If you’ve watched a curling match and noticed a small hammer symbol or asterisk (*) beside a team’s name, you may have wondered what it means. Why is there a little mark on the scoreboard? And why do commentators keep saying a team “has the hammer”?

The answer is one of the most important concepts in curling.

The hammer means last-stone advantage. The team with the hammer gets to throw the final stone of an end, giving it the last opportunity to score, change the position of the stones, or potentially win the end.

Below, we’ll explain exactly what the hammer symbol means, why having the hammer is such a big advantage, how a team gets it, when it changes hands, and why teams sometimes deliberately score zero points just to keep it.

Featured Snippet Answer:
In curling, the hammer symbol usually identifies the team with the last-stone advantage. That team throws the final stone of the end, giving it the last opportunity to influence the score. On curling scoreboards, the hammer is commonly shown with an asterisk (*). If an end is blanked, the team with the hammer normally keeps it.

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What Does the Hammer Symbol Mean in Curling?

In curling, the hammer is the name for the last-stone advantage.

The team with the hammer throws the final stone of an end.

That’s a major strategic advantage because the final stone can:

• Score one or more points
• Remove an opponent’s scoring stone
• Move a team’s own stone into scoring position
• Change the final score
• Prevent the opponent from scoring
• Potentially win the end

World Curling defines the hammer as the last-stone advantage and explains that it gives a team the final opportunity to score in an end.

The simplest way to remember it

Hammer = Last Stone

Or even simpler:

The team with the hammer gets the final say in the end.

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What Does the Asterisk (*) Mean on a Curling Scoreboard?

This is where some new viewers get confused.

The symbol isn’t necessarily a literal picture of a hammer.

On many curling scoreboards, the hammer is represented by an asterisk (*).

Curling Canada rules state that the team with last-stone advantage in the first end is marked with an asterisk on the scoreboard.

World Curling’s 2026 Olympic media guide also uses an asterisk to identify the hammer/last-stone advantage on a sample line score.

So if you see:

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Team A *	2	0	1		3
Team B	0	1	0		1

The asterisk indicates that Team A started with the hammer.

Important detail

On some scoreboards or broadcasts, you may see an actual hammer icon rather than an asterisk.

The visual design can vary.

But the underlying idea is the same:

Hammer symbol = last-stone advantage.

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Why Is the Hammer Such a Big Advantage?

Imagine two teams are playing an end.

They’ve thrown almost all their stones.

Now there are only two stones left—one for each team.

If your team throws first, your opponent gets to see what happened and then make the final play.

If your team throws second, you get to respond to their final position.

That final opportunity can be enormously valuable.

For example, suppose your opponent has a stone sitting closest to the button.

You have the hammer.

Your skip can attempt a draw, take out the opponent’s stone, or use another shot to change the scoring position.

Without the hammer, your opponent would get the final opportunity instead.

That’s why last-stone advantage is generally considered one of curling’s most valuable strategic advantages. USA Curling describes the hammer as an advantage because it allows a team to throw the last stone of the end.

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What Is the Hammer in Curling in Simple Terms?

Here’s the beginner-friendly definition:

The hammer is the last stone of an end, or more accurately, the last-stone advantage held by the team that throws it.

A standard four-player curling team has eight stones per end.

The two teams alternate deliveries, giving a total of 16 stones.

The team with the hammer throws stone number 16.

Curling Canada defines the hammer as the team with the last stone in a given end.

Think of it like this:

Team A → stone

Team B → stone

Team A → stone

Team B → stone

…

Team A → final stone

That final opportunity belongs to whichever team has the hammer.

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How Does a Team Get the Hammer?

The method for determining the first-end hammer can vary depending on the competition.

In championship curling, the Last Stone Draw (LSD) is commonly used.

Two players deliver draw shots toward the button, and the measured distances help determine last-stone advantage.

World Curling explains that the first-end hammer in championship curling is decided through a draw to the button, with the distance from the centre measured.

