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I switched too, and it wasn't all that hard. Start light, though. You'll have to completely re-learn how to draw a bow.
Posts: 424 | From: Cleveland, NC | Registered: Jan 2010
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what is a reasonable expectation for a time frame. when switching from right to left handed. It has been a week now. Has I write this I realize it has only been ONE week. seems like longer with the frustration.
Any way how long did it take you all who made the switch to get the hang of it and fell like you made the right choice?
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I'm the opposite of most of ya'll Left Handed and RT eye dominant. I'm shopping for my 1st Traditional Bow.I fully understand that I need to learn RT Handed from the get go. My question is if I should consider getting a Bow without a arrow rest that will work either way?? Is no rest much more difficult for a beginner to use ??
Posts: 16 | From: TN | Registered: Aug 2012
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Steve, Dual shelf or no shelf bows are more critical of proper arrow spine because they are not "cut to center". You say that you need to shoot a RH bow and I agree. I would get a RH setup and don't look back!! If you have a lefty around in the beginning......you will have a crutch to lean on when switching hands get difficult. I would recommend a bow that is cut as close to center as possible and starting with a weight that you can handle.
Take care, Jason
Posts: 68 | From: Indiana | Registered: Feb 2010
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Mark, It took me quite a while and it wasn't as easy for me as some others that I've heard of. I was extremely right handed and had about 25 years under my belt doing everything RH. Luckily, I had only been shooting traditional for around a year when I made the switch, so I wasn't that good anyway! It took me 3 months of regular shooting to feel confident in my shooting but closer to 9 months to get the hang of handling arrows and such with my left hand without fumbling around and dropping things. During the first week, I remember some very large groups in the target from very close distances Also, I'm certain that I shot at least 1200 arrows in that first week alone.......I was determined to make it work!! Hang in there man. I think a lot of it is a mental game.....
Take care, Jason
Posts: 68 | From: Indiana | Registered: Feb 2010
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Thanks for the reply Jason. I just built a 6' straw wall so I won't kill my horses. I'm determined to do this so I'm sure I'll get there. Just a little frustrated right now.
Posts: 40 | From: AZ | Registered: Jul 2012
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Does the Dominant eye thing just effect aimimg and shooting vs instintive shooting just point and shoot ??
Posts: 16 | From: TN | Registered: Aug 2012
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Depends on who you talk to. Some claim that it doesn't make a difference if you're shooting "true instinctive". It sounds logical and I still somewhat believe that. However, the mind is a powerful thing and it didn't work out that way for me....so I switched. I can only speak from my own personal experiences but I could shoot targets just fine RH and still can. However, when it comes to shooting at game, something goes haywire in my brain and I miss badly to the left. I'm not talking inches....think like 2-3 feet at 15 yards!! Evidently, my left eye does some kind of subconscious aiming regardless of which side I'm shooting from. I don't even notice the arrow much less pay attention to it. Therefore, I always thought that I shot true instinctive. Who knows for sure but I'm shooting better than ever with the arrow under my dominant eye and I'm not changing back
Take care, Jason
Posts: 68 | From: Indiana | Registered: Feb 2010
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Just posted this in another discussion, l thought it might be relevant here... I wish i had changed earlier but am happy i have now made the switch, still can't say i'm a great shot (check out the fun shoot in powwow for my poor archery skills) but i have improved.
quote: I have changed to left handed over the last year after shooting right handed for 30+ years. I have done this for a number of reasons, i am left eye domiant, i had developed really bad form right handed, i had been spoilt by compound bows, had a sore right shoulder...
I really enjoyed the transition process and have returned to really enjoying trad archery. I bought a custom predator recurve, my first true Left hand bow and although i'm not as accurate as i would like i am managing to avoid some of the bad habits that my right hand was used to. I now shoot right handed compound (sights & release aid) and left handed trad archery.
The advantage as i see it is that you use all the knowledge and experience you have to teach a new student, the other side of your body, with no bad habits built in from muscle memory.
RH is kinda forced on you by school, but too late to retrain the left hand to write.
