My Natural Grip Vs. Lamy Safari Grip

[Sasha Royale]

The fountain grip should be a light, relaxed grip. I use my Safari pens with out the LAMY grip.

I just hold the pen the way I want to hold it. It doesn't matter if my fingers are out of place. Don't

someone else tell you how to hold your pen comfortably.

[esteboune]

 

[Sandy1]

Bravo!

[Bo Bo Olson]

Glad for you.

A good light comfortable grip, makes writing less a chore.

 

I was glad for the help I got (curing 50 years of painful Death Grip ), and am happy to try to help others as much as I can.

 

I find with 'fore finger up', no pen is too thin, none too thick, none too long....my thumb is a bit further back when I post....in that I post, none too short.

 

I do let the weight&length of the pen settle where it wants; just after the big knuckle at 45 degrees, 40 at the start of the web of my thumb or 35 degrees in the pit of the web of my thumb. I don't try to keep a pen at any angle. That would cause tension. Some pens are heavier by weight or length, than others.

Edited November 5, 2014 by Bo Bo Olson

[Ecriveur]

I've never found the Safari grip to be a problem, but then I write left handed, so that's not really comparable. Nearly all fountain pens have the more traditional, pure cylindrical grip. The Safari and its aluminum twin, the Al-Star are unique in that regard and that grip is suitable for some people not others. If you don't like the Safari grip, there's the slightly more expensive Lamy Studio which has a more traditional shape but the same nib as the Safari/Al-Star. Another option in the same price range that's also a very good writer, is the Faber Castell Loom.

[smiorgan]

Changing to a Lamy oblique nib may help

[readonly]

However, if you keep your index finger on the flat, top ridge, you'll find your thumb will align itself accordingly. That's how I've been using it, and I don't find myself changing my style when switching between the Safari and let's say, the TWSBI.

This is how I hold my Safari as well. Just because you don't use the "proper" indentations for your fingers doesn't mean you cannot comfortably write with a Safari. As others have said, all you need is a light grip and arm-movement writing.

 

In fact, placing the index finger on the top ridge actually allows me to feel the exact rotation of the pen (without looking at it) and even increases my comfort level. My penmanship is sometimes better with a Safari because of this even though most people would argue that I'm not gripping the section properly.

[penslabyrinth]

I feel the same way! I hold my pen with my index finger over the center and I can't get used to the Safari grip.

[RINGO]

I would recommend to read also the article of Professor Earl Owen for this subject (how to hold the pen)

http://www.ringpen.com/ABCD

 

 

 

 

[mirosc]

I would recommend to read also the article of Professor Earl Owen for this subject (how to hold the pen)

 

He's right that we must not use pressure at all and use a very light grip.

 

Still my problem with his preferred grip is that it allows only for little control of the pen. With this grip and only moving the fingers (no arm/wrist movement) I can only draw a circle of about 1.5cm diameter. The classic tripod grip (which he shows as "bad writing practice" in a somewhat exaggerated manner) gives me the chance to draw a circle with more than 3.5cm, because my fingers can move freely in all directions.

 

Ah well, maybe I only prefer this much finger movement because I'm playing too much organ/piano...

[RINGO]

Ah well, maybe I only prefer this much finger movement because I'm playing too much organ/piano...

Professor Earl Owen (Australia) was a health consultant for Royal orchestra in London and consulted many pianists. He knew the problems in hands very well (he is the author of first hands' transplantations. Here his the only video on youtube:

).

(He died in 2014. We were friends for many years...) Look at his book "UNDER the MICROSCOPE".

Working in health field for 20 years and making many writing instruments I can give advice: use different writing tools (fat & thin, light and heavy, differently designed), switching from one to another time to time. So enforcing different muscles to work. And time breaks and gymnastic for hands of cause!

[runnjump]

I had an awful "death grip" from using pencils and ballpoints my whole life. I was actually helped by the Safari's suggested finger positions.

[acolythe]

Simple Solution

Buy an oblique broad or OM nib for 12 dollars. Solves problem and flows beautifully

[mirosc]

Professor Earl Owen (Australia) was a ...

Very interesting information! Thank you!

 

With comments I didn't want to diminish his work, I just wanted to explain one reason why I prefer a different grip (and haven't had any problems with it in the past decades - still I strongly support your suggestions)

Edited November 22, 2014 by mirosc

[RINGO]

Very interesting information! Thank you!

 

With comments I didn't want to diminish his work, I just wanted to explain one reason why I prefer a different grip (and haven't had any problems with it in the past decades - still I strongly support your suggestions)

Dear Mirosc, for my opinion, gripping is also so individual as well as preference for pens.

I personally prefer thin pens (example - Parker Jotter (best ever balanced ball point pen)). It gives more precise writing, smaller letters. Thus we made for RING PEN - thin gripping area.

But PILOT also made researches that optimal is ~11 mm.

 

It is very good to be able to choose in this world!

[Arkanabar]

I also dislike the Lamy style grip. Part of the problem was that I started with a charcoal Safari, which has a nasty rhino-hide finish reminiscent of 1980s era computer equipment that I really disliked. The second part was that the facets reduce the diameter of the section, and I do not like slender pens. I'd considered an Omas 360 from time to time.

 

And then I picked up this rather hefty brass-barreled ballpoint with a rounded triangular body and section, rather like the 360's. And I had to conclude that the roughly 60 degree angles involved do not really fit my grip either.

[RINGO]

Seeing a lot of good words for Safari - I ordered one and just have got. Nice pen, I love it. And very LIGHT.

Good to use it without cap.

Good for daily using. It is my first FPen also with EF nib. It is good for notes in time-planner with thin paper.

Do not find problems with grip.

Will come back with photos soon.

[ernestcow]

I think everyone has their individualistic way of gripping. Just avoiding ballpoint pressure habits would be good, I guess.