I like the system Norm Duke teaches for starting position. My elbow is tucked against my body at my waist no matter what, but I raise or lower the ball by just hinging my arm up and down from there depending on what ball speed I need. For just my neutral, average ball speed, I just hold the ball straight out with my forearm parallel to the floor. If I need to slow my speed down, I leave my elbow tucked against my waist and just unbend my elbow a little to lower the ball in my stance. Likewise, if I need more speed, I bend my elbow more to raise the ball up in my stance. No matter what, the key for me is to keep my elbow in tight to my body, because if I don't, my swing plane tends to get screwed up and I can't hit my target.