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Wade, I use a starter - have to - because I load a tight combination. I make the knob out of antler usually, sometimes the base which is heavy, dense and homogenous and sometimes a tine, if it's for a small bore. The rod is hickory ramrod material and the rod tips are either turned on the lathe or cartridge brass with the rim cut off. I cup the end of the brass with a ball end mill in the lathe to approximate the shape of the ball. I have used wood for the knob many times - sometimes the end of a tool handle or the grip of a baseball bat, for example. Osage Orange will make a great knob as it is both very dense and heavy.
I usually set a peg into the starter, again with a cup in the business end, to start the ball below the surface of the muzzle. And I always drill a hole which fits loosely over the end of the ramrod so I can ensure that the ball is firmly seated against the charge. It really saves wear and tear on the palm of the hand over the course of a long day shooting.
The rod varies in length from ~ 5" to over 9" depending on which gun I'm making it for. I make a long one, for example to load a pistol, so that I don't need to use the ramrod. The rod also varies in diameter less than 5/16" for a .40 cal. rifle and ~ 1/2" for a 20 bore smoothie or Hawken. The key there is to have the starter tip small enough that it does not jam against the patch and bore when you start the ball.
As you can see in the photos, sometimes the knob is short and fat and others are long and skinnier...whatever I have in the shop. I never make them with a "T" knob to use like a hammer. I want the ball seated on the powder with as little upset or damage as possible. If you tap away on the patched ball to get it flush with the muzzle, it will most certainly end up flat on top. It may not matter, but it doesn't make good sense to me. So I use the peg and a sharp wrap with the heel of my hand to start the ball. Then the rod send it down it's full length with another sharp wrap. Now the ramrod has a guide in that six or so inches of barrel to keep it straight and make it easy to seat the ball.
Starters are a great loading tool.