Curling has a rule for almost everything, including just how much effort you’re required to put into your throw. That’s where the hog line comes in.
Two Lines That Matter
Each end of the sheet has a hog line. The near one is where you have to release the stone before it crosses, or it’s called a hog line violation. The far one is the line your stone actually needs to clear completely for it to count in play at all.
Why It’s Called a Hog Line
Here’s the fun part. A stone that doesn’t make it past the far hog line is called “hogged,” and that comes from old slang for something lazy or sluggish, like a hog lying around instead of doing anything useful. So a rock that comes up short basically just gave up halfway down the ice.
What Happens to a Hogged Rock
It gets pulled from play immediately. No close calls, no arguments. If you’ve ever watched a game and seen someone scoop a rock off mid-slide, that rock got hogged, and its day was over.
Leave a Reply