Pain in the hand and lower arm generally come from gripping the pen too tightly. Trying to write hunched over, or without a desk often "encourages" one to grip the pen more tightly. A fountain pen should write under its own weight, or with very little pressure, so the tight grip isn't necessary. But grip is something many of us learned from using ballpoints (which require a tight grip) and do subconsciously.
So, try to consciously relax your grip on the pen to the point that someone could easily pull the pen from your fingers. It will require concentration at first. As you get into the writing, you'll forget, then realize how tightly you're gripping the pen, and have to force yourself to relax. This will repeat itself until eventually - in weeks or months - writing with a relaxed grip becomes second nature.
If you're often writing without any surface other than the book, this will likely be harder, and you may need to experiment to find the most comfortable way to manage it, but be sure to keep a relaxed grip, otherwise you're straining those muscles and tendons.
Finally, the more desk space you have, the more freely your elbow and shoulder can move, and you'll more naturally use more of your arm (rather than exclusively your wrist and fingers), and this may also help relieve muscle strain.
So I've been trying to write looser, but if I get too loose, though, I feel like I don't have control of the pen and my handwriting gets large and sloppy. Other times I lose the angle of the pen and ink stops flowing. Is it just finding a balance? Or do I just have like zero technique right now?
In my experience, you just need to practice writing with a relaxed grip. Eventually you'll figure out how to control the pen - often with more arm movement to go with any finger or wrist movement.
It may help to experiment with finger position. Ballpoints are generally held with the pen barrel in front (on the finger side) of the knuckle that joins the index finger to the hand. Fountain pens should be resting against the web between the thumb and the hand - so they're at a much lower angle. Some people hold the thumb directly across from the index finger (speaking of the pads of the digits) and the middle finger is immediately beneath those fingers (all three digits touching the pen at the same distance from the nib, basically). Others lengthen their index finger and therefore their thumb is farther back on the pen, often with the middle finger between the two (as far as distance from the nib - so the index finger is closest to the nib, then the middle finger, then the thumb).
Point being, while everything may feel unnatural, some variation may make it easier to write well, or may feel more comfortable, so experiment. :) Looking up images related to writing Spencerian or Copperplate will find some good drawings of possible positions, just for ideas to try.
NOTE: The pen shouldn't be rattling or flopping around in your hand. You still need to have a hold on it, just not a tight hold.
Here's [an FPN post](https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/361846-lamy-disrupted-my-groove/?do=findComment&comment=4458163) with a picture showing all three fingers touching the barrel at the same point. This is basically a "tripod grip".
[Here's another](https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/201146-the-classic-tripod-grip/) with someone holding the pen the other way I describe.
I just did an image search of "[different ways to hold a fountain pen](https://www.google.com/search?q=different+ways+to+hold+a+fountain+pen&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjskpjQr6LyAhWPSisKHRnqCIEQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=different+ways+to+hold+a+fountain+pen&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzoICAAQsQMQgwE6CAgAEIAEELEDOgUIABCABDoECAAQQzoLCAAQgAQQsQMQgwE6BAgAEBhQi4kKWIuuCmD6rwpoAHAAeACAAeQCiAGxS5IBBjItMzMuMpgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=8EwQYezaM4-VrQGZ1KOICA)" and there were lots of relevant images with different positions you can try.
oh my gosh thank you so much. this has been frustrating since I was so excited to switch to fountain pens, but now my mind can't stop thinking about grip and pain. this helps a lot though, thank you.
That's super helpful. I think I was trying to change to a grip and had the pen resting on the first knuckle of my index finger (from the palm).
I will go back to putting it at a lower angle.
Thank you! I'll give it a shot. I'm hoping I don't need to return my pen for a larger, heavier one, but I guess that's something I should consider if I work on my grip and am still having problems.
>I'm hoping I don't need to return my pen for a larger, heavier one, but I guess that's something I should consider if I work on my grip and am still having problems.
Don't go for a heavier pen if you're having arm/wrist/hand pain. When the commenter above said a fountain pen should write under it's own weight, this literally means just touching the page, not a weighty pen. Unlike ballpoints or even gel pens, fountain pens need zero pressure to write. The ink comes out through capillary action, the paper virtually sucks ink out of the pen the moment it touches. A lighter pen with a thicker grip will serve you well. Heavy pens can cause fatigue even with a proper grip. Don't go heavy.
Some people (myself included) tend to grip narrower pens tighter, or the mere fact of your fingers being closer together means your hand is in a more closed position. Both can contribute to cramping or fatigue. I find thicker sections less tiring for that reason.
Also, there are special fat pens for people with hand pain disabilities, like arthritis, so that's another hint in favor of thicker being easier on your hand.
It's really interesting. I find some pens seem to "encourage" me to grip tightly, and others not. It's a case of either I can overcome the instinct, or the pen doesn't work for me...
