4 1/2 year ago when I switch to bowling one-hand, no thumb, I started with an 11 lb Scout. The ball didn't flare.
The issue is not the ball weight - a very poorly understood topic, and I suggested the very detailed discussion about ball weight in the book, Bowling Beyond Basics.
When thrown in the dry, the ball would hook. Ball speed is important. If the bowler is throwing it slow enough (as I did, when I started with my new release).
The big problem, which I didn't expect until I had the ball was carry down. Since I wasn't using my thumb, I was putting 350 or so revs, on a slow moving ball that didn't flare. After a couple of games the carry down was severe, so nothing was going to hook.
Big misconception is that carry down is caused by urethane. It's caused by balls that don't flare - which is usually urethane. But it's not the cover stock really. Not flare means just one oil ring, and will be in full contact with the backend.
I imagine, less revs, less carry down problem. So depends on rev rate, and are other people on the lanes? But best thing to do with weight, is to use what the bowler is most comfortable. Almost all balls have good options starting at 12 lbs. So that's really the minimum weight someone has to get to.
