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Main Boards => The Shooters FORM Board => Topic started by: razorsharptokill on March 29, 2010, 11:49:00 PM

Title: closing one eye
Post by: razorsharptokill on March 29, 2010, 11:49:00 PM
I started closing my left eye(RH of course) before the draw and my groups tightened up considerably! Anyone else close an eye?
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: Soilarch on March 30, 2010, 12:09:00 AM
Are you keeping it closed? I can see where it would help the mind focus on a point but I've always found that in all shooting (bow, rifle, pistol, shotgun) I do better if both eyes are open...HOWEVER...there've been several times I find squinting lightly and FORCING my dominant eye to be, well, *dominant* helps.

You lose depth-perception when you close one eye...so be mindful to not train yourself to close your eye before your brain can judge the distance.
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: thunder1 on March 30, 2010, 01:32:00 PM
Soilarch is right on about the depth-perception. You also lose field of view and may never see that buck following that doe your about to take. Also makes hitting a moving target harder. I to will squint from time to time to better focus on a point.
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: razorsharptokill on March 30, 2010, 09:41:00 PM
I wondered about the depth perception/range estimation. I backed off to unknown yardages between 25 and 35 yards and still had good hits. I tried starting the draw with both eyes open and closing my left eye at about 10% draw. I then picked my spot with both eyes open, closed my left eye and drew to anchor and shot. I didn't see any big errors due to range estimation. I'm really liking the improved accuracy!

I'll keep shooting like this as long as it works. I'd like to try it on a 3D target some place other than the comfort of my back yard. That would be a better unit of measure.
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: Big Bird on March 30, 2010, 09:54:00 PM
that's the way I do it.been shooting that way for forty years.I can not shoot with both eyes open.I get double vision.
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: Paul WA on April 03, 2010, 03:46:00 PM
I started shooting with my left eye closed due to being left eye dominant, groups got tighter and I see the target better...PR
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: steadman on April 03, 2010, 04:00:00 PM
Jim I do the same thing. I have a cross dominance issue. I found when I turned my head a bit too much to the right my left eye took over and I would hit 8-12" to the left. Now i start my draw with both eyes open with a spot picked, and somewhere in the middle of my draw, close my left eye. Groups improved and accuracy improved. Good luck with it, and if it works for you, dont stop.
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: Deadbolt on April 10, 2010, 02:07:00 AM
I also have a cross dominance issue and shoot with my left eye closed.

Yes when your eye is close there is depth perception issues but who walks around with their eye always closed?  Before shooting I use both eyes to determin where I need to aim, close my eye and aim accordingly.  I gap shoot though so that doesn't affect me.

As for the not see'ing a trailing buck...if you dont see it with your eye open you were going to see it with both eyes open.
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: bogeyrider63 on April 13, 2010, 02:22:00 PM
i find shoot better groups when i close my left eye.
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: huntin_sparty on April 13, 2010, 02:33:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by bogeyrider63:
i find shoot better groups when i close my left eye.
me too I like the wider range of view but have a issue with accuracy with the left eye open!
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: Winterhawk1960 on April 13, 2010, 03:07:00 PM
I must be different......I tried this today while shooting, and with three different bows I shot about 6 to 8 inches to the left with my left eye closed.

Winterhawk1960
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: highelk on April 13, 2010, 03:26:00 PM
I am also cross eye dominant.
before I switched to left handed shooting, I considered closing one eye as well.
My fear though is that in the excitement of the hunt I would forget to close my eye. so it seems to me logical to practice and shoot with both eyes since that's what's natural. with practice my shooting continues to improve.
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: longbowguy on April 13, 2010, 08:29:00 PM
Ya gotta do what ya gotta do- Sylvester Stallone.

That said I think it is best to try to work through your problems and try to learn to shoot with both eyes open.

For those of you who are cross eye dominant, consider this: several of the greats of our sport were cross eye dominant. Howard Hill was, Glenn St. Charles was, and I think Fred Bear was.

