eye dom

[ivorytip]

ok guys im left eye dom very strongly but have allways shot right handed, bow and rifle. is this really a big deal? i allways am told to change it up but i shoot just fine right handed and feels so wierd left handed. anyone know what this means exactly?

 

[Fink]

If you shoot fine, I don't think I'd change a thing.

 

[Old Hunter]

Are you shooting with one eye closed? It doesn't matter if you do.

I'm right handed and right eye dominant. I used to shoot with both eyes open, and it became a problem when I started to lose the sight in my right eye. My left eye was taking over, and I was missing everything. I finally lost the complete sight in the right eye, and learned to shoot left handed. It's all good now. Well sort of. I have no depth perception now.

 

[Muleys 24/7]

I say if it's working for you, keep doing what your doing.

 

[tdub24]

Eye dominance is only affective if you shoot with both eyes open. I am left eye dominant but shoot right handed as well. I close one eye, so my accuracy is not affected. Some say shooting with both eyes open is easier, but if you are a good shot closing one then I would stick with that.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I have Ambliopia (Lazy Eye) which was discovered when I was about 6. It effects my right eye and I am right handed in everything I do except shooting. My Dad converted me over to a lefty when I was 6 or so and I have been shooting that way since then. I do have depth perception, I guess my eyes have adapted in all those years. The only problem is that when I was young no one made left handed rifles or shotguns, so I learned on standard RH bolts.

I am a Pistol Insrtuctor and I encounter lots of shooters with eye dominance problems. Not unusual.

 

[ivorytip]

good info thanks. i have tried the both eye open thing and it so is not gonna work for me. so aslong as my dom eye is the open eye it makes no diff? i mean thats how ive been doing it for years so it doesnt affect me clearly. but say i go to a left handed bow, since id be using the dom eye on that and not my right would that throw my sights off? im just curious, guess ill try and see. thanks

 

[Old Hunter]

It doesn't matter what eye is dominant if you only have one of them open.

When I said I shot with both eyes open. That was trap shooting with a shotgun. I always close one eye for handguns and rifles. Well, now I don't have to close it. I have a patch over the bum eye.

 

[RUTTIN]

I am left handed and right eye dominant. I shoot my bow right handed because I like to keep both eyes open when I shoot. One way to look at it is if you bowhunt, left handed bows you can pick up for a little cheaper.

 

[ivorytip]

great info, and hey, cheaper u say? im there

 

[tdub24]

....but say i go to a left handed bow, since id be using the dom eye on that and not my right would that throw my sights off?......

As long as your bow is still level and not torqued left handed, I don't see why your sites would be affected.

 

[claybuster]

I too have cross firing issues and I've tried all the solutions, such as the patch, without much success. First it felt uncomfortable and also my non dominant eye got tired after a while. For firearms there is a new solution out there, called XD Solution http://xdsolution.com. It helped me and I hope it will help someone else, too.

 

[Chippy Hacky]

I shoot a lot of pistol, 40k rounds a year (at least). I am R handed and L eye dominate, so much in fact, that I bat/swing a Golf club left handed but do everything else right handed. Everyone's dominance is different but my solution is to shoot both eyes open using my right eye. It took awhile but now it is perfect. I will index the pistol and it is right there on my right eye every time. This was my solution and is the best for me, everyone is different, there is no one answer. It really isn't a hindrance unless you make it one.

 

[TooFarEast]

I am left eye dominant and right handed. I do everything right handed except shoot bows and guns. I probabally cant even write my name left handed but I have shot plenty animals left handed. I made the switch when I was 17 years old and never looked back (I am 30 now). I actually like holding the foregrip of a rifle or riser of a bow with my dominant hand, to me it feels more steady that way. If i picked up a bow or rifle and tried to hold it right handed it feels totally awkward, which was not the case when i switched 13 years ago. It took some getting used to but it should not be too hard to train yourself to do it and eventually it will feel natural. I shoot right handed bolts and shotguns and doesn't really bother me (except I perfer to have a thumb safety on top of the stock, which is common with Browning rifles and shotguns). The only finacial commitment you would have to make would be to switch out your bow.

I would encourage you to try left handed. I know others said to stay with what your are comfortable with, which I cant say I totally disagree with (especially in the middle of hunting season). I can guarentee that switching to left handed won't feel comfortable for the 1st year, but eventually you won't know the difference.