Are the brooms used in Curling the same as regular shop brooms?

Question

Are the brooms used in Curling the same as regular shop brooms?

Answer 1

No... We'd leave debris on the ice...

Answer 2

No, they have a fabric designed specifically for melting ice. Although in the old days, corn flaked brooms were used.

Answer 3

No.  But way back before the sixties, curlers used a corn broom type of device that was snapped across the path of the stone.  Sometimes watching curlers on TV you can see them use those antiques for delivery.  But they do not sweep with them.  The sweeping now is more of a scrubbing motion and the equipment is specialized

Most brooms have a swivel head and a synthetic material that rubs on the ice with enough friction to generate a little heat to smooth the ice allowing the stone to glide straighter while maintaining its speed longer.  Sweeping does not speed up a stone.  Other curlers use hair brushes, bristles about 2 cm to an inch long.  These work on frosty ice where there is higher humidty.

Brooms with fiberglass  handles run under $100.  But high tech prevails with the carbon fibre run up to $200 or maybe more.

Answer 4

I watched a match locally live and they were, but I'm sure the Olympic teams have some specially made kinds.