The WCF is backing a research project into the effects of sweeping ©Getty Images

The World Curling Federation (WCF) has backed a research team from the University of Saskatchewan in Canada on its 18-month scientific research project on the effects of sweeping.

The main objective of the study is to help clarify the role that sweeping plays to the behaviour of stones on the ice.

WCF has revealed that is supporting the study financially, as well as offering the knowledge of its Technical Commission.

The WCF is offering financial support and the knowledge of its Technical Commission to the project ©WCF
The WCF is offering financial support and the knowledge of its Technical Commission to the project ©WCF

"In the spring of 2022, the World Curling Federation Technical Commission felt it was time to conduct a study to investigate current sweeping techniques being employed by athletes," said WCF head of development Scott Arnold.

"This would be a follow-up from the Sweeping Study conducted in 2016.

"Dr. Sean Maw had been experimenting with macro photography of curling ice and was developing a stone-throwing machine, so he seemed like the perfect fit.

"In just over a year, we should be able to publish the findings from the study and hopefully demonstrate the effects of brushing on the ice surface and how the different sweeping techniques affect the trajectory of a stone."

The research will include analysing the bottom of broom heads after sweeping and then photographing the ice that has been brushed to measure the changes.

The pictures will then be inspected to see the smoothness of pebble tops and rounding of pebble edges.

The amount and characteristics of debris will also be analysed.


Sean Maw, an associate professor at the University of Saskatchewan, is leading the scientific research project on the effects of sweeping in curling ©University of Saskatchewan
Sean Maw, an associate professor at the University of Saskatchewan, is leading the scientific research project on the effects of sweeping in curling ©University of Saskatchewan

"The physics of curling offers many mysteries and lots of complexity, which makes it very interesting to study," Maw, an associate professor at the University of Saskatchewan and one of the principle investigators of the research, said.


"Discovering how brushing works can help curlers of all levels and the whole sport itself, which would be a satisfying accomplishment.

"The field of curling physics is primed for such an advancement in understanding, building on the work of several investigators and their recent studies.

"It is important that the WCF is leading this effort though, as it shows principled sport leadership that is focused on benefits for everyone in the world-wide curling community.

"If we can gain more clarity on how brushing really works, it will advance the sport in terms of equity for all participants and it will help to establish a scientific foundation for the further development of rules and techniques in curling."

The project is currently in its data collection phase, with the final report due to be published in mid-2024.