How to Do a Split in Bowling

Splits post a huge obstacle to posting a respectable bowling score. If executed properly, a successful split pick-up provides a key spare, a boost of confidence and a chance to continue building toward a high score. There are different kinds of splits, and different ways to pick up each one.

Instructions

  1. Baby Splits

    • 1

      Identify the split; the gap between pins is relatively small in a baby split. Examples of baby splits are when the three and ten -- or two and seven -- pins are left standing. You might pick up the spare by hitting both pins with the ball.

    • 2

      Line up your body in a position that enables you to hit the pins. If you throw a straight ball, line up even with the pins. If you throw a hook, allow for enough space to stay in the lane and hit the pins.

    • 3

      Release your ball, aiming for a spot directly between each pin.

    Big Splits

    • 4

      Identify the split you are faced with as a big split. Big splits feature a much larger space in between pins than baby splits, and force you to knock one pin into the other. These splits may also feature three pins. The most infamous of the big splits occurs when only the seven and ten pins are left standing.

    • 5

      Line up your body in front of the pin that is closest to you if you throw a straight ball. Shoot for the side of the front pin opposite of the other standing pin.

    • 6

      Aim for the pin furthest away from the gutter when bowling for split pins in the same row.

    • 7

      Aim for the center of the two pins when faced with a three-pin split. The goal in these splits is to knock the front pin into the corner pin as the ball continues through and knocks over the back pin.

    • 8

      Increase your velocity on a seven- and ten-pin split. This is considered the toughest split in bowling and is rarely executed successfully. The hope is to hit one of the pins with more force in order to kick it around the pit and into the other pin. Aim just to the outside of one pin to knock it toward the other pin.