What is the hammer in curling? Understanding the last-stone advantage

Introduction

The hammer is one of the most important concepts in curling. Knowing what the hammer is, how it is gained and how it influences play helps spectators, new players and coaches understand tactics and match flow. The presence or absence of the hammer often determines whether a team plays aggressively to score or defensively to force a favourable situation.

Main body

Definition

In curling, the hammer refers to the last-stone advantage in an end. The team that holds the hammer throws the final stone of that end, giving them the opportunity to score or to respond to the opponent’s placement. Because the final stone can remove opponents’ stones or place a scoring stone, having the hammer is generally an advantage.

How the hammer is decided

Who begins with the hammer is normally decided before play. At many events teams perform a Last Stone Draw (LSD) after practice: each team delivers a draw to the button and the closer shot determines who takes the hammer in the first end. During a game, the hammer changes depending on scoring: the team that scores in an end gives up the hammer to their opponents for the next end. If an end is blanked (no score), the team with the hammer retains it and can try again in the following end. In extra ends the hammer is likewise critical and is allocated according to competition rules or prior draws.

Strategic significance

Strategy around the hammer shapes how teams approach each end. Teams with the hammer often play offensively to set up a scoring opportunity, while the opposing team aims to force a single point or to steal (score without the hammer). Blank ends can be deliberately engineered to retain the hammer for a later, potentially decisive end. Coaches and players weigh ice conditions, stone placement and end-by-end scoring needs when deciding tactics around the hammer.

Conclusion

The hammer is central to the strategy and drama of curling. It influences shot selection, end planning and overall match tempo. For fans and players alike, recognising which team holds the hammer and why it matters enhances appreciation of the tactical layers that make curling unique. As tournaments progress, decisions about retaining or surrendering the hammer can be decisive in determining the final outcome.