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I've heard that minor scratches in the slider can cause a drift.

Is this true?

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Simple answer - yes. More prominent in steel sliders, not so much in teflon. Can be remedied by sanding lightly with very fine sand paper in the opposite direction of the drift. Would not recommend sanding teflon. Instead, work on your mechanics.

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Failed to mention that minor scrathes in teflon can be removed or at least improved by "polishing" or rubbing your slider over sheep skin.

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I really can't believe that minor scratches can cause a drift! It would have to be pretty major.

So many other things in the delivery, even small things can cause it and are way more likely. The added friction of a scratch would be unmeasurable.

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The simple answer is yes.

I have witnessed many curlers instantly remove a drift out of their slide during their slide simply by putting on a different pair of shoes which I think disproves the theory that scratches on a slider don't have any effect.

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quote:

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Originally posted by rock_star
I've heard that minor scratches in the slider can cause a drift.

Is this true?

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quote:

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Originally posted by lolar3288
I really can't believe that minor scratches can cause a drift! It would have to be pretty major.

So many other things in the delivery, even small things can cause it and are way more likely. The added friction of a scratch would be unmeasurable.

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Dead spots in teflon sliders can assist in drifting...

JH

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From experience I can tell you that a drift is caused by flawed mechanics, but you can correct a drift more easily with slower shoes. Steel sliders are so fast that it is hard to make corrections to your delivery. Interestingly, if you use a Ryan Express steel slider (three steel triangles) it is easier to correct the drift compared to using a flat steel slider. Sound like I used to drift much? Take a lesson and you won't have to worry about it...

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Any thoughts on what causes drift?

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Bad mechanics as was stated above. This could be due misalignment in the hack or the sliding foot crossing the line of delivery, etc.

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I agree it is mostly caused by your sliding foot coming across to quickly. Other contributors are poor balance, timing of how fast to move the rock forward as you begin your push from the hack, and rock position during set-up. I would say a good start would be to make sure your rock is directly below your armpit during set-up (if you're using a flatfoot delivery) and making sure to keep the rock a little more ahead of you than you're used to. There are also some good articles that will help to correct it if you google curling drift.

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quote:

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Originally posted by tookthetrip
I agree it is mostly caused by your sliding foot coming across to quickly. Other contributors are poor balance, timing of how fast to move the rock forward as you begin your push from the hack, and rock position during set-up. I would say a good start would be to make sure your rock is directly below your armpit during set-up (if you're using a flatfoot delivery) and making sure to keep the rock a little more ahead of you than you're used to. There are also some good articles that will help to correct it if you google curling drift.

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Coming across the line with your sliding foot is always an issue regardless of the shot. You will not slide directly at the broom.

If you find on certain shots you do not drift then you have some consistency issues you need to address in your delivery.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Guest

Wow, I must be having a nightmare, for once I'm in agreement with Lolar.

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Shoes can definitely cause a drift, and not in a way mentioned yet in this thread. I've known people who put either duct tape or some sort of coating on their trailing toe in an effort to reduce drag, and in some cases this reduced the drag to the point where it caused the trailing toe to flail out to the right a bit.

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That is a drift in some sense, but I think the initial poster meant a less drastic drift. Not one where your trailing foot flails all over the place, but rather a drift where your slide remains solid but you move is a sideways motion off the line of delivery. I agree with previous posters that the main reason for a drift is your sliding foot coming across your line of delivery too quick, giving you an outward motion away from the broom. This is a timing issue. Maybe you need to slow your delivery down a bit in the hack to get everything moving in unison.

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quote:

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Originally posted by rock_star
Any thoughts on what causes drift?

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I have 2 stainless steel 1/2 sliders that are identical except for the fact that one makes me drift slightly to the right, and the other makes me drift slightly to the left.

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quote:

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Originally posted by tubby
I have 2 stainless steel 1/2 sliders that are identical except for the fact that one makes me drift slightly to the right, and the other makes me drift slightly to the left.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Unregistered
The simple answer is yes.

I have witnessed many curlers instantly remove a drift out of their slide during their slide simply by putting on a different pair of shoes which I think disproves the theory that scratches on a slider don't have any effect.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Marc Bernard


Surprised that Lolar didn't suggest enlisting the help of a certified coach...

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I've been on steel apollos (asham) for 15 years, and yes, steel will drift very badly if #1 it is a brand new slider with no markings, grooves or scratches (its like being on trick skis), or #2 if its grooved and scratched in a way that doesn't work with your slide, sending you into a drift or pulling you in a certain direction.

It took me 2-3 years to perfect and work in my steel apollos and I've worn them for 15 years, changing shoes but keeping the slider. Once you've worn in your steel and it works for your slide, don't ever polish it or alter the surface. That's my experience with it.

when I started out with it I had horrible drift, my dad took the slider and scratched it up against a carpet/rug in the direction the the slider moves up the ice as I slide. The scratches and grooves made a huge difference immediately.

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Were you using a slip on slider?

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no, it is a 2 piece steel, (oval shaped) that is glued to my shoe. I have removed them from old shoes and had them reglued to newer shoes before.

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