Strategy 1

There are only a few situation shots that should be memorized. As in chess, you must learn to analyze the situation with the NOW variables and NOT apply programmed solutions.
MEMORIZE

9 Possible Rock Stopping Points
    The skip slaps the brush at 1' up from the top 12' indicating to his shooter that he wants a guard in the "free guard" zone on centerline.
    The skip then aligns the brush as a target for the shooter.
    The shooter releases the rock. It will stop at one of 9 places on the sheet based upon line release and weight.
     It will stop exactly where the skip intended if he placed the brush right (took the right ice).
It will stop long or short.
    If the shooter was inside the brush target, it will stop at the right distance but left of the centerline or will be long or short.
    If the shooter was wide with the right weight, the rock will stop to the right of the "ideal" spot or will be long or short on the same side.
    THIS is why it very important to NOT envision where the rock will stop (as mentioned by Linda at the 2000 Hearts, "Yeah! Envision the hit.") BUT where the brush is alone AND the called weight. Let the skip worry about the 9 stopping points and providing you with the right brush placement.
SKIPS: Never, never never ask for a shot without giving a weight description!!!!!
    When you, the shooter, settle in the hack, you must envision HITTING the BRUSH at the asked for weight and nothing else. Thinking of where the rock is going to stop will cause you to "start" the rock in that direction because you dearly, dearly want it to go there -- right? This is the psychological reason for the "started rock."
    It should be noted that if the turn (say 2 revolutions) is the same for each rock delivered on the same line whether heavy or light: the curl to the same LINE will be the same -- barring a pick or unusual ice condition.
    So, the rock delivered heavy or light will stop very nearly in the same hack to hack (longitudinal) line.
    The actual physical fact is: The rock thrown harder does curl more! HOWEVER, it skids further out on the brush target line thereby it has further TO CURL BACK to be inline with the light weight guard shot.
    Once a rock is in the curled trajectory -- near stop, it is possible to brush (across the running surface) the rock a little deeper giving more distance and resultant curl. If you need curl and do not know how to "short brush the "fast" side, it is best to let the rock curl on its own. Don't brush the rock into guards like many pros do at The Worlds!

The above picture shows the two hand -- right hand release delivery. The rock is directly under the nose between the eyes. Note the release hand is HIGH on the rock and will release in a crisp up movement AFTER turn is imparted. The hand is centered over the bolt/rock center and NOT pushed up against the NECK.
The rock is delivered during slide out in the 12:00 o'clock position and not the 10/2 position. The 10/2 position requires that you learn 2 deliveries with different forces up the arm i.e., (rightee) the down turned arm (10:00 o'clock) and the up turned arm (2:00 o'clock).
The other reason a rock is "started" off the line to the brush is due to the faulty release (still done by many pros). Your hand must be on top of the rock handle and you rotate the rock about the rock bolt to impart turn with a crisp up movement release.

LOW RELEASE -- Two faults:
1. The "low" release in which the opened hand is under the handle causes a dragging on the underside of the handle and inconsistent reduction in distance of up to 10 feet. The brushers/timers can not "time" this release. They must walk the rock which takes time before brushing to help your shot.
2. If you touch the end/back of the handle at release you stand the chance of "skidding" the rock off the target line resulting in the off line x-fire.
The third reason a rock is "started"/x-fired is caused by the parallel delivery. The rock is not delivered from under the nose but to one side of the body. At the last moment, the curler finds out the line is wrong and x-fires/starts the rock.