Once again at this years Europeans, I noticed a lot of players starting with a straight handle, then for example turning it clockwise during delivery, stopping and then giving the actual anti-clockwise delivery before the release.
This is opposed to the technique I learned, where you start with your handle on the "10" or "2" o'clock position when you start your delivery in the hack.

Can anyone explain to me the advantage of starting out with a straight handle and doing that clock-wise, anti-clockwise (or the other way round for the other handle) thingy?

Because of the problems with the stones / ice interface at the Europeans manyof the players were ensuring that there stones ran truer by giving them a 'harder' handle than normal. The normal 'soft' handle delivery of some players was not being retained and stones were 'losing their handle'.

Ask Andrew Reed of the English team for his rant on this!!!!

most folk do this on their out turns to stop dumping them in like david edwards does. 

I've been self helping with a curling site online that has been very useful in correcting some delivery problems, I also had a little feedback re the handle on my delivery and now I tend to give a much more positive handle as a result

That's not entirely true, Eddie. The problem is this: the ice surface is variable from rink to rink, and so are the stones, and so therefore the interaction between the two. Some stones will need more rotation and others less, and some ice will need more handle and other ice less. It is the sheer complexity of the whole thing taht creates the confusion!

But if you give me a set of naturally matured stones and a decent rink, I'll make the ice to suit and meet the specifications for draw and weight, with the same handle, all the time!

Eddie, what you are saying is that players don't have the time to mess about learning about stones and ice. You're right. Teams that stick together (definitely NOT a la selection process!) have the advantage in that they share this very instant learning process. Roll on the TRUE game of curling!

In the past, ice was highly variable, the stones less so. Teams who could read -- and agree -- on the ice, would have a serious advantage. This has changed, the ice has become considerably more consistent, especially at international level. Unfortunately the stones are now being manipulated to compensate for the remaining ice deficiencies, directly related to deficiencies in building design and technician competence. The best building in the world can make good curling ice, but without a competent curling-ice technician go hire a freezer.

All this is totally unnecessary. Give us the building and the job, we'll show you how. If we don't get the building and the job, ask yourself why not.

Sorry, I'm not in a good mood. I miss Bob.

sorry davie, i meant dump them in like your brother used to do!