What is the five-rock rule in curling?
I · Intermediate · Stones in play · 3 of 5Until the sixth stone of an end, no team may move an opponent's stone from the free guard zone (between hog line and tee line, outside the house) out of play. If it does, its stone is removed and the guard put back. The no-tick rule also protects a guard touching the centre line from being moved off it.
How it works
- Free guard zone: between the tee line and hog line at the playing end, outside the house.
- Protected: opponent stones in the zone, until the sixth stone of the end.
- Breach: knocking one out of play, directly or indirectly.
- Penalty: the delivered stone is removed; moved stones go back.
- No-tick: an opponent's zone stone touching the centre line may not be moved off it before the sixth stone.
- No-tick breach: the other team chooses to remove the stone or leave everything.
- Measuring: allowed during the end to check if a stone is in the zone.
- Own stones: a team may move its own guards.
The glossary has the free guard zone, the no-tick shot, the guard, the takeout, the tap back and the peel.
Tricky cases
A stone in the zone is hit but stays in play. Is that a breach?
No. The breach is moving it out of play, or off the centre line under the no-tick rule.
Can a team remove its own guard early?
Yes. The rule protects only the opponent's stones.
Does no-tick apply in mixed doubles?
No. It does not apply in wheelchair curling or mixed doubles.
A stone in the zone is ticked off the centre line and out of play. Which rule applies?
The free guard zone rule, so the delivered stone is removed.
Why the rule exists
Without the zone, a leading team could clear every guard and keep the house empty. Protecting guards keeps more stones in play and gives the trailing team a way back.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Protected until the sixth stone | WC R6 (b) |
| Mixed doubles | Any stone protected until the fourth delivered stone | WC R17 (e) |
| Wheelchair, mixed doubles | No no-tick rule | WC R7 (c) |
From the rule book
World Curling, The Rules of Curling and Rules of Competition (1 September 2026), rules R2 (i), R6 and R7. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Curling's rules, reviewed every year.