Hmmmmmm. When I tried one of the Robby's wrist braces my span was different with it on then when it was off. I would say have your span checked with it off. Going with forward pitch is not the best way it depends on the bowlers hand. When I added some forward pitch I couldn't get my hand out of the ball You might be holding on to the ball too tight and consequently delaying your release. Heres a link to look up the The Bowlers Release http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/roncarchive.htm   In the article it says a early release is not a bad thing but a good thing. Also if you know your span here is an article to let you know where it should pretty much be.                   Span length of 4 inches = 1/8 forward
length of 4 1/4 = 0 forward reverse
length of 4 1/2 = 1/8 reverse
length of 4 3/4 = 1/4 reverse
length of 5 = 3/8 reverse
length of 5 1/4 = 1/2 reverse

If dropping the ball go 1/8 forward from these tables if hanging go 1/8 reverse.                                                                        Grab a coke bottle or can, where does your thumb tip point in relation to your fingers.

Index finger = 1/8 lateral out or left for righties
Between Index and middle finger = 0 lateral pitch
Middle finger = 1/8 lateral right or under palm for righties
between Middle and ring finger = 1/4 lateral right or under palm for righties.
Ring finger = 3/8 lateral right for righties.

The lateral pitch setting determines the amount of turn one can generate while staying behind the ball.

All pitches are neither good or bad. They are just what fits your hand in relation to span and your natural anatomical lateral pitch.

Adjustments are then made based on whether one is dropping, not getting enough turn etc.
Thanks to Luckylefty for this 1. I got my measurements and they were right with these. The ball feels great to me. I had to go to another pro-shop 50 miles away to achieve this. Worth every little bit.

Despite the charts and what many people believe,many bowlers are going to forward and even extreme forward pitchs in their thumbs with great success.I,myself,have gone from traditional pitches to 5/8 forward and 3/8 left lateral.I now have the best release I've ever had,the best feel,and the highest average and scores I've ever had!I am switching many bowlers to forward in their thumbs and almost all are very pleased! Most state,like myself,that I will NEVER use reverse in a thumb again!!!The key to going to forward is to use it with the right span.Since most bowlers are over spanned anyway,this will most likely be shorter than what you have.Another important point is to have the proper bevel.If the span is right,the bevel will not have to be much more than before the pitch change.Always remember,just because we have done something a certain way for many years does not make it the best or only way.This change definitely deserves your consideration and may well be the absolute best thing you could do for your game!
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THE POOH

I thank those for mentioning my name favorably above.

I say this:

Spans and pitches cannot be talked about in a vacumm.
They interrelate.  Forward or reverse is not good or bad!
It depends on your span and how you throw the ball.

Lateral pitch is neither good nor bad, it depends on how you coke bottle test and how you throw the ball.

What is bad is when it becomes popular to say forward and lateral pitch out is "good" and reverse and lateral under pitch is "bad"!  Or the converse!

In the discussion where Mr. Pooh stated that forward and out was working beautiful for him, that is a beautiful thing and may make perfect sense for his hand!

In other words to know whether this was good or bad we would be interested in learning his span and how he tests on the coke bottle test.

If for example his span was 5 inches and he tested out at coke bottle test 1/4 under palm then one would expect him to bowl with 3/8 reverse or thereabouts and 1/4 under palm.

If he instead at this span used 1/2 forward and 1/4 out and was revving turning and releasing the ball better than ever and scoring higher too then we would call him "good" but also acknowledge him as an anomoly and an aberation but not "bad".  

Currently I believe hear are some of bowlings Politically correct comments.

I'm trying to move my thumb pitch to forward and lateral out!
I'm trying to hit my mark more(at the arrows).
I'm using a wrist brace but just till my ______ heals.
I've got your girlfriend over here in the corner to talk about you!

Oh wait scratch that last one that has nothing to do with bowling.

REgards,

Luckylefty

Nick, I agree that it boils down to finding something that feels great. That is why I plugged and redrilled my test ball 12-14 times, (Trauma ER as it has never been any good for anything else) which enabled me to reach that feeling. Still, it is only common sense to start with your thumb drilled somewhere in the area of the recommended pitches per your span and coke can test and adjust from there. Example, the coke can test shows that my lateral pitch should be around 1/8 right lateral,  (I'm right handed) but I've found zero lateral to work best. Ditto for a slight adjustment per the span charts for forward & reverse.

Thedjs, don't jump from 1/4 reverse to 1/8 forward. That is too big of a jump at one time and you will regret it. I did all of my moving 1/16 at a time. I was 1/4 reverse and went to zero forward/reverse a 1/16 at a time. I could get out of ball at zero without hanging up most of the time, but the action of my ball died. Also you will have to reduce your span approx. 1/16 for every 1/8 that you reduce the reverse pitch. Note, I said approx. so this isn't set in comcrete. If according to the charts you are supposed to be 1/4 reverse, then 1/8 forwards isn't going to work for you. 1/8 reverse, very possible, but 1/8 forward, no. If it were me and the thumb was comfortable and I was getting out of the ball good, I would concentrate on perfecting my span and finger pitches.
That's what I did and it worked for me. Can't guarantee it would do same for you, but I suggest you try.