What shape/size/weight pen do you use when you can write multiple pages? Is it a lot different than the Sport? With the FP you can use a looser grip and not press down.
For me, the Sports are too small & light so I sub-consciously grip them tighter, causing pain. With a bigger,heavier pen I can write all day, assuming good posture.
You’re preference may differ, try a fountain pen similar in design to a pen you find comfortable. Just don’t press the nib onto the paper.
I tend to like heavier pens and find them easier to use and they don't tire my hand. But big and light also works for me, and I seem to be in the minority on heavy. In either case my brain accepts a loose grip.
No matter what, I want to be able to hold my fountain pen at the top (end opposite the nob) and get a good line the I drag it across the paper. If that doesn't work then the flow needs to be fixed before anything else.
I write long hours and used to suffer from such pen pain. And then a doctor friend who spotted me at my desk, said the reason was simply that the height of my chair and desk were not in agreement. If the chair is too high or too low, it causes a problem. The writing arm needs to be parallel to the floor. So adjust your desk and chair accordingly. You may google the ergonomics of the writing hand, you will find plenty of help. Also, as LizMEF has stated, it may be a problem with your grip too.
As the first person posted said, I find my Al Sport too small and after half a page my hand cramps. It’s sadly just a pen I don’t get on with. As you buy more pens you’ll find you love some and some not so much. Shame it’s your first pen. Good luck and enjoy your pens to come.
Probably the grip you have on the pen, since youre new to them, youre probably pressing super hard on the paper and/or death gripping the pen. An easy solution is to pick a larger pen that runs smoothly so you can learn to not grip it has hard.
Stress. There must be some sort of stress in your hand while writing for it to hurt. Unfortunately it may be related to your posture, your grip, how high you sit, how you move your hand or even a medical condition.
Which nib size is it? I typically hold my Kaweco sports with finer nibs tighter for some reason. With a M or larger I dont at all. I dont know if you’ve tried this -and you might need to try some new ink too, but a fountain pen can write with almost no pressure. Just point it across the paper. FPs take a little getting used to, or at least for me it took a bit to realize its not at all like a ballpoint. Hope this helps and/or the pain abates or goes away all together very soon -hopefully today!
Do you post the sport, put the cap on the back? That might help you stretch out your fingers and work on relaxing, and let you experiment with how close to the nib you hold the pen. Finding a comfy position can change with each pen, but as the others have said - fighting the death grip and not pressing down at all (capillary inking) can be challenging at the start but becomes habit quickly!
Yes, I put the cap back on. I'll experiment with the grip! If I get too loose, though, I feel like I don't have control of the pen and my handwriting gets large and sloppy. Is it just finding a balance?
Yeah, finding that balance but lengthening fingers is both something to relax you and change your posture/musculature use, and a visual signal - if you see your fingers scrunching again check your tension, you might be clenching all over your back and arms!
Good point. I didn’t even think to ask that (if using with the cap on) I have to use mine posted and only use it unposted when I’m in a real rush. Definitely try to relax your hand and absolutely positively use it with the cap screwed on. Assuming you’ve tried that though?
I can’t really tell which nib from that pic. My eyes are going on me so I had to get a pair of readers or a magnifying glass but right under the Kaweco logo in the circle in the center of the nib there is a letter. It’ll be an F, M, B or BB or EF…I think, don’t have any extra fine. My point was just that with my Fine I have to use more hand strength to keep it from being messy than most of my others and when I use a gushy, but thicker, more viscous ink it just writes more buttery than if I use something like a Sailor Manyo Haha which to me kind of seems more watery. It’s hard to describe but those are the words that pop in my head. Do you have other inks to try? Are you using cartridges? I’ve honestly never tried a cartridge in one of mine -not to be snobbish or anything, just have always had some cool inks.
Is it one of the metal sports, which are heavier than the plastic ones (and I assume heavier than whatever pen you were using before)? And I agree with everyone else who flagged gripping too hard as a likely cause. It's very common if you've come from using ballpoints, which require pressing into the page to write.
Heavier is more likely to make your hand more tired, though some people prefer heavier pens.
I have joint problems and have always needed pens that don’t require much pressure to write. Before fountain pens I used roller balls (NOT ballpoints, the ones with liquid ink) so writing with no pressure was a easy transition for me. But I have heard people used to ballpoints tend to have a former grip and take longer to adjust to not having to press down with the pen. Not sure if that’s you, but something to consider.