Curling Canada rules likewise state that, unless otherwise specified, first-end last-stone advantage is determined by a draw to the button following pre-game practice.

What is the Last Stone Draw?

The Last Stone Draw, or LSD, is essentially a precision test.

A player throws a stone toward the center of the house.

The closer the stone gets to the button, the better the result.

Depending on the competition format, the team with the better result can earn the right to have the hammer.

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Does Winning the Coin Toss Give You the Hammer?

Not necessarily.

The exact procedure depends on the competition rules.

In some forms of curling, a coin toss or another method may determine who has the choice.

At elite championship events, the Last Stone Draw is commonly used.

The key point is that the procedure for awarding first-end last stone can vary by competition.

So if you’re watching a particular tournament, its competition rules are the best source for the exact procedure.

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How Does the Hammer Change Hands?

This is one of the easiest rules to understand once you see the pattern.

If the team with the hammer scores

The hammer normally goes to the other team for the next end.

World Curling explains that when a team scores, it loses the last-stone advantage and the hammer passes to the opposing team for the next end.

Why?

Because the team that just scored will throw first in the next end, while the team that didn’t score gets the final stone.

Example

Suppose:

End 1

Team A has hammer.

Team A scores 2.

End 2

Team B gets hammer.

If Team B scores 1:

End 3 → Team A gets hammer again.

The basic pattern is:

The team that scores gives up the hammer.

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What Happens If the End Is Blank?

This is where curling strategy gets really interesting.

A blank end occurs when neither team scores.

That means there are no scoring stones left in the house when the end is complete.

In standard curling, the team that had the hammer generally keeps it after a blank end.

World Curling explicitly notes that a team can blank an end and retain the hammer for the next end.

This is why you may hear commentators say:

“They blanked the end to keep the hammer.”

It might sound strange at first.

Why would a team deliberately refuse to score?

Because keeping the hammer can be more valuable than scoring one point.

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Why Would a Team Deliberately Blank an End?

Suppose your team has the hammer.

You’re in a difficult position.

You could probably score one point.

But you have a reasonable chance of keeping the house clear and blanking the end.

If you blank it, you keep the hammer.

That means you get the final stone again in the next end.

For a team that’s trying to create a multi-point scoring opportunity, keeping the hammer can be extremely valuable.

USA Curling explains that teams with hammer typically aim to score multiple points and may choose to blank an end when doing so preserves their last-stone advantage.

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Why Is Scoring One Point Sometimes Not the Best Result?

This is one of the counterintuitive parts of curling.

Imagine:

Option A

Score 1 point.

Your team gets 1 point.

But the hammer moves to your opponent.

Option B

Score 0.

Your team gets no point.

But you keep the hammer.

A team may prefer Option B if it believes the retained hammer creates a better opportunity in the next end.

This doesn’t mean blanking is always correct.

The decision depends on:

• Current score
• Number of ends remaining
• Stone positions
• Opponent’s position
• Game situation
• Team strategy
• Strength of the next-end setup

That’s why curling strategy can look strange to someone unfamiliar with the hammer.

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Is the Hammer Always an Advantage?

Generally, yes—but it’s not an automatic guarantee of scoring.

Having the last stone gives your team an additional opportunity to influence the final result.

But the hammer doesn’t guarantee:

• A point
• Multiple points
• A win
• A successful final shot

A team can miss its final shot.

The opponent can steal points.

The team with hammer can even score zero.

USA Curling describes the hammer as an advantage while emphasizing that strategy changes depending on the score, ends remaining, and game situation.

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What Does It Mean to “Steal” an End?

A steal happens when the team without the hammer scores.

This is significant because the team with the hammer had the final-stone advantage but failed to use it to score.

USA Curling explains that only one team scores in an end, and the team without the hammer can score by out-positioning the team with last stone.

Example

Team A has hammer.

Team B has the closest stone to the button.

