What is the hammer in curling?

In curling, the hammer is a term that refers to the team that throws the last stone in an end. The team with the hammer has an advantage because they get the last shot, allowing them to potentially score more points or protect their lead.

The hammer is determined before the game starts by a coin toss or draw to the button. The team that is not awarded the hammer starts the first end with an advantage because they get to throw the first stone, giving them the opportunity to set up the end to their advantage.

Throughout the game, the importance of the hammer changes depending on the score. If the game is tied or close, the team with the hammer will try to score multiple points to take the lead or extend their lead. If one team has a significant lead, the team without the hammer will try to "force" their opponents to only score one point or "steal" a point by taking it away from the team with the hammer.

The hammer is a critical factor in curling strategy and can determine the outcome of a game.