CHAPTER 3

BRUSHING: PERFECTION in COOPERATION

DEFINITION: "BRUSHING THE HANDLE"

The rock handle is 5" and so is the rock running surface.

The handle is situated precisely over the running surface.

The brush is 3" thick, so there is no point in cycling it x-ways more than the 5" handle width.

In effect, you will be brushing 11"by moving the brush back and forth 5".

For efficiency sake, "brushing the handle" is brushing the rock and no more.

CURLING/BRUSHING yourself to health.

The physical activity of brushing encompasses the major athletic portion of curling.

The lead and second actually walk/shuffle 3 km. per 8 end game.

Fig 3.1 Brushing adds to the exercise potential of curling.

The level of physical activity can be regulated by the curler from moderate to a heavy brushing workout.

BRUSHES-- Equipment

TYPES: The brush handle/pole can be made of steel (which is cold to hold) wood or fiberglass. The pole diameter varies from 1--1 1/4 inch.

Brush heads vary in size from 6" to 12" in width to 2-3" in thickness.

Heads are made up of horse hair, pig hair or my brush -- wool.

Other types of heads are covered with various density foam with fabric covers consisting of nylon and canvas.

Hair brushes start out about 2.5" wide. When you apply pressure they squash out to 4-5" so the psi./pressure of the brush on ice is reduced.

Effective energy is lost resulting in poor brushing results.

When a hair brush squashes out, junk falls on the ice causing a "pick."

Fig. 3.2 Have you ever heard of anyone ever cleaning/washing a hair brush?

Briar and world events have been lost due to dirty hair brushes (ice crud wedged up in the hair body) depositing on the ice as a "pick". A 6" long by 2" wide brush made with a softer foam (small BROWNIE) is the most efficient brush AFTER you cover it with wool duffle.

The larger brushes just brush larger areas (larger than the running surface) and are INEFFICIENT. Small is better.

LENGTH OF BRUSH HANDLE:

Pictured below: Why is there only one length brush handle/pole commercially available? My 5'-6" pole. A 3' tall child and a 6'2" tall man must use the same length brush.

Guess who gets a back ache?

A short brush not only wrecks your back but is highly inefficient.

You cannot put maximum pressure on the ice. You may be pushing down 100lbs. but less than 50lbs. actually reaches the effective running surface sliding path. See figures 3.4 and 3.5.