Holding A Ballpoint Pen

[legume]

Being a college student myself, I've don't see very many people with grips that differ too wildly from the classic tripod. You don't have to be particularly intelligent to figure out how to hold a writing utensil. I see quite a few people who grasp their pens too tightly as seen in the "incorrect position" pictured in post #22 in the Classic Tripod Grip thread, commonly known as the death grip, but I think the reports of bad grip among the general populace have been greatly exaggerated on FPN. Most people just need to loosen up a bit, but otherwise they're fine. We're not collective holders of some great secret, it's well known by practically anybody who can write what the proper grip is and that we should be careful not to tighten our grips too much, especially during long writing sessions. The ballpoint has changed little or nothing in regards to how people hold their pens.

[Mike 59]

Hi,

I do see many writers with the thumb wrapped around the front of the pen, and the first finger folded up above the thumb. It looks as if it hurts, and it can't be good to write like that for too long.

But a ballpoint does need to be help more upright, than a fountain pen, otherwise the ball bearing in the point is not in proper contact with the paper. It's just a feature of the ballpoint design, we just adapt to what works for us.

Edited July 22, 2013 by Mike 59

[elysee]

 

But a ballpoint does need to be help more upright, than a fountain pen, otherwise the ball bearing in the point is not in proper contact with the paper. It's just a feature of the ballpoint design, we just adapt to what works for us.

 

Again, it is important not to generalize since not everyone changes her/his writing angle when using different types of writing instruments -- ballpoint pens, pencils, rollerballs, and fountain pens.

[thang1thang2]

 

Again, it is important not to generalize since not everyone changes her/his writing angle when using different types of writing instruments -- ballpoint pens, pencils, rollerballs, and fountain pens.

I've never been able to write with a ball point pen at the correct angle that I use with my fountain pens. I have to tighten my grip a little bit to bring it up to the right angle. They also require more pressure. Rollerballs are better, but not as good as pencils. Fountain pens are the only pen that can compete with a pencil in terms of pressure and angle needed to write properly.

[Runnin_Ute]

I have seen some bizarre grips over the years (writing utensil between index and middle finger for example) but vertical/flagpole? Only if they were either fooling around and grabbed it with their fist to achieve a desired effect or were perhaps a small child with chalk or a crayon. I write at a slightly higher angle with a bp than either RB or FP, but it would probably depend on the pen as well

[watch_art]

Here are some. Google has many more...

 

http://i54.tinypic.com/2885fz9.jpghttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sn9GX6_8FXE/TmOw-wwp61I/AAAAAAAAADg/Uth5e-fUwB0/s320/funky+grasp.JPGhttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2680/4016015654_3cff514a95.jpghttp://farm5.staticflickr.com/4001/4688356645_3b0160a1a7_z.jpghttp://theanonymousot.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/when-to-fix-a-pencil-grasp.jpg?w=448&h=518

[elysee]

Here are some. Google has many more...

 

http://i54.tinypic.com/2885fz9.jpghttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sn9GX6_8FXE/TmOw-wwp61I/AAAAAAAAADg/Uth5e-fUwB0/s320/funky+grasp.JPGhttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2680/4016015654_3cff514a95.jpghttp://farm5.staticflickr.com/4001/4688356645_3b0160a1a7_z.jpghttp://theanonymousot.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/when-to-fix-a-pencil-grasp.jpg?w=448&h=518

 

Owwwwww! Those are painful to view! For me, writing is a pleasure but, if I held a pen in a similar manner to those in these pictures, ... . Yuck!

Edited July 28, 2013 by elysee

[GClef]

Here's Mrs. GClef's ballpoint grip...yup, flagpole it is.

 

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/gclef1114/Tutuguans/0729131928a_zpse2e58b6e.jpg

Edited July 30, 2013 by GClef

[r100ridr]

BTW, that's the second time you've used "Open your eyes!" In my experience, that's a dismissive and hostile phrase associated with crackpots. Make of that what you will.

 

Do you have any facts to support this statement? Many of my friends and family are crackpots and I don't find them to be dismissive or hostile.

[Mike 59]

Hi All, I don't remember being taught how to hold a pen or how to write, it was some time ago now, but I do remember how some of my classmates at school would do almost anything to be seen as 'different' and writing would be one of those too. We had to use blue Bic Crystal biro's in the '70's, and the teachers could use red ink to mark and write comments. I can remember a few friends using green ink, and I suppose this might be where the unusual grips start as well.

It might be that their handwriting was poor, or they believed it was, and so they tried different grips over time, until one worked for them, and they stayed with it.

I can also remember some people writing everything with a ruler as a guide, so that decenders were impossible, but nothing was said about that.

There must be more choices of pen styles, today than ever, from very thin to very chunky, 'Ergo', 'Eco', special angled types, something for everyone.

[Scribe_Not]

I got a cramp AND carpal tunnel just by looking at those images!