18 Comments
Sep 27, 2022Liked by John Cullen

What do you think of 2 draws to the button for each team, with both in- and out-turn used? It wouldn't add that much more time, it's still 'sudden death' but it provides a bit more information and more than one player in the spotlight. I guess this would be more akin to soccer's shootouts where a few players are designated to take the kick.

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I answered that above. I don't think adding more draws to the button makes it better. I actually think it makes it less suspenseful as a concept and I don't think huge games should be settled by draws to the button regardless

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Sep 27, 2022·edited Sep 27, 2022Liked by John Cullen

Similar to the 0.5 theory, but maybe simpler: run the game normally, but treat extra ends like skins games

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What do you do if a team scores 1 though

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Can't believe I didn't think of that lol

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Do away with blank ends. If end is blanked, hammer goes to other team. Would change up the elite game. More offensive, higher score

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Not all blanks are created equal so I’ve never loved this solution. It also has nothing to do with extra ends haha

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Yea, but if no blank ends, chances if an extra end goes way down

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I'd need to see math on that before I just accept that's true

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I love the 0.5 idea. Keeps the last end tense, ensures that there’s no chance of getting yet another extra end, and seems like both teams have a fair chance. I don’t know the odds but it seems like the combo of force+blank+steal about equals the likelihood of taking 2+.

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Maybe the extra end needs to be doubles style. Chose two players per team, mixed doubles rules.

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That’s too dissimilar to the 4-person game to work I think

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Would make for an interesting end though LOL :)

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Place 2 rocks 2 feet in front of the house, bisecting the 4 foot line, one on each side of the centre line. If you are throwing with the clockwise rotation, your opponent's rock must be on that side of the center line. Your rock will be on the other side. The options are:

1) Draw wide around the opponents rock. You'll likely not get to the pin, but a good draw, depending on the ice, might get you a piece of the button

2) Draw through the port. If you just skinny by the guard, you might catch the pin. Very easy access to the 4 foot on arena ice though.

3) Play across the centre line and tap your rock in. Why would you do that? If you choose options 1 or 2 and raise your opponents rock in the game is over.

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This is one of the crazier solutions I've heard

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Is that good or bad?! Nothing like a little chaos to make things interesting.

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I don't like it, it's hard to explain, and doesn't really solve the "bad side of the ice" problem

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There isn’t always a bad side of the ice though. And it kinda does as the raise on the other side of the Center line becomes an option. Nothing is perfect but in general the absolute way to determine a winner or eliminate teams from a playoff is the draw to the button. I’m the Larry Jones Junior Classic this weekend, we are using Hammer Efficiency ad the tie-breaker, not that it helps for this circumstance

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