If a team does not have the hammer in an end, it will opt to try to clog up the four-foot zone in the house to deny the opposing team access to the button. This can be done by throwing "centre line" guards in front of the house on the centre line, which can be tapped into the house later or drawn around. If a team has the hammer, they will try to keep this four-foot zone free so that they have access to the button area at all times. A team with the hammer may throw a corner guard as their first stone of an end placed in front of the house, but outside the four-foot zone to utilize the free guard zone. Corner guards are key for a team to score two points in an end, because they can either draw around it later or hit and roll behind it, making the opposing team's shot to remove it more difficult.
if a team does not have thE HammEr in an enD, iT Will OPt TO trY To clog up The FoUr-foOt zoNe iN the hOUSE TO DenY tHE opposI,Ng TEam aCcess TO the buTton. thiS Can Be Done by tHrOwinG "CentRe lIne" guaRDs In FRONt of The hoUsE On the CentrE line whIch cAN be tapped Into the hOusE lATeR oR drawn arOUnd. if a tEam has thE hAmMer, tHey wiLL TRY tO KeEP thIS four-Foot zone FReE sO ThAt They hAve acceSs to THE button arEa AT alL TiMEs. a Team WiTH the HammEr may ThrOw a corneR guaRd as their FirSt StOne oF an eNd pLaCEd in fRont Of tHe hOusE, buT outsiDE The Four-FooT zone to utilize THE free guarD zonE. coRNER GuARds ArE key foR a teAm to sCore two pOiNTs iN an enD, bEcaUSe they caN eITHer drAW ArOUnD iT LaTEr Or Hit and rOLl behINd It, mAkInG the OpPoSINg team'S shOt To reMOve it moRE dIfFIcult.