The 5-7-10 split is considered one of the rarest and most challenging leaves in bowling, with its conversion being virtually impossible.
The Unprecedented Challenge of the 5-7-10 Split
The 5-7-10 split, also known by its evocative names like the Lilly or the Sour Apple, stands out in the bowling world for its extraordinary difficulty. Its rarity isn't just a matter of chance; it's deeply rooted in the specific physics required for the pins to be left standing in such an arrangement, and even more so, for it to be converted.
Why Is It So Rare?
The formation of a 5-7-10 split is a rare event in itself, necessitating an almost "dead" ball that travels down the lane with minimal to no spin.
- Flat Ball Impact: For this split to occur, the bowling ball must strike the pins with almost no revolutions, essentially traveling "flat like a pancake."
- Deflection from the 5 Pin: This flat impact causes the ball to deflect precisely away from the 5 pin, leaving it standing along with the back-row corner pins (7 and 10) on opposite sides of the lane.
The Impossibility of Conversion
While leaving the split is rare, converting it is considered impossible. There are zero recorded instances of any professional bowler in the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) converting the 5-7-10 split. This stark fact underscores its legendary difficulty, positioning it as perhaps the only split that has never been conquered by a professional in competition.
Comparative Rarity of Splits
To put the rarity of the 5-7-10 into perspective, consider other challenging splits:
| Split Name | Common Occurrence | Conversion Difficulty | Noteworthy Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-7-10 (Lilly/Sour Apple) | Extremely Rare | Nearly Impossible | Zero PBA conversions ever recorded. Requires a unique, "dead" ball impact to be left. |
| 7-10 (Bedposts) | Rare | Extremely High | Considered the "holy grail" of conversions; a few professional conversions exist, but highly celebrated. |
| 4-6-7-10 (Big Four) | Moderate | High | A common but difficult split, often requiring precise angle and speed. |
| 2-7 or 3-10 (Baby Splits) | Fairly Common | Moderate | Often convertible with good technique, but still challenging for beginners. |
This table illustrates that while other splits are difficult and require skill, the 5-7-10 stands alone as an unconquered frontier in professional bowling.
The Physics of an Unconvertible Split
The challenge of converting the 5-7-10 lies in the placement of the pins. The 7-pin and 10-pin are the outermost pins on opposite sides of the lane, making it impossible for a single ball to strike both directly. Converting a split typically involves hitting one pin at an angle to make it richochet into another. However, with the 5-7-10:
- The 5-pin is in the center, directly in front of the line between the 7 and 10.
- Hitting the 5-pin into the 7-pin would require an extreme angle that makes hitting the 10-pin impossible with the same ball.
- Similarly, trying to hit the 5-pin into the 10-pin would leave the 7-pin untouched.
The spatial arrangement of these three pins simply defies the physics of a single bowling ball's path and pin reaction to clear them all. It's a testament to the precise and often unpredictable nature of how pins fall in bowling.
