The Scottish invented curling in the 16th century, according to the Potomac Curling Club. Since then, players created different versions of the game to add variation and challenge. Skins is a game type where scoring depends on how many rounds you win instead of total score.
Setup
Teams of two play against each other for a predetermined amount of ends. An end consists of each team tossing all their stones. Players alternate throws trying to land as close as possible to the center of a set of concentric circles.
Scoring
In normal play, the team with the stone closest to the center of the circles scores points. Each stone closer to the center than the first opposing stone counts as a point. In skins, players can only earn one point in each round. The term skin refers to this earned point.
The team who tosses second must have two stones in play in order to earn the skin for that round. The team who tosses first only needs one. If neither event occurs, the value of that skin carries over to the next round.
Hammer
When teams have the last toss in a round, it is called "having the hammer." This gives teams the last chance to change the outcome of the board. If a team wins a skin, the hammer belongs to the opposing team the next round. The hammer also turns over if neither team wins a skin.
Variations
Some clubs or organizations alter their rules for the skins format. One variation is increasing the value of a skin as you progress through more rounds.. The number of rounds can also vary.
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