ROCK  SCIENCE

TAC-TIC-TEE is a fun and challenging game which teaches curling strategy at the same time.

• The 100 series base pack has 120 fascinating and challenging game situations to test your strategic thinking.

• The 100 series add-on pack provides a further 88 situations to work on.

 

Presented in the form of a game, Tac-Tic-Tee provides an enjoyable way of starting discussion about strategy. One of the hardest things to learn in curling is strategy. The basic rules are relatively easy (keep the front open with last rock, keep the house clean if you're up by a lot, etc.), but more complicated situations can lead to utter confusion. 
When presented with many possible choices of shot for skip's rocks you have to be able to choose the best option fairly quickly.

 

The 100 base pack contains 120 situations. This is obtained by providing 30 cards showing different rock positions, and combining these with 4 different Analysis booklets, each of which starts by describing a different game situation (score, who has last rock, which rock you are about to play). For those who prefer to choose from a list of possible shots, an Options booklet lists the shots which are discussed in the Analysis booklets. The Analysis books give a score for each possible choice of shot, which can be used to rank the options or to record competitive scoring. You may disagree with the analysis - heaven knows the rest of my team disagrees with me often enough on the ice! - but the essential point is to encourage discussion. Everyone can learn from a full discussion of any shot.

 

Some uses for Tac-Tic-Tee:

• coaching strategy

• evaluating understanding of strategy

• self-study of strategy

• occupy quiet time when travelling or waiting to start the next game

• initiate a strategy discussion around the bar table

• run a quiz game evening

 

 

SPEED TRAP brings a revolution to both training and research in curling - the device measures accurately the speed of a curling stone.

• instant feedback allows for effective training in judging the weight of the stone.

• accurate measurements allow comparison between different sweepers, brushes and methods of sweeping.

• rock matching and comparison becomes easy.

• as part of the SPEED TRAP you also receive a LINE JUDGE.

 

Instant accurate feedback from the Speed Trap is the basis for a whole new regime of curling practice, which accelerates and perfects the training of players to judge the weight of rocks. Speed Trap also opens the door to meaningful and useful research into curling rock motion and sweeping effectiveness. And rock matching becomes a much more scientific exercise.

 

Speed Trap is used by many national curling associations.

 

Speed Trap is basically a timer with laser beams and detectors. Set up the timer to detect the laser beam (across the first hogline is the standard location for training). It measures the length of time the beam is broken as the rock passes through, which is of course inversely proportional to the speed of the rock. A lockout on the timer stops the timer from continuing to time when the player follows the rock through the beam.

 

The timer measures in ten-thousandths of a second, but for most purposes the first three digits (thousandths) are sufficient - by a happy and useful coincidence a timer difference of one thousandth on a draw compares to about the minimum difference in weight that an experienced player can identify by eye (roughly 2-3 feet difference in draw distance).

 

The latest model 20 Speed Trap captures the times wirelessly, and can be connected to a computer to provide bigger and better display options, as well as data analysis.

Training exercises include throwing for consistent weight (draw, regular take-out,etc.), identifying the weight thrown (especially for sweepers), calculating statistics such as average variation from desired weight, standard deviation. etc. 

 

LINE JUDGE is a coach's dream - a laser based device which easily identifies errors relating to the line of delivery.

 

Using a laser beam which is directed onto the centre of the striking band of the rock at the start of the delivery, the Line Judge aids the coach in diagnosing delivery problems.

 

The movement of the beam across the striking band indicates whether the rock is on the broom, carried across the line of the broom, etc. Videotaping of the delivery will show the beam on the rock for later review. The device is very easy to set up and use. Available as a separate unit, and is included in the Speed Trap.

 

 

 

FUTURE PRODUCTS

New versions of Tac-Tic-Tee are in development.

Training exercise descriptions will be available soon, free of charge to download. Ideas for building a mirror suitable for players to use to look at their own deliveries are also coming soon.