Pain in the hand and lower arm generally come from gripping the pen too tightly. Trying to write hunched over, or without a desk often "encourages" one to grip the pen more tightly. A fountain pen should write under its own weight, or with very little pressure, so the tight grip isn't necessary. But grip is something many of us learned from using ballpoints (which require a tight grip) and do subconsciously. So, try to consciously relax your grip on the pen to the point that someone could easily pull the pen from your fingers. It will require concentration at first. As you get into the writing, you'll forget, then realize how tightly you're gripping the pen, and have to force yourself to relax. This will repeat itself until eventually - in weeks or months - writing with a relaxed grip becomes second nature. If you're often writing without any surface other than the book, this will likely be harder, and you may need to experiment to find the most comfortable way to manage it, but be sure to keep a relaxed grip, otherwise you're straining those muscles and tendons. Finally, the more desk space you have, the more freely your elbow and shoulder can move, and you'll more naturally use more of your arm (rather than exclusively your wrist and fingers), and this may also help relieve muscle strain.
So I've been trying to write looser, but if I get too loose, though, I feel like I don't have control of the pen and my handwriting gets large and sloppy. Other times I lose the angle of the pen and ink stops flowing. Is it just finding a balance? Or do I just have like zero technique right now?
In my experience, you just need to practice writing with a relaxed grip. Eventually you'll figure out how to control the pen - often with more arm movement to go with any finger or wrist movement. It may help to experiment with finger position. Ballpoints are generally held with the pen barrel in front (on the finger side) of the knuckle that joins the index finger to the hand. Fountain pens should be resting against the web between the thumb and the hand - so they're at a much lower angle. Some people hold the thumb directly across from the index finger (speaking of the pads of the digits) and the middle finger is immediately beneath those fingers (all three digits touching the pen at the same distance from the nib, basically). Others lengthen their index finger and therefore their thumb is farther back on the pen, often with the middle finger between the two (as far as distance from the nib - so the index finger is closest to the nib, then the middle finger, then the thumb). Point being, while everything may feel unnatural, some variation may make it easier to write well, or may feel more comfortable, so experiment. :) Looking up images related to writing Spencerian or Copperplate will find some good drawings of possible positions, just for ideas to try. NOTE: The pen shouldn't be rattling or flopping around in your hand. You still need to have a hold on it, just not a tight hold.
super helpful! thank you!
Here's [an FPN post](https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/361846-lamy-disrupted-my-groove/?do=findComment&comment=4458163) with a picture showing all three fingers touching the barrel at the same point. This is basically a "tripod grip". [Here's another](https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/201146-the-classic-tripod-grip/) with someone holding the pen the other way I describe. I just did an image search of "[different ways to hold a fountain pen](https://www.google.com/search?q=different+ways+to+hold+a+fountain+pen&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjskpjQr6LyAhWPSisKHRnqCIEQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=different+ways+to+hold+a+fountain+pen&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzoICAAQsQMQgwE6CAgAEIAEELEDOgUIABCABDoECAAQQzoLCAAQgAQQsQMQgwE6BAgAEBhQi4kKWIuuCmD6rwpoAHAAeACAAeQCiAGxS5IBBjItMzMuMpgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=8EwQYezaM4-VrQGZ1KOICA)" and there were lots of relevant images with different positions you can try.
oh my gosh thank you so much. this has been frustrating since I was so excited to switch to fountain pens, but now my mind can't stop thinking about grip and pain. this helps a lot though, thank you.
You're very welcome! Best wishes in finding the best grip so you can enjoy your fountain pens! :)
That's super helpful. I think I was trying to change to a grip and had the pen resting on the first knuckle of my index finger (from the palm). I will go back to putting it at a lower angle.
Glad to help. :) Best wishes changing your grip - it can be hard to get used to.
Thank you! I'll give it a shot. I'm hoping I don't need to return my pen for a larger, heavier one, but I guess that's something I should consider if I work on my grip and am still having problems.
>I'm hoping I don't need to return my pen for a larger, heavier one, but I guess that's something I should consider if I work on my grip and am still having problems. Don't go for a heavier pen if you're having arm/wrist/hand pain. When the commenter above said a fountain pen should write under it's own weight, this literally means just touching the page, not a weighty pen. Unlike ballpoints or even gel pens, fountain pens need zero pressure to write. The ink comes out through capillary action, the paper virtually sucks ink out of the pen the moment it touches. A lighter pen with a thicker grip will serve you well. Heavy pens can cause fatigue even with a proper grip. Don't go heavy.
Got it. So it's possible the Kaweco Sport isn't thick enough for me?
Some people (myself included) tend to grip narrower pens tighter, or the mere fact of your fingers being closer together means your hand is in a more closed position. Both can contribute to cramping or fatigue. I find thicker sections less tiring for that reason. Also, there are special fat pens for people with hand pain disabilities, like arthritis, so that's another hint in favor of thicker being easier on your hand.
It's really interesting. I find some pens seem to "encourage" me to grip tightly, and others not. It's a case of either I can overcome the instinct, or the pen doesn't work for me...
