Qualifications: former professional penman, focusing specifically on American Penmanship from ~1860-1920. Spencerian script, and the Palmer method both fall into this time period.

> If you start doodling these figures when you're bored on zoom, your penmanship will magically improve

I find this sentiment common, particularly amongst people who learned penmanship "recently". It is incorrect.

A brief interlude--When I was in middle school I resisted learning cursive. My teachers would tell me that drawing little circles and lines would make my penmanship better. I asked why, but they didn't know. Their teachers told them it was true, so now they're telling me it's true.

Push pulls and oval drills will only improve your penmanship if:

  1. You practice them "correctly"

  2. Your write in a style that is applicable to the drills you've practiced

There's no magic. They are intended to specifically train a smoothness and control in arm movement writing. Those writing with their fingers will derive little benefit. In no way am I trying to discount progress you have made personally. My contention is that any person devoting sufficient time and intentionality to their handwriting practice will see some improvement, regardless of the methodology used. The crux of the issue is how much progress can/will you make.

Happy to answer any clarifying questions regarding cursive or penmanship.

Below are some of my favorite references in business penmanship.

[0] https://archive.org/details/ChampionMethodOfPracticalBusines...

[1] https://archive.org/details/armmovementmetho00zane

[2] https://archive.org/details/MillsModernBusinessPenmanship