As far as curling experiments go, a new rule that will be used at the next Grand Slam competition looks like a doozy.

Organizers plan to test a setup that will see a team lose hammer after a second consecutive blank end. The mid-season change, an attempt to boost scoring and entertainment, should have a significant impact on team strategy.

"I'm excited that they're trying something," said Curling Canada chief executive officer Nolan Thiessen. "It's going to change the game. I see a lot of scorebo…