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.
Key points
- 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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