What Is a Double Touch in Curling?

In curling, “double touch” is usually an informal description of a shot in which one moving stone makes contact with two other stones. The exact name depends on what the shot is intended to do. Curlers more commonly use terms such as double takeout, double raise, or double runback.

The phrase can therefore mean slightly different things in conversation. If a player is asking what happened during a shot, the important detail is whether the delivered stone removed two opposing stones, moved a friendly stone into another stone, or produced another combination.

What a double touch usually means

A typical example is a delivered stone hitting one opponent’s stone and then contacting a second opponent’s stone. If both opposing stones are removed from play, the shot is normally called a double takeout.

The shot requires precise weight and line. The delivered stone must have enough momentum to reach the first stone, while its angle of contact must send it toward the second. Too much weight can send the shooter through the house; too little may move only the first stone.

Players may also use “double touch” loosely when the first hit causes a chain reaction. For example, a moving stone can contact a stationary stone, which then moves into another stone. That result may be described more precisely as a combination shot rather than a formal double-touch play.

How it differs from related curling shots

These are the standard terms most often used for shots that involve two contacts:

• Double takeout: one delivered stone removes two opposing stones from play.
• Double raise: a delivered stone raises one friendly stone into another, usually moving both toward a useful position.
• Double runback: a delivered stone hits a guard or other front stone, which then runs back into another stone.
• Hit and roll: the delivered stone removes one stone and rolls to a new position, without necessarily contacting a second stone.

These distinctions matter because the shot’s name describes both the contact pattern and the tactical purpose. Calling every two-contact shot a double touch can make the play harder to understand.

Is double touch a curling rules violation?

Usually, no. Contact between stones is a normal part of curling. A delivered stone may legally strike one or more other stones, provided the shot follows the rules and the stones are handled correctly.

However, “double touch” should not be confused with a player touching a moving stone twice with a broom, shoe, hand, or other equipment. That is a burned stone situation and is governed by the curling rules for touched or displaced stones. Teams must stop the affected stones and apply the appropriate remedy under the competition’s rules.

Why a double takeout is difficult

A successful double takeout depends on the angle, speed, and location of all three stones. The shooter must strike the first target at a precise point so that the delivered stone continues toward the second target. Small differences in ice curl or weight can change the result.

Sweepers can influence the path and distance of the delivered stone, but they cannot correct a fundamentally wrong angle after the first contact. Before calling a double takeout, the skip normally considers whether both target stones are positioned close enough, whether the shooter can reach them with one stone, and what risk remains if the shot misses.

Simple example

Suppose two opposing stones are sitting near the button, with one slightly in front of the other. The skip calls for a stone to hit the front stone at an angle that sends the shooter into the second stone. If both opposing stones leave the house while the delivered stone stays in play, the result is a double takeout.

So, if you hear “double touch in curling,” it most likely refers to one stone contacting two others. In formal curling terminology, identify the purpose of the shot: removing two opponents is a double takeout, while moving friendly stones is usually a double raise or another named combination shot.

Frequently asked questions

Is “double touch” an official curling shot name?

It is not usually the standard name for a specific shot in modern curling terminology. Commentators and players may use it descriptively, but terms such as double takeout are more precise.

Can one curling stone hit two stones?

Yes. A single delivered stone can contact two or more stones. The shot’s common name depends on which stones are hit and what the player is trying to achieve.

What is the difference between a double touch and a double takeout?

“Double touch” generally describes two contacts. A double takeout specifically means that one delivered stone removes two opposing stones, making it the more exact term for that result.