Curling may look complex at first glance, but once you understand how points work, the game becomes easy to follow. Whether you’re watching the Winter Olympics, the World Curling Championships, or a local club match, knowing how scoring works helps you appreciate the strategy behind every shot.
In this complete guide, we break down how points work in curling, what an end is, how the hammer impacts scoring, and how teams earn multiple points.
What Is an End in Curling?
A curling game is divided into sections called ends, similar to innings in baseball.
- Olympic and World Championship games: 10 ends
- Many club and mixed doubles games: 8 ends
- Traditional curling: 8 stones per team per end (16 total)
- Mixed doubles: 5 stones per team
After all stones are thrown in an end, officials determine scoring.
How Curling Scoring Works
The scoring system in curling follows one simple rule:
Only one team can score per end.
At the conclusion of each end:
- Officials determine which team has the stone closest to the center of the target (called the button).
- That team scores points.
- They receive 1 point for each of their stones that is closer to the button than the opponent’s closest stone.
Example of Curling Scoring
- If Team Red has the closest stone and also has another stone closer than Team Yellow’s nearest stone, → Team Red scores 2 points.
- If Team Yellow has only one stone closer than Red’s best stone, → Team Yellow scores 1 point.
It’s that simple.
What Stones Count for Points?
For a stone to count:
- It must be touching the house (the circular target rings).
- It must be closer to the button than the opponent’s nearest stone.
Stones outside the house do not score. Both teams cannot score in the same end.
When a team scores four points in one end, it’s called a four-ender — a rare but exciting achievement at elite levels.
What Is the Hammer in Curling?
The hammer refers to the advantage of throwing the final stone in an end.
Why it matters:
- The last shot often determines who scores.
- The team that scores gives the hammer to the opponent in the next end.
- If no team scores (called a blank end), the hammer stays with the same team.
Having the hammer is a major strategic advantage in competitive curling.
Curling Scoring in Mixed Doubles
Mixed doubles curling follows the same basic scoring rules but with slight differences:
- 5 stones per team
- 8 ends
- Power play option available
- Faster pace of play
Even with fewer stones, the scoring method remains identical — one team scores based on stones closest to the button.
What Is a Typical Curling Score?
Professional curling games often finish with scores like:
- 6–5
- 7–4
- 8–6
Teams usually aim to score 1 or 2 points per end. A 3-point or 4-point end can dramatically shift momentum and often determines the outcome of a match.
Curling Scoring FAQ
Can both teams score in one end?
No. Only the team with the closest stone scores.
Can you score zero points?
Yes. If no stones are in the house, it’s called a blank end.
How many points can a team score in one end?
Theoretically up to 8 (or 5 in mixed doubles), but this is extremely rare in elite competition.
Final Thoughts
Understanding how points work in curling makes the sport far more enjoyable to watch. The scoring system is straightforward:
- One team scores per end
- 1 point per stone closer than the opponent’s best stone
- Stones must be inside the house
- The hammer provides a strategic advantage
Once you grasp these basics, you’ll quickly see why curling is often called “chess on ice.”