UPDATES TO MIXED DOUBLES RULES FROM WORLD CURLING

Photo by: Lainie Hiller Photography

[EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, August 3, 2026] — On July 28th, World Curling informed USA Curling of changes to the pre-placed guards in Mixed Doubles for the 2026-2027 curling season.

From World Curling:

Pre-Information
Mixed Doubles placing points from the start of 2026-2027 season

There will be a rule change regarding the Mixed Doubles placing points which will become valid from the start of the 2026-2027 season. This change was consultated [sic] with the Membership and Commissions then approved by the World Curling Board.

As the rule book is not ready to be published, this information is being shared ahead of time to allow for preparation.

The new measurements will be part of the World Curling Rule Book 2026-2027.

Please note that the attached graphic is only to illustrate the new measurements and is not to scale.

What changes?
In the past there were 3 locations marked, which gave 6 options to place the stones. Depending on the ice and stone conditions, it was challenging to find the best position as the gaps were big, especially between stone position 2 and 3.

To close those gaps, there will be 4 points in the ice. The closest to and furthest away from the house remain unchanged, but the middle point was removed and replaced by two (2) new points.

This also meant the Power Play positions and measures needed adapted.
The points are measured from the cross point of the tee line and the 8-foot circled (used to place the stone in the house) to the mid-point of the hack. This will help that neither right- nor left-handed players have a benefit over their opponents. It also means that if you are in the hack you use for your delivery, the guard will not 100% cover the stone in the house.

If you have any questions on the above, please reach out to info@worldcurling.org.

USA Curling has adapted the provided graphic below to scale for accurate visualization of the changes and use during install. Clubs are not required to use the new four-point system, but it is recommended, particularly for clubs with competitive doubles players, so they may practice with the new configuration. The original statement, including the referenced graphic, supplied by World Curling also available below. It is recommended to use English units to measure the distance of the dots from the tee line. It is then recommended to use metric units to measure away from the centerline for placement of the Power Play dots.

When relatively large markers are used to indicate the points, players should make a reasonable effort to place the stone such that the edge of the stone is at the center of the marker.

Correct stone placement is shown on the left. Incorrect stone placement is shown on the right.

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About USA Curling

Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA Curling is the National Governing body for the Olympic sport of curling and the Paralympic sport of wheelchair curling in the United States. The mission of USA Curling is to grow, strengthen, and advocate for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of curling in the United States by prioritizing accessibility and programmatic development from grassroots to podium. USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, the Dale’s family of beers, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Ice, Sports & Solar (ISS), Rock Solid Productions, Jet Ice, and Laurie Artiss. USA Curling is a proud member of World Curling and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. To learn more, visit usacurling.org.