I suspect once you work through the early problems it may actually be an advantage in dynamic, quick shooting like on movers on flyers. So I suggest you do not give up too easily. This is not an easy sport and thoughtful hard work is often rewarded. - lbg
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: jcp161 on April 17, 2010, 12:48:00 PM
I'm not cross eye dominant but my left eye some times "takes over" due to my right eye now needing a little more correction due to age. Squinting with the left eye seems to correct the problem, improve my groups and still allows me to use both eyes.
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: stickbowmaniac on April 24, 2010, 02:46:00 PM
I'm backwards i shoot a bow right handed and a gun left handed.But either one i always shoot with both eyes open.
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: Doug Treat on May 03, 2010, 09:11:00 PM
I shoot better with my L. eye closed (I shoot R. handed).  I think that my non-dominant L. eye will sometimes take over with both eyes open and I'll shoot left.  I have not found a disadvantage when shooting at game to close one eye.
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: Northwest_Bowhunter on May 04, 2010, 03:24:00 PM
Just before I hit "anchor" I squint my left eye if not completely close it.  I have never had my eye dominance successfully tested, it always depends on where I hold my hands during the test (looking through the window you make with your hands), so I just shoot right handed and squint with my left.
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: kodiakkid on May 04, 2010, 08:44:00 PM
I too squint my left eye just before reaching anchor. Paul<><
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: Naticus on May 05, 2010, 01:08:00 AM
I am left eye dominant but RH in shooting and writing but play pool and snooker LH. I was ambidextrous until I was was 12,

I keep both eyes open until I come to anchor
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: Benny Nganabbarru on May 05, 2010, 03:56:00 AM
I am shooting best with my left eye closed at ranges out to forty metres (I am right-handed). For longer ranges, I find I need both eyes open to see the target. I gap shoot.
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: Fritz on May 05, 2010, 06:02:00 PM
My shooting style is unorthadox, but it works for me.  I shoot three under and point of aim. I  pick a spot, come to full draw on target with both eyes open, anchor with back tension, squint/close my left eye (rt. handed), and let her fly. I have tried just about every shooting style I know of over the yrs. and this one fits me best. I get really great accuracy out to about 25 yrds. Over that I tend to shoot better with both eyes open. I won't shoot at an animal over 25 yrds anyway.
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: J Buck on May 08, 2010, 09:51:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by kodiakkid:
I too squint my left eye just before reaching anchor. Paul<><
me too! works great.
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: shortstroke 91 on May 09, 2010, 08:39:00 AM
I've recently started closing my left eye (right handed shooter) just as I get to anchor. Has helped shrink my groups tremendously at longer ranges. I'm right eye dominant but my vision is clearer in my left so I would subconsiously use it sometimes and of course shoot way left.
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: kat on May 09, 2010, 10:33:00 AM
I am right handed, and close my left eye.  This is due to an eye injury.  The injury was to my right eye.  Although I can see much better with my left eye, closing it keeps me in balance better. It is much easier than switching to left handed for me.
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: SpencerL on May 15, 2010, 06:35:00 PM
I wear contacts and when the wind is blowing and they start moving around in my eye it helps to close one eye. I think when my dominate eye starts to go blurry (Contact) the other one takes over and my shooting suffers.
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: Two Dogs on May 18, 2010, 06:46:00 PM
Jim, I belive in one of the "Masters of the Barebow" Larry Chen does' the same thing- hella of a shot!
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: Eugene Slagle on May 18, 2010, 09:26:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Winterhawk1960:
I must be different......I tried this today while shooting, and with three different bows I shot about 6 to 8 inches to the left with my left eye closed.

Winterhawk1960
You & I are alike in this, I made a so so score on my first Field shoot Sunday because the longer shots I would tend to close the left eye & my shots would hang left each time.
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: Northwest_Bowhunter on May 19, 2010, 06:01:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Two Dogs:
Jim, I belive in one of the "Masters of the Barebow" Larry Chen does' the same thing- hella of a shot!
Masters of the Barebow 2 in fact, I quit closing my eye and went to squinting when I saw that.  Those things are invaluable!!!
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: RecurveRx on May 19, 2010, 07:15:00 PM
I started out shooting with my L eye closed (R eye/R hand dominant).  It wasn't until I actually started shooting trap that I realized what a disadvantage I was putting myself at.  

It took some practice, but eventually my scores improved dramatically by shooting with both eyes wide open.  I carried this over to all shooting - pistols, SGs, bows, rifles, everything.  I find target acquisition to be MUCH faster.  And with practice, I shoot much better with both eyes open.
Title: Re: closing one eye
Post by: Cherry Tree on May 20, 2010, 04:45:00 PM
I shoot with both eyes open, but thats just how ive always done it.