Curling scoring, explained: A guide to understanding the rules, terms and Olympic points system originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Curling is a team sport at the Winter Olympics and Paralympics for women, men, mixed doubles, and mixed wheelchair teams.

Who gets the hammer could play a big impact for the end of the match.

The hammer is a crucial part of curling. The team that has the hammer is able to throw the final stone of each end, generally a significant advantage, with all other stones thrown and the current scoring situation clear.

While curling is considered to be a calm and respectful sport, it has been making headlines at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Scoring an End: Matches are split into rounds termed ends, usually eight or 10 per game. After all 16 stones (eight per side) have been delivered, the team whose stone sits nearest the button earns one point for each stone positioned closer to the centre than their rivals' closest stone.