Glossary of Curling - H

H

Hack

Similar to a starting block in track and field, the foothold device where the person who throws the rock pushes off for delivery

Hack weight

The weight required to deliver a stone in order that it travels to the hack at the far end

Hackweight takeout

A slower played takeout that, because of the reduced speed, curls more and therefore can reach opponent stones that are hidden behind a guard

Hammer

The last rock in an end - a huge advantage; the team with the last rock is said to "have the hammer"

Handle

The part of the stone held by the player; "Losing the handle" refers to a rock which stops curling or which changes direction of curl while moving

Handshake

Each team traditionally shakes hands with each member of the opposing team at the end of a match as a sign of goodwill. Unlike other sports, curlers can, and are often encouraged to, forfeit the game early out of sportsmanship if the score is badly lopsided or if a team runs out of stones. To signal their forfeit, the losing team shakes the hands of the other team. This can simply be called "shaking", as in "the Smith team shook after 7 ends".

Hard!

Command – along with "hurry" – shouted by the skip to tell the sweepers to sweep harder and faster

Heavy

A stone that is thrown harder than required and will probably slide too far

Heavy ice

Slow ice on which stones take more initial force to travel a similar distance as on fast (keen) ice (see keen ice)

Hit

Any shot where the aim is to move another stone; the opposite of a draw

Hit and roll

A takeout rock that, after making contact with another rock, slides (rolls) into a designated area

Hit and stay

A takeout where the played stone stays in the spot where it made contact with the stationary stone; also called 'hit and stick' or a 'nose hit'

Hit weight

Another term for take-out weight

Hog

See "hogged rock"

Hog line (far)

The line which the stone must completely cross to be considered in play

Hog line (near)

The line by which the stone must be clearly and fully released by the thrower

Hog line violation

Failure to release a stone before crossing the near hog line

Hogged rock

A shot that comes to rest short of or on the far hog line and is removed from play

Hogger

See "hogged rock"

House

The three concentric circles where points are scored

Hurry!

see hard!