posted
I'm RH and LH dominant. I shot a bow RH for 28 years and have been shooting LH since 1996. I'd highly recommend you match the string hand do the dominant eye; better peripherial vision, better depth perception, and for some better balance with both eyes open. I've trained several veteran archers who were like I am. A fellow in ND had shot for 32 years RH with Left eye dominance. He was shooting (according to him, not me) better in two days left-handed. I'm hoping my grandson is LH domiant when he turns early teens so I has someone to hand down all my LH recurves too! I shoot a shotgun LH but rifles and handguns RH.
-------------------- If the mind wanders, so too will the arrow.
Member of various archery organizations. Posts: 3852 | From: Kentucky | Registered: Jan 2004
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If he learns to shoot both ways, he could be like the NC state basketball player from the 80's, Charles Shakelford. He said on espn, " I can dribble with my right and left hand, I'm amphibious" LOL.
Seriously, I shot bows as a kid lefthanded and guns righthanded. Throw and kick and bat left. So I'm kinda in the sameboat. When I learned about dominant eye, I started shooting bows right handed. Yes, awkward at first but by the end of one session I could see improvment in my accuracy. Never looked back. DB
-------------------- "The older I get, the better I was" Byron Fergenson. Posts: 2248 | From: New Bern .NC | Registered: Dec 2005
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i am the same way eat with my left throw right and do most things right handed and am also left eye dominate and shoot left handed it works well for me beacuse i can shoot with both eyes open id get him a left handed bow
Posts: 143 | From: pea ridge arkansas | Registered: May 2009
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I like the way Joebuck puts it. He showed me three fingers under and said to treat it like a shot gun and it made all the difference in the world. I am right handed and left eye'd. Doesn't seem to matter at all.
Posts: 21 | From: Thomasville, GA | Registered: Apr 2010
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Go with the dominant eye. It was almost magic once I realized my son was left eye dominant and switched him to a lefty bow. He didn't like it at first but as the hits started coming he changed his mind.
-------------------- A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight;nothing he cares about more than his own personal safety;is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free,unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. Posts: 923 | From: Grand Canyon, AZ | Registered: Apr 2003
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I am right handed and left eye dominant. I shoot with my left eye squinted to make my right eye dominant, it has always worked for me.
-------------------- "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot: Missionary/Martyr. Posts: 2715 | From: Dallas, Ga | Registered: Apr 2006
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My son is the same LH, RE. I taught mine to shoot bow and gun LH from the begining. He never knew any different.
Posts: 31 | From: Newark, OH | Registered: Nov 2004
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My Cade started out rt handed when he was 3yrs. old, when he got old enough to test, found out he was lt. eye dom.....switched him when he was 6 to a lefty bow.
He's nine now and shooting great....I'm glad I switched him when I did....
•
-------------------- Curt } >>--->
"I love you Daddy".......My son Cade while stump shooting 3/19/06 Posts: 16229 | From: NY | Registered: Apr 2003
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i would lean toward the dominant eye,in my case i am right handed and but shoot a bow left handed.i switched three years ago after finding out i was left eye dominant i shot right handed for 20 plus years for me the switch was easy it felt natural from the first shot.i did start with a 36# bow at first then jumped up in poundage.
Posts: 326 | From: eaton rapids michigan | Registered: Jul 2008
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Do your son a big favour and buy him a left handed bow. Why complicate things, do some research elsewhere on eye dominance and accuracy. Sure there are many that say either is ok but this wheel has been invented and studied and proven. Accuracy potential is with the dominant eye period. Sure he can learn and shoot right handed as many have but they are not reaching their full potential and are only fooling themselves. Unless handicapped or an injury dictates there is no argument for starting him out any way but the proper way - LEFT HANDED.
-------------------- hunt it Posts: 3590 | From: london,ontario,canada | Registered: Nov 2003
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I have to agree with everyone who recommends going to the dominant eye side. Did that with my grandson 3 yrs ago. He's 13 now & he shoots better than he ever did w/ a lot less frustration. Kids need to realize success in order to stick with any accuracy required sport. It kept him in trad archery. . . All shooting sports for that matter.
Get him a lefty bow he can handle. He'll pick it up in no time.
Hunt It is spot on IMO.
Larry
-------------------- Age brings us the priceless gift of experience and knowledge. . . Priceless, but not free. Posts: 1564 | From: Long Island, New York | Registered: Jan 2004
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I am the same way AKBILLYBOW is right i shoot the same way lean my head farther into the string your brain will compensate and do the rest for you
Posts: 277 | From: kentucky | Registered: Mar 2009
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I'm a right handed everything but left eye dominant. I switched a few years ago to shoot left handed, best decision I made as far as set up goes. It didn't take long before it felt natural. Now I pick up a right handed bow and it feels awkward. Go to the left on this one.
-Jeremy
-------------------- Pslam 46:10
"A real man rejects passivity and takes responsibility to lead, provide, protect, and teach expecting to receive the greater reward." Dr. Robert Lewis Posts: 913 | From: Round Lake, Illinoising | Registered: Jul 2008
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TooMany....Not all is lost if he can't switch over......there was a couple fellows shot cross dominant like your son......a guy from Alabama was pretty handy with a longbow...Howard Hill shot right handed but left eye dominant....Ole boy from Grayling Michigan named Fred filled a museum up with trophy animals. Mr. Bear shot left handed but was right eyed and think his sometime hunting partner Glenn St. Charles was too? if he shoots pure instintive ( doesn't see the arrow) it doesn't matter, if he shoots a secondary vision system ( sees the arrow). he can manipulate his dominant eye by squinting one eye and dominance switches......shotgunners use a spot of tape on field glasses...........main thing someone said earlier is it is all about fun! i have 5 and 8 year old boys myself with some cross dominance.
-------------------- Aim down your arrow because thats where it's going. Posts: 1968 | From: 294 Hwy 7 South, Oxford Ms 38655 | Registered: Aug 2003
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I got a lot more responses than I thought I would. Thanks everyone. It seems there is an argument for each way. BTW, my son is 18 and doesn't like compounds, so I hope he is a natural trad shooter.
-------------------- 60" Bear Super Kodiak 50@28 (56@31) 68" Kohannah Long Bow 62@30 Posts: 399 | From: Connecticut | Registered: Jan 2010
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