Every woodworker has used countless standard drill bits over the course of multiple projects, and for general construction, these bits should accommodate your needs. The shaft of the bit has two curving grooves, called spurs, that lift debris from the hole you are drilling. The tip of a standard bit is smooth, coming to a slight point, almost as if the bit tip is wearing a small, rounded cap. Unfortunately, unless your wood provides substantial friction and your drill is perfectly perpendicular to the surface, these smooth-cap points can slip off target and gouge your wood. This is called "walking."

Falling into the speed bit category, split-point bits almost completely eliminate "walking." The shaft of a quality split-point bit features three grooves that lift away debris, allowing you to drill holes faster and with less chance of snags. These grooves continue all the way to the tip of the bit, where they cut into the tip's cap, breaking the smooth surface. This creates a grooved bit tip that more easily anchors itself in the wood and keeps your bit on target.