Team A plays its final stone but can’t remove or outdraw Team B.

Team B scores.

That’s a steal.

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Hammer vs. Steal: What’s the Difference?

Term	Meaning
Hammer	Last-stone advantage
Team with hammer	Team throwing the final stone
Steal	Scoring when you don’t have hammer
Blank end	No team scores
Last Stone Draw	Competition used to help determine first-end last stone
Button	Center of the house
House	Scoring circles at the end of the sheet

The hammer is about who throws last.

A steal is about who scores without throwing last.

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What Does “Playing With the Hammer” Mean?

When commentators say:

“They’re playing with the hammer.”

they mean the team currently has the last-stone advantage.

It doesn’t mean the team is physically holding or throwing a hammer.

It’s curling terminology.

You might also hear:

• “They have hammer.”
• “They’ve got the hammer.”
• “Last-stone advantage.”
• “Playing the hammer.”
• “Coming home with hammer.”
• “They kept the hammer.”
• “They lost the hammer.”
• “They stole with the hammer.”

All of these relate to the same strategic concept.

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What Does “Coming Home With the Hammer” Mean?

If a team is coming home with the hammer, it means that team has last-stone advantage in the upcoming or final end.

This can be particularly important late in a close game.

For example, if the score is tied entering the final end and your team has the hammer, you have the last opportunity to score.

The 2026 Olympic men’s semifinal between Canada and Norway provides a real-world example: Canada had hammer in the extra end and used it to draw for one point and win 5–4.

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Why Is the Hammer Especially Important in the Final End?

The hammer can be extremely valuable when the game is close.

Suppose the score is tied entering the final regulation end.

If your team has hammer, you have the final shot.

If you can score one point, you win.

That doesn’t mean the team with hammer always wins the final end. Opponents can steal, force difficult shots, or create multiple counters.

But the final-stone advantage gives the team with hammer the last opportunity to determine the score.

The 2026 Olympic men’s final demonstrated the importance of last stone in a close game: Canada entered the tenth end needing to defend a one-point lead, while Great Britain had the last stone and attempted to force an extra end. Canada ultimately stole one in the tenth to win 9–6.

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Can the Team Without the Hammer Still Win the End?

Absolutely.

That’s exactly what a steal is.

The team without the hammer tries to create a situation where the team with the final stone cannot score.

This can involve:

• Placing guards
• Building multiple scoring opportunities
• Freezing onto stones
• Making takeouts
• Creating difficult angles
• Blocking the opponent’s preferred path

The team without hammer often has to create pressure early because the opponent gets the final shot.

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How Does Having the Hammer Change Curling Strategy?

Hammer changes how teams approach an end.

Team with the hammer

The team often wants to:

• Keep scoring areas manageable
• Build toward multiple points
• Maintain a good final-shot option
• Avoid giving the opponent an easy steal
• Potentially blank the end if only one point is available

Team without the hammer

The team may want to:

• Create multiple stones in play
• Put pressure on the opponent
• Build a difficult final-shot situation
• Force the hammer team to score only one
• Steal the end

This strategic contrast is one reason curling is often described as a game of chess on ice.

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Why Does the Hammer Team Sometimes Keep the Center Open?

If the team with hammer expects to need a final draw or takeout, keeping a clear path toward the house can make the final shot easier.

The team without hammer often tries to disrupt that plan.

It may place guards or build stones around the house to make the final shot more difficult.

A curling club guide from the South of England Curling Club describes this strategic difference: the hammer team often tries to keep the center open, while the team without hammer may try to place stones in the middle to complicate the final shot.

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What Is a “Force” in Curling?

A force is when the team with hammer is limited to scoring only one point.

For the team without hammer, forcing the opponent to take only one can be considered a successful outcome.

Why?

Because the team without hammer gives up one point but gains the hammer for the next end.

So the strategic result can be valuable even though the team didn’t score.

