Question: what is the purpose of the stick in curling

title: Curling
text: Curling brushes may have fabric , hog hair , or horsehair heads . Modern curling brush handles are usually hollow tubes made of fibreglass or carbon fibre instead of a solid length of wooden dowel . These hollow tube handles are lighter and stronger than wooden handles , allowing faster sweeping and also enabling more downward force to be applied to the broom head with reduced shaft flex . New , `` directional fabric '' brooms , which players are worried will alter the fundamentals of the sport by reducing the level of skill required , have been accused of giving players an unfair advantage . The new brooms were temporarily banned by the World Curling Federation and Curling Canada for the 2015 -- 2016 season . The new brooms give sweepers unprecedented control over the direction the stone goes . 

Answer: answer: New, ``directional fabric'' brooms have been accused of giving players an unfair advantage. The new brooms give sweepers unprecedented control over the direction the stone goes.