How Curling Hog-Line Violations Work Explainer
A curler delivering a stone must clearly release the handle before the stone reaches the nearer hog line. The line marks the end of the delivery zone; maintaining hand contact beyond it creates a hog-line violation even if the stone later travels into a legal scoring position.
At major events, electronic sensor handles may show whether release occurred in time. A normal indicator confirms a clean release, while a warning light can identify contact beyond the line. When electronics are not used, officials watch the hand, handle, and leading edge of the stone.
A delivered stone that violates the release rule is removed from play immediately. Because it should not affect other stones, players and officials act before contact when possible. If it does displace stones, the non-offending team restores them to the positions expected without the illegal stone.
This near-line rule is separate from the far hog line, which the stone must fully cross to remain in play unless it has struck another stone first. Together, the two lines define a legal release and sufficient travel while preserving the slide-based delivery technique.
Before the stone reaches the nearer hog line.
It is removed from play, and affected stones are restored when necessary.
No. The far line determines whether an untouched delivered stone has traveled far enough.
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