Object needs to be of reasonable size for closing your hand around...naturally with no looking or trying to get a result.  There are other tests to measure what your lateral should be.  I have detailed some in the Bunnetta method post below in this section.  They are underarm forearm grab, pick up a pencil from a table with thumb middle and ring, touch with thumb middle and ring and center of those fingers.

I've read some of your questions above.

A lot of confusion in the answers given you.  Put in the perspective that I am still a searcher too for the "perfect grab" and have not found "the answer".

Let me proceed.

1. Thumb offset is not CLT.  Thumb offset is moving the thumb laterally(usually under middle finger) and orienting the finger pitches in the same direction down the T grip and orientint the thumb pitch up a parallel line running next to the T grip.  (to maintain span integrity one must lower ring and raise middle slightly.  It really does feel different and does seem to account for the offset of the thumb from the fingers!

2. CLT ...everything here is done within the T grip.  Thumb pitch is exactly the same as always(up the t grip line) as are spans.  Finger pitches are oriented dwon a line which is drawn between the middle and ring finger!  IF this line is offset more than 10 degrees off of the center of the thumb CLT experts say it is worth doing, otherwise...not so much.  If a person uses a standard T grip setup of 0 forward and reversefinger pitches.  Person will end up with a forward on middle and reverse on ring if they have an offset CLT pitch put in their finger holes.  Mo Pinel who told me he invented CLT now tends just to put forward in middle and a little reverse in ring to reproduce feel of CLT and orients lips of finger inserts down the finger pull line or what they call the "Center Line Transfer..CLT".  CLT advocates love this grip as they claim it gives them natural pull down their fingers.
When I've tried it I just found I lost about a rev and also had less backend.
I have had big sets with it but i find...it's not the answer...for me!

3.  THE flat hand on the ball idea I think relates to what is called "Freestyle drilling" but I am not sure.  As there was a post on this system a while back and I found it but I cannot see the comments.  I have also done a lookup on google

Summary


Full article with membership

In the little bit I read I believe your description of what freestyle probably is might be correct.  A shifting of all pitches left for a righty or right for a lefty to get the hand flatter on the ball.
I have tried a small partial move in this direction on the recommendation of T God and it was not bad!  Getting the hand more flat on the ball!
Of course the Tim W. fellow above can be contacted in Troy Michigan regarding his patented method!

So above three distinct methods!  Thumb offset, CLT and Freestyle discussed.

Right now i am in testing of my application of the Bunnetta method.  More forward in thumb and adding reverse to the fingers.  Since with a standard span my hand is off the ball a bit in my palm I may add the twist of adding right to all my pitches combined with my Bunetta feel adjustments.

For me right now...Here is the best feels I've had in awhile.  Forward in thumb(see Bunneta method(I have a very flexible thumb in relation to my heartline).  A little less lateral in thumb.  Since palm is off ball a lot I tuck my baby finger to get even pressure from index and baby and ball fingers.  
A little reverse in fingers(I feel now that my fingers are no longer PULLING thumb out of ball due to all the hit I was able to apply at bottom and also fingers no longer looked cramped up on ball...much flatter!
Last and not least I am using a tapered oval thumb hole that I took the taper out of the sides with a bevel knife and have added some TA-1d Tape from vise to the back of the thumb hole.

These are a nice set of feels for me.  Maybe some ideas in here to help you in your search!

REgards,

Luckylefty
PS remeber as you may have figured out.  bunneta system gives about 1/8 less lateral on each test than Bill Taylor interpertation of the coke bottle test and other lateral tests.  Remember also (you may also have figured out) that if lateral is really an interpertation of lateral to the rest of your hand!  If one rolls left all pitches in relation to the ball(maybe freestyle drilling) then one can end up using lateral out pitches while have a lateral under palm type  of hand!).
PPS a difference in the Taylor system who recommends 1/8 left middle finger pitche and 5/8 right ring finger pitch is that Bunetta recommends nothing.  To me this means that probably laterals are assigned by placing bridge under 0, 0 and then moving table left and right to drill holes!  Many guys still do this...meaning if you don't use finger inserts you will often end up 1/8(1/2 of bridge plus 1/2 of your finger drill size).  For example you have a 3/4 middle finger size drill you end up on your middle finger 1/8 left plus 3/8 left.  Or 1/2 left.  For your ring you end up 1/8 right plus let's say (5/8 grip size) 7/16 right!  If you use inserts of 31/32 size you end up 1/8 left plus 31/64 right or near 5/8 left... it is still done that way in a lot of proshops for speed!
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Proud owner of a 140 first game average this year!  Don't bowl me the second two games though!  (two warm up balls in league..thanks proprietors)

Edited on 12/26/2005 10:26 AM

Edited on 12/26/2005 10:30 AM