In the early history of curling, the playing stones were simply flat-bottomed stones from rivers or fields, which lacked a handle and were of inconsistent size, shape, and smoothness. Some early stones had holes for a finger and the thumb, akin to ten-pin bowling balls. Unlike today, the thrower had little control over the 'curl' or velocity and relied more on luck than on precision, skill, and strategy. The sport was often played on frozen rivers although purpose-built ponds were later created in many Scottish towns. For example, the Scottish poet David Gray describes whisky-drinking curlers on the Luggie Water at Kirkintilloch.
iN thE eARLy HiSTory oF cUrling, THe PLAying stoNeS weRe sImply flaT-bOttomed stOneS FroM rivERs or fIelds, whICh laCKed a handle and wEre oF INConSisTenT SiZe, shapE, aNd SMOothnEss. sOMe eArLY stoNES HaD Holes foR a finger AnD tHe tHUmb, AkiN to teN-Pin boWLIng balls. unlIKE toDAy, tHe thRower had liTtle cOnTROL over the 'CUrL' Or velocity AnD rElIEd More on Luck THan on prECiSiOn, sKILL, and stratEgy. tHe sporT was oftEN pLayeD oN FrozEN riVeRS aLtHOugH purpOse-BuIlt pOnds werE LaTEr createD iN MANY sCOTtisH Towns. for Example, The ScotTish Poet daViD GrAY DesCribeS wHisKy-DrINkiNG curleRs on the LUgGie watER at kirKinTilLOCH.