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Hammer, Force, and Blank: The Basic Strategy

Here’s a useful way to think about the three situations:

Situation	Team with hammer	Strategic result
Scores 2+	Scores multiple points	Excellent
Scores 1	Scores one	Often acceptable, hammer changes
Scores 0, blank	No points	Keeps hammer
Opponent scores	Gets stolen	Major setback

This isn’t an absolute rule for every game situation, but it’s a useful beginner framework.

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What Does the Hammer Symbol Mean in Olympic Curling?

In Olympic curling, the hammer has the same basic meaning:

last-stone advantage.

During the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, World Curling’s coverage repeatedly referred to teams “having hammer” or starting with last-stone advantage.

For example, Canada started the 2026 Olympic men’s final with last-stone advantage and scored two in the first end.

So if you’re watching Olympic curling and see the hammer symbol, you’re essentially looking at an indicator of which team throws last.

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Is the Hammer a Stone or a Team?

Technically, the term is used for the last-stone advantage and, by extension, the final stone itself.

Curling Canada defines the hammer as the team with the last stone in a given end and describes the 16th delivered stone as the hammer.

So you may hear:

“Team Canada has the hammer.”

or:

“The hammer is coming down the sheet.”

The first refers to the team with last-stone advantage.

The second can refer to the final stone being delivered.

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How Many Stones Are in an End?

In standard four-player curling:

• Each team has 4 players.
• Each player delivers 2 stones.
• Each team therefore delivers 8 stones.
• Both teams deliver 16 stones in total.

The team with hammer delivers the 16th and final stone.

World Curling’s 2026 Olympic media guide describes this 16-stone structure when explaining how an end is scored.

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Does the Hammer Change Every End?

Usually, yes—but not after a blank end.

The general pattern is:

Team A has hammer → Team A scores → Team B gets hammer

Team B scores → Team A gets hammer

But:

Team A has hammer → End is blanked → Team A keeps hammer

This is one of the fundamental strategic rules of traditional curling.

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Does This Rule Apply to Mixed Doubles?

There is an important exception.

In mixed doubles curling, the handling of a blank end differs from the traditional four-player format.

World Curling states that in mixed doubles, a blank end causes the hammer to pass to the opposing team rather than being retained.

So don’t automatically apply the standard four-player blank-end rule to every curling discipline.

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What Does the Hammer Mean on a Curling Scorecard?

A curling scorecard or scoreboard can contain several pieces of information.

The hammer indicator tells you which team had or has the last-stone advantage.

The asterisk may remain associated with the team that started with hammer rather than moving around the scoreboard in some formats.

Curling Canada specifically notes that the asterisk marking first-end last stone is not moved.

That detail can confuse new viewers.

Why doesn’t the asterisk move?

Because the asterisk can be used as a record of which team started the game with the hammer, rather than being a live indicator of the hammer in every subsequent end.

Other scoreboards may use a dedicated live hammer icon.

So if you’re watching a broadcast, look for the scoreboard’s legend or graphics to determine exactly how the hammer is being displayed.

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Hammer Symbol vs. Actual Hammer Emoji

There is another possible source of confusion.

You may see:

🔨

This is the ordinary hammer emoji.

In curling terminology, however, the word hammer doesn’t refer to a physical hammer.

It’s the name for last-stone advantage.

Likewise, the scoreboard may use:

*

rather than:

🔨

Both can communicate the concept of the hammer in different visual contexts, but the official curling concept is the last-stone advantage.

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Where Did the Term “Hammer” Come From?

The exact historical origin of the curling term isn’t as straightforward as the modern definition.

The commonly understood idea is that having the final stone gives a team a powerful final opportunity to influence the result—similar to having the ability to deliver a decisive final blow.

USA Curling describes the name as coming from the ability to “brute-force” a scoring opportunity with the last stone.

However, it’s better to focus on the established sporting meaning rather than claim that there is one universally documented historical moment when the term was invented.

