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Faizan
Bowling splits may not be something you enjoy, but they're an inevitable part of the game. Splits occur when the ball thrown for an attempted strike knocks down most of the pins but leaves at least two standing, usually separated by at least one pin width. Depending on the split, most can be picked up by either striking the fore pin at enough of an angle that it slides into the pin or pins behind it or by rolling the ball in such a manner to strike pins with both sides of the ball as it nears the end of the lane. Splits are known both by the number of the pins involved -- such as the 2-7 split -- or by nicknames, such as the "Sour Apple," which is a 5-7-10 split.
Bed Posts
The 7-10 split goes by many names, including "bed posts," "goal posts," "fence posts," "mule ears" and "snake eyes." It's a notorious split because it's the most difficult shot in bowling. The pins on the far ends of the back row remain standing while all other pins have been knocked away. Surprisingly, this split usually occurs on a shot that is almost in the pocket -- the space between the 1 and 3 pins for a right-handed bowler and the 1 and 2 pins for a left-handed bowler.
"Big Four" and the 6-7-10 and 4-7-10 Splits
The "big four" split, which is comprised of the 4, 6, 7 and 10 pins, happens more to straight bowlers than hook bowlers. A hooked throw crosses the head pin at an angle and drives it into the pins along the side. A straight ball, on the other hand, can roll into the head pin with no angle at all, causing the pins on either side in the back to go untouched. The 6-7-10 and the 4-7-10 splits which have no name, occur much in the same way that the "big four" split does. In these cases, the ball doesn't catch the head pin flush, instead it catches slightly to one side or the other, taking out either the 4 or 7 pin. The "big four," 6-7-10 and 4-7-10 splits are the most difficult spares to convert, next to the "bed posts."
"Baby" Splits and "Side-by-Side" Splits
"Baby" splits are splits that involve pins that are separated by one pin or less. Examples of "baby" splits include the 2-7 split, 1-4 split, 1-6 split and 3-10 split, all of which are fairly common. Not-so-common "baby" splits include the 2-9 split and the 3-7 split; these are less common because they involve the interior, rather than exterior, pins. Pins that are left standing next to each other are called "side-by-side" splits. They are considered splits because they have to be knocked down at the same time in order to convert. Examples of these splits include the 2-3 split, 4-5 split, 5-6 split, 7-8 split, 8-9 split and the 9-10 split
Colorfully Named Splits
Some other splits have more colorful nicknames and most involve at least three pins that have to be knocked down. For example, there is the "Greek church," which is either a 4-6-7-8-10 split or a 4-6-7-9-10 split. It's so named because of its similarity in looks to an old cathedral-type church. There is also the "big five" -- the 3-4-6-7-10 or 2-4-6-7-10 split. This is a fairly simple split to convert as long as you hit the 2 pin, for left-handed bowlers, or the 3 pin, for right-handed bowlers, at an angle to drive the first pin into the others. Other splits like this include the "big six" -- a 2-4-6-7-8-10 or 3-4-6-7-9-10 split; the "lily" or "sour apple" -- a 5-7-10 split; and the cocked hat -- a 2-7-10 or 3-7-10 split.
Bed Posts
The 7-10 split goes by many names, including "bed posts," "goal posts," "fence posts," "mule ears" and "snake eyes." It's a notorious split because it's the most difficult shot in bowling. The pins on the far ends of the back row remain standing while all other pins have been knocked away. Surprisingly, this split usually occurs on a shot that is almost in the pocket -- the space between the 1 and 3 pins for a right-handed bowler and the 1 and 2 pins for a left-handed bowler.
"Big Four" and the 6-7-10 and 4-7-10 Splits
The "big four" split, which is comprised of the 4, 6, 7 and 10 pins, happens more to straight bowlers than hook bowlers. A hooked throw crosses the head pin at an angle and drives it into the pins along the side. A straight ball, on the other hand, can roll into the head pin with no angle at all, causing the pins on either side in the back to go untouched. The 6-7-10 and the 4-7-10 splits which have no name, occur much in the same way that the "big four" split does. In these cases, the ball doesn't catch the head pin flush, instead it catches slightly to one side or the other, taking out either the 4 or 7 pin. The "big four," 6-7-10 and 4-7-10 splits are the most difficult spares to convert, next to the "bed posts."
"Baby" Splits and "Side-by-Side" Splits
"Baby" splits are splits that involve pins that are separated by one pin or less. Examples of "baby" splits include the 2-7 split, 1-4 split, 1-6 split and 3-10 split, all of which are fairly common. Not-so-common "baby" splits include the 2-9 split and the 3-7 split; these are less common because they involve the interior, rather than exterior, pins. Pins that are left standing next to each other are called "side-by-side" splits. They are considered splits because they have to be knocked down at the same time in order to convert. Examples of these splits include the 2-3 split, 4-5 split, 5-6 split, 7-8 split, 8-9 split and the 9-10 split
Colorfully Named Splits
Some other splits have more colorful nicknames and most involve at least three pins that have to be knocked down. For example, there is the "Greek church," which is either a 4-6-7-8-10 split or a 4-6-7-9-10 split. It's so named because of its similarity in looks to an old cathedral-type church. There is also the "big five" -- the 3-4-6-7-10 or 2-4-6-7-10 split. This is a fairly simple split to convert as long as you hit the 2 pin, for left-handed bowlers, or the 3 pin, for right-handed bowlers, at an angle to drive the first pin into the others. Other splits like this include the "big six" -- a 2-4-6-7-8-10 or 3-4-6-7-9-10 split; the "lily" or "sour apple" -- a 5-7-10 split; and the cocked hat -- a 2-7-10 or 3-7-10 split.
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