.

Answer 2

Picture the house. There are 3 rings, and a line running through the center (horizontally) That line is the "T-Line". So, the ring closest to the button is the "4 foot", the ring in the middle is the "8-foot", and the farthest from the button is the "12 foot" When someone says (for example) "Top 12", the person means he wants you (the sweepers) to sweep just enough so that the rock lands in the top of the 12 foot. The "top would" be infront of the T-Line. So, obviously, the "back" would be behind the T-Line.

For the "1" I'm not positive what you mean so here are my guesses:
1: It could be the time of the rock. Curlers like to time how fast the rock is going. For example, when a curler is throwing a rock, when he crosses the T-Line (closest to the hack he is throwing from, not in the house he's aiming for) the sweepers will begin timing. When the rock crosses the first hog line, they will stop. "1" could be the amount of seconds it took. An experienced curler will know what time you need on a certain sheet of ice for a draw, a guard, takeout etc.
2: It could be a weight level the skip wants. My brother and his team have this system, as do many others. 1, for my brothers team means light weight, gurad zone - top 12. so 2 means top 8, 3 means 4 (top and back) - button, 5 means back 8-12, 6 is hack weight (used in take outs) and 7 is board weight (commonly used in double take outs, runbacks) and 8 (rarely used) is what they call "parking lot" used in shots that require HUGE weight.

Those are my theories on what "1" means. I hope I helped! Any more questions im GLAD to answer! I've been cruling/involved in some way with curling since i was born, so i know A LOT!

Answer 3

those numbers refer to the areas of the rings. the large outer ring has a diameter of 12 feet, next is 8 feet, and small inner one is 4 feet. So if I want a shot in the "top 12", that means I want it in the 12 foot ring at the front. Back 8 would be in the 8 foot ring, but at the back...