What is certain is how the term is used today:

Hammer = last-stone advantage.

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Common Mistakes Beginners Make About the Hammer

Mistake 1: Thinking the hammer is the first stone

It’s the opposite.

The hammer is associated with the last stone.

Mistake 2: Thinking the hammer guarantees points

It doesn’t.

The final shot can miss.

Mistake 3: Thinking the hammer is always shown as a hammer picture

Not necessarily.

An asterisk is commonly used.

Mistake 4: Thinking the hammer always changes hands

Not after a traditional blank end.

The team with hammer generally retains it.

Mistake 5: Thinking the team with hammer always tries to score

Not necessarily.

A team may deliberately blank an end to retain last-stone advantage.

Mistake 6: Thinking the hammer means a physical hammer

It doesn’t.

It’s curling terminology.

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Hammer vs. Last Stone Advantage

These terms are often used interchangeably.

Term	Meaning
Hammer	Curling term for last-stone advantage
Last stone advantage	The ability to throw the final stone of an end
Last stone	The final stone delivered in the end
Hammer team	Team with last-stone advantage
Hammer symbol	Scoreboard indicator for last-stone advantage
Asterisk	Common scoreboard symbol associated with hammer/first-end last stone

World Curling and Curling Canada both use hammer and last stone advantage to describe this concept.

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A Simple Example of the Hammer

Let’s imagine a game between:

Team Red

and

Team Blue

End 1

Team Red has hammer.

Team Red scores 2.

Score: Red 2–0 Blue

Hammer moves to Blue.

End 2

Blue has hammer.

Blue scores 1.

Score: Red 2–1 Blue

Hammer moves to Red.

End 3

Red has hammer.

Neither team scores.

Blank end

Red keeps hammer.

End 4

Red still has hammer.

Red scores 2.

Score: Red 4–1 Blue

Hammer moves to Blue.

This simple pattern explains a huge amount of curling strategy.

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Why Curling Teams Care So Much About the Hammer

Curling isn’t simply about putting the most stones near the button.

It’s also about controlling who gets the final move.

The hammer gives a team:

• More control over the final position
• A chance to remove an opponent’s scoring stone
• The ability to draw for a point
• The ability to score multiple points
• A way to protect against certain steals
• Strategic flexibility late in an end

That’s why experienced teams constantly think about hammer management.

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What Is Hammer Management?

Hammer management means making strategic decisions with the goal of maximizing the value of last-stone advantage.

That can include deciding whether to:

• Attack
• Defend
• Keep the house open
• Add guards
• Take out stones
• Try for multiple points
• Force one
• Blank the end

The score matters too.

A team leading by several points may have a very different strategy from a team desperately needing three points.

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Why the Hammer Matters More Late in a Game

Early in a game, teams have time to recover from losing the hammer.

Near the end, every decision becomes more important.

If you’re tied going into the final end and have hammer, you have the last chance to score.

If you’re behind by one and have hammer, you may only need one point to tie—or more if the game situation requires it.

If you’re ahead by one but your opponent has hammer, you may need to prevent a multiple-point score.

That’s why commentators often emphasize:

“Who has hammer?”

when the game approaches its final ends.

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Real-World 2026 Examples of the Hammer

The importance of the hammer wasn’t theoretical in 2026.

At the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games, World Curling repeatedly highlighted last-stone advantage in close matches.

In the men’s semifinal between Canada and Norway, Canada had hammer in the extra end and used it to score one and win 5–4.

In the women’s gold-medal game, Sweden started with last-stone advantage and used the final stone of the tenth end to secure a 6–5 Olympic victory over Switzerland.

These examples show why the hammer isn’t just a technical rule.

It can decide championships.

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Frequently Asked Questions About the Hammer in Curling

What does the hammer symbol mean in curling?

The hammer symbol indicates last-stone advantage. The team with the hammer gets to throw the final stone of the end.

What does the asterisk mean in curling?