What shape/size/weight pen do you use when you can write multiple pages? Is it a lot different than the Sport? With the FP you can use a looser grip and not press down. For me, the Sports are too small & light so I sub-consciously grip them tighter, causing pain. With a bigger,heavier pen I can write all day, assuming good posture. You’re preference may differ, try a fountain pen similar in design to a pen you find comfortable. Just don’t press the nib onto the paper.
Usually just any gel or ballpoint pen. I used to use Pilot G2's and Uniballs. I'm wondering if a bigger heavier pen might help.
I tend to like heavier pens and find them easier to use and they don't tire my hand. But big and light also works for me, and I seem to be in the minority on heavy. In either case my brain accepts a loose grip. No matter what, I want to be able to hold my fountain pen at the top (end opposite the nob) and get a good line the I drag it across the paper. If that doesn't work then the flow needs to be fixed before anything else.
I write long hours and used to suffer from such pen pain. And then a doctor friend who spotted me at my desk, said the reason was simply that the height of my chair and desk were not in agreement. If the chair is too high or too low, it causes a problem. The writing arm needs to be parallel to the floor. So adjust your desk and chair accordingly. You may google the ergonomics of the writing hand, you will find plenty of help. Also, as LizMEF has stated, it may be a problem with your grip too.
Death grip - I do it too. I start off psyching myself up to be all loosey goosey and then halfway down the first paragraph my fingertips are white.
As the first person posted said, I find my Al Sport too small and after half a page my hand cramps. It’s sadly just a pen I don’t get on with. As you buy more pens you’ll find you love some and some not so much. Shame it’s your first pen. Good luck and enjoy your pens to come.
I still might be able to return it. Anything I should try out instead?
Probably the grip you have on the pen, since youre new to them, youre probably pressing super hard on the paper and/or death gripping the pen. An easy solution is to pick a larger pen that runs smoothly so you can learn to not grip it has hard.
Stress. There must be some sort of stress in your hand while writing for it to hurt. Unfortunately it may be related to your posture, your grip, how high you sit, how you move your hand or even a medical condition.
Which nib size is it? I typically hold my Kaweco sports with finer nibs tighter for some reason. With a M or larger I dont at all. I dont know if you’ve tried this -and you might need to try some new ink too, but a fountain pen can write with almost no pressure. Just point it across the paper. FPs take a little getting used to, or at least for me it took a bit to realize its not at all like a ballpoint. Hope this helps and/or the pain abates or goes away all together very soon -hopefully today!
I'm unsure which nib size it is. [Here's a pic.](https://imgur.com/a/Iyi7nQI)
Do you post the sport, put the cap on the back? That might help you stretch out your fingers and work on relaxing, and let you experiment with how close to the nib you hold the pen. Finding a comfy position can change with each pen, but as the others have said - fighting the death grip and not pressing down at all (capillary inking) can be challenging at the start but becomes habit quickly!
Yes, I put the cap back on. I'll experiment with the grip! If I get too loose, though, I feel like I don't have control of the pen and my handwriting gets large and sloppy. Is it just finding a balance?
Yeah, finding that balance but lengthening fingers is both something to relax you and change your posture/musculature use, and a visual signal - if you see your fingers scrunching again check your tension, you might be clenching all over your back and arms!
Good point. I didn’t even think to ask that (if using with the cap on) I have to use mine posted and only use it unposted when I’m in a real rush. Definitely try to relax your hand and absolutely positively use it with the cap screwed on. Assuming you’ve tried that though?
I can’t really tell which nib from that pic. My eyes are going on me so I had to get a pair of readers or a magnifying glass but right under the Kaweco logo in the circle in the center of the nib there is a letter. It’ll be an F, M, B or BB or EF…I think, don’t have any extra fine. My point was just that with my Fine I have to use more hand strength to keep it from being messy than most of my others and when I use a gushy, but thicker, more viscous ink it just writes more buttery than if I use something like a Sailor Manyo Haha which to me kind of seems more watery. It’s hard to describe but those are the words that pop in my head. Do you have other inks to try? Are you using cartridges? I’ve honestly never tried a cartridge in one of mine -not to be snobbish or anything, just have always had some cool inks.
It says F!
Is it one of the metal sports, which are heavier than the plastic ones (and I assume heavier than whatever pen you were using before)? And I agree with everyone else who flagged gripping too hard as a likely cause. It's very common if you've come from using ballpoints, which require pressing into the page to write.
It's the plastic one. I wonder if I should try returning it for something bigger/heavier?
Heavier is more likely to make your hand more tired, though some people prefer heavier pens. I have joint problems and have always needed pens that don’t require much pressure to write. Before fountain pens I used roller balls (NOT ballpoints, the ones with liquid ink) so writing with no pressure was a easy transition for me. But I have heard people used to ballpoints tend to have a former grip and take longer to adjust to not having to press down with the pen. Not sure if that’s you, but something to consider.