[6bmike]

If you thrust your forearm at the ball properly, while keeping your hands forward of the ball at impact, I believe the "magic of the right forearm" locates precisely the right elbow position automatically.

Not every stroke is a right forearm thrust, yet all strokes use The Magic of the Right Forearm since the right arm controls the 3 dimensions of impact.
But you have choices with elbow positions:

PUNCH, 10-3-A. That is Down and at the side of the body
PITCH, 10-3-B. That is Down and in front of the body.
Both are Swing procedures, Pitch and Snap go hand and hand. No major difference between the two except that in Pitch the elbow will lead the hands deeper into the swing for maximum trigger delay.
and
PUSH, 10-3-C. This is Up and Out. A true Pushing action with the hands between the elbow and ball. Hitting, Crossline Approach, Angle Hinge written all over this baby.

Homer said the elbow has to be somewhere. IMHO, Swingers are using PUNCH most of the time.