RockDoc
Swing Artist
Registered: Apr 2005
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Posts: 399 |
quote:
I can't definitively speak as to why the current strategic vogue is F-M-M-M-F, but I suspect it's because of a potential perceived value in having the stronger takeout player in the middle shots, where that may be advantageous. A lot of mixed ends have last stones as touch draws, where there isn't as much inherent strength variance between the genders as there is in high hits.
Having played quite a bit of mixed doubles the last two years, that't pretty much it. It's the middle rocks where you are more likely to play runbacks or double peels. Not that many women can't play these shots, too, though! We have on occasion flipped it around when were weren't clicking in the usual order. The advantage of having the female player in the middle position is that the male sweepers are usually stronger, which can make a significant difference dragging draws so the right spot, or getting around that guard.
FYI, I do think there is a demonstrable advantage to spot curling, allowing the sweeper to get on rocks right away if needed. If you chase your rocks down the ice, you never catch up to it until at least half-way down. That's losing a lot of potential shot management. It also allows very natural and effective sweeping of takeouts.
Last edited by RockDoc on 01-19-18 at 05:57PM
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