I wonder if I would have been LH if left to my own devices.
Anyway, picked up a LH bow and by the 3rd arrow it felt more natural and smooth than ever before.
Groupings continue to tighten as I build a good anchor point with the left hand. And that is the only "negative" you may have to relearn the anchor point. Well, at least I did. Might be different for others.
Slightly offtopic:
The passed-down-to-me Grandfather's Springfield 30-06 is set up left-handed and fits like a glove.
Still a bitch to reach up and cycle the bolt without losing sight picture...
Posts: 1 | From: ca | Registered: Sep 2012
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Let me add just alittle to this thread. 4 years ago I lost the uses of my right eye. I am right handed. I waited one full year to shoot a bow, fearing the worst. My kids were all outside shooting anf ask me to join them. Not wanting to be the old mean stepdad, I got my bow down. After a few random wild shoots I noticed this was not so bad after all. I do call myself an instinctive shooter. And now I realize what that really means. I simply look at the spot I want to hit, the smaller the better. Draw anchor and release. I can understand where someone can really get messed up if they try to look at the arrow. Off by 2 feet for me. I will admit that if you want to shoot instinctive it will not matter what eye is dominate.
-------------------- capt eddie Posts: 436 | From: gibsland la | Registered: Jul 2007
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This goes against almost everything that has been posted on this thread, but here goes anyway.
I also am left eye dominant and shoot right handed. I could care less where my arrow is in relation to the target because I'm not looking at my arrow. I'm only looking at what I want to hit. My mind will take over and compensate for whatever diffenerences there may be.
Do you close your left eye when you throw a ball to someone? No...your mind compensates for it.
I go along with Glen St. Charles on this one. It doesn't make any difference. Just look only at your intended target and shoot.
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Bernie, The theory is sound and I'm glad that it works out for you. I know that many great shooters also share your beliefs on this issue. It just seems to me that saying "it doesn't make a difference" isn't entirely true. While I would agree that it "shouldn't make a difference", the fact is that it DOES make a difference for some because no two shooters are the same.
Like you, my mind also takes over and compensates for any differences when shooting with the arrow under my non-dominant eye (most of the time) but put that arrow under my dominant eye and there are no differences to compensate for as the eye and the mind are working in harmony and everything just feels right to me.
Additionally, many shooters think that they are shooting instinctively, when in fact they are not, and then this whole theory breaks down and their accuracy suffers badly.
I believe that new shooters or those having problems, should double check their dominant eye and at least give the other side a try as it may help them in the long run. New shooters will definitely benefit from starting out on the dominant eye side, then they are free to utilize any aiming method effectively.
Take care, Jason
Posts: 68 | From: Indiana | Registered: Feb 2010
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Left eye dominant here and shoot right handed. Been doing that for 50 years. Not the best shot in the world but I have shot some very nice tight groups more than once. If your just staring at a spot, I don't see how it matters what eye is dominant. The brain should compensate over time. So I guess it's different for all of us. Give it a try and see how it works out for you..
Now here is a side note:) Years ago when the pac man game was on the scene, I played right handed because I have been right handed all my life. Then I broke my right hand and had a cast on it. So I started playing pac man left handed for 6 weeks. Even after my right hand healed, I still played the game with my left hand. I just couldn't play as well with my right hand. LOL, go figure huh?
Posts: 5282 | From: SW PA | Registered: Oct 2006
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I shoot both, but am left eye dominate,if I just stare at the point I want to hit when shooting right handed I always shoot to the left, now if I take the time to line the arrow up with the target then I am right on.
If I shoot left handed and do most of the time, all I have to do is point, concentrate on the spot and draw and release, 98% of the time on target or really close. I find the greater the concentration the more accurate I am. I shoot tennis and golf balls scattered in the yard form a second floor balcony, shoot at different distances just to keep from shooting the same target twice in a row.
Posts: 602 | From: Caledonia, MS | Registered: Mar 2009
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Also, I'm certain that I shot at least 1200 arrows in that first week alone.......I was determined to make it work!! Hang in there man. I think a lot of it is a mental game.....
