What are the rules for delivering a stone, including the hog line and the hack?

• Hack (R5(c)): right-handed deliveries are made from the hack on the left of the centre line and left-handed deliveries from the hack on the right. A stone delivered from the wrong hack is removed from play.
• Handle (R5(d)): the stone must be delivered using its handle. Touching the granite at any time after the tee line at the delivery end is a touched moving stone, and the stone is removed from play.
• Hog line (R5(e)): the stone must be clearly released from the hand before it reaches the hog line at the delivery end, or it is immediately removed from play by the delivering team. If a hog line violation stone is not removed and strikes another stone, the delivered stone is removed and displaced stones are replaced by the non-offending team (R5(f)).
• In play (R5(g)): a stone is in play when it reaches the tee line at the delivery end (hog line in wheelchair curling). One that has not reached that line may be returned and redelivered. It is considered delivered when it reaches the hog line at the delivery end.
• Be ready (R5(h)): players must be ready to deliver when their turn comes and must not take an unreasonable amount of time.
• Electronic hog line (R11(d)): when one is used, the handle must be properly activated or it is treated as a hog line violation stone, and no glove or mitt may be worn on the delivery hand.
• Delivery stick (R11(e)): not allowed in World Curling competitions or qualifying events except wheelchair events. A player who delivers with a stick must use it for all of their stones for the whole game.

Source: World Curling Rules of Curling, 1 September 2026, rules R5 and R11.