A few pointers from my experience:
1. Low speed turns you can actually push with your elbows, higher speed you sort of torque with your hips and a bit of lean....which is much the same as hands on bars.

2. 45 degree elevation seems too hard to hold on, flat seems less secure for a beginner....experiment with a little elevation.

3. Adjust them at first for widest elbow spread.

4. Keep in mind you don't reallyl put your elbows on the pads..more like your forearms.

5. At first, you may feel most "vulnerable" getting down and getting up. Soon enough you'll just sit up or down in one motion, no hands.

6. If it's too late to avoid a crack or piece of small road debris...just roll over it-- you're more stable than you think.

Go have fun...you'll find yourself staying down for longer and longer times the more you ride them.