Last updated: 3 October 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Morley, FA Level 2 Football Coach
A split is a spare situation where, after the first ball, two or more pins remain standing with a gap between them and the headpin (the front pin) knocked down. Splits are difficult to convert because the ball can usually only realistically strike one pin or group, making it hard to clear both sides. The notorious 7-10 split (the two back corner pins) is the most famous and one of the hardest — converting it requires clipping one pin so it slides across to knock down the other. Splits are marked on the scoresheet (often as a circle) and avoiding leaving them is part of good first-ball strategy.
- Pins remain with a gap, headpin down
- Hard to convert with one ball
- The 7-10 split is the most infamous
- Marked with a circle on the scoresheet
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A split in bowling — pins left standing with a gap between them after the first ball, where no single ball shot can knock down both sides (like the notorious 7-10 split) — is one of the hardest conversions in the sport, and most bowlers simply accept the near-impossible odds and focus on knocking down whatever pins they still can rather than genuinely attempting the conversion.
FAQ
What is the hardest split to convert in bowling?
The 7-10 split (two pins on opposite far corners of the lane) is widely considered the hardest, essentially impossible conversion in standard ten-pin bowling due to the physical gap between the pins.
Why do splits happen in bowling?
Splits typically occur when the ball hits the headpin (or a pin combination) at an angle that knocks down central pins while leaving isolated pins standing on the outer edges with a gap between them.