Registered: Nov 2004
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 221

Can someone please explain why the teams have 10 rocks available per team? I just got home and haven't heard the explanation. Is this to allow teams to have different rocks for different shots? Interesting idea, not sure how I feel about it yet lol.

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Registered: Sep 2002
Location: London, Ontario
Posts: 4002

They're given the option to pick 8 of those 10 rocks in each of the ends. Gives them the option to get rid of a rock they don't like.

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Registered: Feb 2011
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 1418

I hope they never have a "match play" tourney again!!
Its just an attempted circus shot with last rock every end.
Unbelievably boring.

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Registered: Mar 2014
Location:
Posts: 570

My sentiments exactly...

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Registered: May 2013
Location:
Posts: 32

You would think that coming off the Brier, which set unbelievable audience numbers, that taking a chance on a skins style event would be risky. People love curling for what it is. Don't F*&% it up. I'm bored.

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Registered: Feb 2005
Location: Manitoba
Posts: 480

There really is no pleasing curling fans, is there?

Look. They've added another big event for these top players. We get to watch the best teams compete. And they tried something different. Maybe it won't work, but I'm THRILLED that Sportsnet and the players are experimenting. Look at what's come through the Grand Slam system: the 5-rock rule, which I love and which may one day get adopted. Thinking time - clearly the superior clock management system and that has been adopted by the WCF and CC. The players measure their own rocks - and anyone who's watched the officials screw up measurements at the Worlds this week can agree that this is a superior method.

They're throwing stuff at the wall, and seeing what sticks - if it's a 1-off experiment that didn't work great, what's the harm? I'm enjoying seeing the skips a little baffled and out of their usual comfort zones, and also loving that every end is worth the same amount so the teams need to be sharp right from the get-go.

If it really pisses you guys off this badly, just don't watch it. The rest of us are enjoying having more curling on TV.

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Registered: Mar 2014
Location:
Posts: 570

Curling????u

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Registered: Sep 2011
Location:
Posts: 6002

im another one who's not really crazy about this format. i question too if a grand slam is really the time to be playing around with format changes. might have been better to start in a smaller event and see how it goes

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Registered: Feb 2011
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 1418

Doubletakeout,
Look, I have an opinion. Please don't talk down to me because you don't agree.
Yes, there have been good things that have come from "throwing things at the wall". Matchplay is not one of them. JMHO.

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Registered: Jan 2011
Location: Southern Sask.
Posts: 364

I am OK with this format after watching more than 1 draw. I would not want it to be used more than 1 time in the year however. Percentages get skewed with this format so I don't pay any attention to them. And percentages are never a real important stat to me in regular curling.

Thanks Sportsnet and Slams for trying it at least

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Registered: Feb 2005
Location: Elmira
Posts: 179

quote:

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Originally posted by Gerry
They're given the option to pick 8 of those 10 rocks in each of the ends. Gives them the option to get rid of a rock they don't like.

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Registered: Mar 2005
Location: St. Albert
Posts: 839

I'm quite surprised at the response from some here, I hope it's not the majority.

I love the idea of another format and seeing how teams approach strategy. Yes, once per year is fine, golf has very few match play events each year and they add something different to an otherwise long, sometimes too similar, season (like curling).

I don't care much for skins or Continental Cup, but that doesn't mean I don't want them to exist, just means I don't make them must see TV.

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Registered: Feb 2007
Location:
Posts: 631

I will say that as a once a year event, I think the concept is great. The lack of carryovers make it more fair than a basic skins game as well.

Generally, people say the more rocks in play, the better. It's a little weird to hear some say the opposite, but to each their own.

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Registered: Mar 2015
Location:
Posts: 21

Not a bad format only thing I don't like could be a lot of games end early.

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Registered: Jan 2006
Location: Peterborough
Posts: 1120

I'm enjoying the format. However, I don't think I'd want to see it too often. I still look for more sweeping out of a rock from the house then realize its not necessary. lol

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Registered: Mar 2014
Location:
Posts: 570

I can see some aspects of this format being adapted to hockey. Throw 10 pucks on the ice and the first team to get 3 in the net wins the period.

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Registered: Nov 2014
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 202

Why isn't there a game on Sportsnet right now? They announced last night that McEwan-Carruthers would be the game this morning and it's not on. Watching poker is not the least bit entertaining.

Ignore this. I just figured out that there is no morning broadcast.

Last edited by rick8end on 03-20-15 at 01:48PM

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Registered: Nov 2004
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 221

Gerry, do they have to select the rocks prior to the end starting or for example, they know of one straight rock and leave that for the skip to choose on his last if they need a run back?

As for the format, I like it... much like the Ryder Cup in golf, a once a year (Presidents Cup added) event that is extremely exciting and popular, however it wouldn't work as well if it was overused. I would love to play in this event given the opportunity as I am sure any one of the posters on here would as well.

Expect the players percentages to increase as they get used to both the format and the ice conditions.

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Registered: Oct 2002
Location: Manitoba
Posts: 191

I'm not sure that curling really needs to keep tinkering with different rule changes and formats, but hey, I'm not going to complain. I kind of like this format. And what I really like is more curling on TV, whatever the format may be.

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Registered: Mar 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 202

quote:

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Originally posted by guido
I hope they never have a "match play" tourney again!!
Its just an attempted circus shot with last rock every end.
Unbelievably boring.

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Registered: Dec 2014
Location: Alberta
Posts: 131

I like the match play format. But unlike a lot of people on this forum, I'm also not staunchly opposed to any type of change in curling. There are going to be 7 Slams next year (and 8 the year after) so having one of them a different format is a great idea.

I think eventually teams might realize in this format that you don't have to play every single end super aggressively and then try a 'hail mary' on your last stone. The idea is to take 2 with hammer (or at minimum get 1) and try steal without (or at minimum force)... which is also exactly the same idea in a normal game of curling. So I'm always a little confused why teams feel you must always pack the house with rocks.. you can play a more normal game (try force teams to 1 and take 2 with hammer).

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Registered: Sep 2014
Location: Saskatchewan
Posts: 100

Does this spiel count for WCT points? If it does I don't agree with that based on its format and exclusivity.

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Registered: Jan 2011
Location:
Posts: 1962

Looks more and more like Howard and the other 2 srs should be hanging up their brooms. Sort of sad when athletes don't realize that they are not real competitive anymore..

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Registered: Nov 2014
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 202

Man you need a road map to find out where the curling is being broadcast. Thankfully I found it now on CBC.

Last edited by rick8end on 03-21-15 at 03:26PM

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Registered: Sep 2012
Location: Canada
Posts: 116

quote:

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Originally posted by rick8end
Man you need a road map to find out where the curling is being broadcast. Thankfully I found it now on CBC.

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