An asterisk (*) is commonly used on curling scoreboards to mark the team that had last-stone advantage, particularly the first-end hammer. Curling Canada specifically uses an asterisk to mark first-end last stone.

Why is it called the hammer in curling?

Hammer is the traditional curling term for last-stone advantage. The final stone gives the team a powerful final opportunity to influence the score.

Is the hammer the last stone?

The term can refer to the final stone or, more commonly in strategic discussion, the last-stone advantage held by a team.

Who gets the hammer in curling?

The first-end hammer is determined according to the competition’s rules, commonly through a Last Stone Draw at elite events. After that, the team that did not score gets hammer for the next end.

Does the team that scores get the hammer?

No. In standard curling, the team that scores loses the hammer, and the non-scoring team gets last-stone advantage in the next end.

What happens to the hammer after a blank end?

In standard four-player curling, the team that had hammer generally keeps it after a blank end. Mixed doubles has a different rule.

Why would a curling team intentionally score zero?

A team with hammer may intentionally blank an end to retain last-stone advantage for the following end.

Is having the hammer good in curling?

Yes. The hammer is generally considered an advantage because it gives a team the final opportunity to influence the score.

Can you win without the hammer?

Absolutely. If the team without hammer scores, it has stolen the end.

What is a steal in curling?

A steal occurs when the team without last-stone advantage scores points in an end.

What is a force in curling?

A force generally means the team without hammer limits the hammer team to scoring only one point.

What does “coming home with hammer” mean?

It means a team has last-stone advantage in the upcoming final or important end.

Does the hammer change every end?

Usually after an end in which a team scores, the hammer goes to the team that didn’t score. If the end is blanked in traditional curling, the hammer is retained.

Does the hammer rule apply to mixed doubles?

Not exactly. Mixed doubles has different rules regarding a blank end, so its hammer sequence can differ from traditional four-player curling.

How many stones are thrown in an end?

In standard four-player curling, each team throws eight stones, for 16 total stones. The hammer team throws the final one.

What is the Last Stone Draw?

The Last Stone Draw, or LSD, is a pre-game draw toward the button used in championship curling to help determine first-end last-stone advantage.

Does hammer guarantee a point?

No. It gives the team the final opportunity, but the team can miss the shot or even be forced into a blank or steal.

Why is the hammer important in the last end?

In a close game, the final stone can determine whether a team scores, ties, wins, or loses. That’s why last-stone advantage becomes especially valuable near the end of a match.

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Hammer Symbol in Curling: Quick Reference

Question	Short answer
What is the hammer?	Last-stone advantage
Who has it?	The team throwing last
What symbol shows it?	Often an asterisk (*) or hammer icon
Why is it important?	It gives the final chance to influence scoring
Who gets it after a score?	The team that didn’t score
Who keeps it after a blank?	Usually the team that had it
Can you score without hammer?	Yes—this is a steal
Can hammer guarantee a win?	No
How is first hammer often decided?	Last Stone Draw at championship level
What is the final stone called?	The hammer
Does mixed doubles work exactly the same?	No; blank-end rules differ

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Final Answer

The hammer symbol in curling means last-stone advantage.

If you see a hammer icon or an asterisk (*) on a curling scoreboard, it tells you which team has the advantage of throwing the final stone of the end. That final shot gives the team one last opportunity to score or change the position of the stones.

The basic sequence is easy to remember:

Have the hammer → throw last.

Score → usually lose the hammer.

Opponent scores → they steal the end.

Blank the end → traditionally keep the hammer.

And that’s why the hammer is so important.

Curling isn’t only about getting stones closest to the button. It’s also about controlling who gets the final move.

Once you understand the hammer, terms such as steal, force, blank, last-stone advantage, coming home with hammer, and hammer management suddenly make much more sense.

Most importantly, remember that the little symbol on the scoreboard isn’t just decoration.

It tells you who gets the final say.

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