Do any of you agree that the pen improves the penmanship? Or is it just the attachment the writer has to the pen?

When I write in ballpoint, my penmanship is iffy at best. When I use my favorite fountain pen, or a really, really nice fluid ink pen by Pilot, my penmanship is very, very good.

Anyone else feel the same way?

I know exactly what you're talking about, and I agree wholeheartedly. I like the look of my writing better, because you can tell that the words were written w/ a FP.

I go from terrible writing with a ballpoint (ick) to legibly sloppy with my fountain pen. I attribute the change to less pressure more relaxed writing personally.

This is an interesting question...
I have to agree that I write neater with a FP than a BP....
I also have to agree that it is most likely the lack of pressure that is needed to write comfortably with a FP.
A while ago Richard Binder did an article in Stylus (IIANM) that basically dealt with 'why a fountain pen'... one of the basic statements he made had to do with the pressure required to use a BP as opposed to a FP... he also stated that doctors have found that people who use a FP are less likely to have problems similar to Carpal Tunnel... and that switching some of these people to a FP has helped to alleviate the problem....

It does for me. I can hold it at a lower angle with less pressure and it is therefore easier to control for me.

I consider my handwriting w/ a fine italic fountain pen my normal hand --- it degrades slightly w/ a felt tip marker, and significantly more w/ a roller ball or gel pen, and is simply wretched w/ ball point.

William

I liked your usage of the term "simpy wretched". Sorry, something about it made me giggle just a tiny bit.