i went from an 1/8 left to an 1/8 right(left handed)
and it helped me stay behind the ball, have a loser grip, and get out of the ball quicker and i have bowled much better
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GO CELTICS!!!!

Hey stormwick,

Our lateral pitches on our thumbs help (sometimes) dictate "how" we come out of a ball.

These apply to right handed bowlers (reverse for LH).

right lateral (aka palm pitch) - allows the bowler to rotate counter clockwise, creating more of the standard 3/4 or semi roll (aka handshake release).

zero lateral - allows for a bowler to stay up the back of the ball for more end over end roll.

left lateral - typically used for full roller and backup ball releases because the thumb/hand wants to rotate clockwise thru release.

We use these different angles or pitches to help a bowler release in the direction that he/she wants or needs.

There are many exceptions to these guidelines as we can apply the correct amount of reverse pitch which allows our thumb to exit first and then the hand can rotate in any direction desired.

In your case, typically left lateral will hold us in the ball longer causing us to stay "behind" the ball longer.  With your current pitch, you may find it a little difficult to "come around" the ball when you want.  Unfortunately, what I've learned is that most bowlers or decent athletes adapt to whatever pitch they have (whether right or wrong).  If they have left lateral, they'll simply learn to throw the ball more behind it because it doesn't allow them to go around it and vise versa.

Hope this helps explain some...
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Rick Leong - Ten Pins Pro Shop
Tag Team Coaching - Co-Founder
"El" Presidente of the Legion

As far as pitch in the thumb hole, it should all be based on the bowlers entry angle into the thumbhole.
If you take a bowler's hand and assuming the span is correct, whatever angle the bowler's thumb wants to go into the thumbhole is the bowler's 0 pitch. Any deviation from this angle is going to alter the way the thumb will want to release, primarially speed and angle.
Before reactive resin, it was a general rule of thumb that bowler's had pitch angled toward the palm. This was to enhance a slower release speed, as well as the thumb staying in the ball more through the release, creating a right to left rotation or the ball being fed into the lane towards the pocket.
As fitting has progressed, it has gotten away from this Bill Taylor type of theory and more into a fitting process of comfort, as well as one that is used to alter or adjust a bowler's release.
If you base off the bowler's 0 pitch angle, adding more reverse pitch will speed up the release off the bowler's pad. The more angle added in a lateral sense will alter the rotation speed and hand angle. Right or palm will keep the thumb in the ball longer through the rotation and creates more side rotation. Left pitch or away from the palm generally will allow the bowler's hand in a more behind the ball position longer and can speed up the release speed. As a rule of thumb, any deviation of 1/8" lateral pitch effects reverse pitch approx 1/16". So if you add a 1/8" palm, you should also add a 1/16" reverse to accomodate angle and speed.

All pitch or angle should be based off a proper span, as well as the angle the bowler's thumb wants to enter the thumb hole. Deviations affect release speed and angle. Span dictates pitch, pitch should not dictate span.
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Formerly BrunsRico