It is shown that it is possible to measure the total angular momentum of proton hole states by means of the (t, $alpha$) reaction using a recently developed polarized triton source. The reactions $sup 90$Zr(t, $alpha$)$sup 89$Y and $sup 208$Pb(t, $alpha$)$sup 207$Tl have been studied at 17-MeV bombarding energies and show large differences in the analyzing powers between spin-orbit partners p$sub 1$/$sub 2$ and p$sub 3$/$sub 2$ in the former case and d$sub 3$/ $sub 2$ and d$sub 5$/$sub 2$ in the latter case. It is concluded that measurement of asymmetries in (t, $alpha$) reactions is a powerful technique to assign both l and j transfer for proton-pickup reactions. (AIP)