To begin, please do not hijack this thread with conversations equivalent to "cg nomaddah" religious wars. I know there are many people who believe the term "offset thumb" does not really exist. To those people, please take it somewhere else. I'm attempting to resolve an issue that has been a question for a long time, and appreciate any constructive feedback in relation to the problem.

Having said that, here we go.

I suffer from significant pitch issues due to having cracked my knuckles for many years. For example, (left-handed) my left ring finger pitch is 7/8 left. Any comfortable layout that I currently use ends up with the ball sitting on the ridge of my palm at the base of the fingers, whereby I believe that a standard and more comfortable layout would put the ball more in the palm of my hand. Whether this is true or not and whether it works or not is something I won't know until I experiment. I believe the offset thumb philosophy to be an appropriate direction to take the experimentation in order to try to get the ball more into the palm of my hand.

With that being the goal, I know that this experimentation will lead to the change in pitches all around. I'm assuming that there are no standard pitch modifications that can be applied to an offset thumb. I know a few ball drillers here in the Phoenix area, but frankly none that I trust enough to consider them knowledgeable on the subject. I am looking for suggestions from the board as to the direction to take this experiment and the next steps from those that have tried this philosophy.

Thanks in advance for constructive feedback.

There are several ways to accomplish what your talking about as your overall goal.

#1 the offset thumb plan
 To do the offset thumb the pitches your going to end up using would consist of more reverse in the fingers and thumb  and you will have more right lateral pitch as well in the thumb,as that grip tends to stretch you hand further away from your ring finger.
#2 You could try a shorter span
 To accomplish this aim for having you fingers crease 1/4 to 3/8 past the edge of the finger hole on both fingers.This might relive some of the stress you have on your ring finger. You dont have to shorten it to the extent that MO does where he calls it a performance grip. Pitches on this kind of span would require less reverse in the fingers and thumb and would also decrease the required grip pressure to hold the ball in your backswing or release.

Just some thoughts from 17years on the job that might be able to help you.Good luck on your span changes it can be an exhausting endeavor but with the right person guiding you locally it should be fine

Lefty,

You seem like a prime candidate for drilling with the CLT line. Im sure if you ask this question on bowlingchat they will be more than happy to answer especially since its a rarity. Its basically where you lay your hand flat on the ball with your thumb in it  and mark your fingers in the proper spot where they lay. You determine the angle off the center line and it determines your thumb pitches. Then you base fit the fingers, performance fit if thats the case, and drill. Its just a way of laying the ball flater on the ball. Msg me for any futher info or questions.