switching lefty

[bofish-IL]

I am left eye dominant but shot a bow R/H for way to many years. Then decided to switch to L/H. It just felt so natural when I switched, I was shooting good in less than a week. I can still get the R/H out and shoot but not as accurate as left hand. Every once in a while I  forget and set my stand up for a r/h shooter. I have also hunted 4 or 5 hours and notice when I get back to the truck my arm guard is on the wrong arm.

[autumn spirit]

The fact that you are left eye dominant should make your transition  natural and your accuracy should improve.  Now about the target panic.
Here is  how I train.  Perhaps it could help you.   I am a lefty and am left eye dominate.  I can also shoot righty.  I taught myself several years back whe I had some nasty neck and shoulder issues.  Anyway at 15 yards, my shooting sessions start with a old 62" black hawk hornet recurve that draws 34# @ 28".  At my draw length of 31" I can draw that bow and hold at anchor until the cows come home and that is a great thing to do when working on form.  Concentrating on my form, I draw, anchor, and count 1-thousand....2-thousand...release.  After 12 arrows I go to an old 62" bear cub wich is 43#'s at 28" and repeat the process of concentrating on form, full draw and release. Now it's time for the 62" @ 28" 1958 bear grizzly, which comes in about 58# at my draw.  Same process, same result, full draw, solid anchor, good release, arrows in the 10 spot.
I cannot say enough about having a lighter bow or two to use for perfecting your form and improving your skill. Give it a try.  It just might be what the doctor ordered.  Good luck!

[Bowwild]

I shot right-handed for 28 years. I've shot left-handed for 15 years. I have always been Left-eye dominant and had to shoot with the left eye shut until I switched. Target panic, which became progressively worse for nearly 11 years until it almost ran me out of archery, was why I switched. The good news, is it wasn't as big a deal as I thought especially since with the panic I could hardly shoot anyway right-handed. I had to drop down in bow weight (I was shooting compound at 76 pounds, went to 60 pounds).

Now the bad news, you must prevent the thought process that caused you target panic from recurring or it will happen again -- very shortly!  I've been in archery a very long time. I train trainers, to train teachers, to teach students -- 1.2 million students this year. I've trained 4,000 teachers. The person who TRAINED ME was a very long-time recurve shooter (still holds NFAA records from the 1980's). He has also coached more Olympians to medals than any of our Olympic coaches.  His DVD, called "Beyond NASP" (www.archeryingtheschools.org) is the best thing out there.  There are so many myths that have been passed on to us that are so wrong!  When you shoot an arrow and it misses the mark, for no apparent reason, and you feel bad about it...you are on the way to target panic.  You must get your mind off the target after you've aimed. Counting at anchor is ok but not nearly as positive about thinking about the next step -- follow-through. The draw hand must paint the face under the ear and the thumb must end up near or own the drawing arm shoulder. The bow arm (if properly active) must NOT remain up and unmoving after the shot.  The bow arm cannot help but move towards the target and fall down and to the side if the bow arm muscles are properly active.

After God and Family archery is the most important thing in my life. I almost lost it due to target panic. I very carefully read posts and articles by archery experts.  Some are great archers but there are alarmingly few that stress the mental aspects of archery enough.

If you acquire Beyond NASP you will learn about a teaching/training device called the String Bow. It is the SECRET to keeping target panic out of your life.

[rightminded]

If you shoot opposite of your dominant eye, you tend to aim with that eye.  If you are shooting left handed you will tend right.  The opposite is true.  Your up and down should not be affected.  I know when i shoot left i probably plucked the string and when i shoot right of the bull i aimed with my right eye.  That holds for me if the bow arrow combo is tuned.  Shooting left handed and right eye dominant.

[Hopewell Tom]

I quit the bow after trying for a year or so RH when I'm left eyed (but right handed). I never felt good looking at the arrow on a cant to the target. A wheel guy instructor said no problem if your shooting instinctively. I shouldn't be looking at the arrow? Everything seemed messed with the arrow "over there". After 8 years looking at that bow, I "fake drew" an arrow on the "wrong"(left) side and...holy smokes, this feels much better. Bought a LH bow, although too heavy for starting with, I'm back into it. This is more like it. The main problem I had starting out was trying to do the little things with my non dominant hand. Taking an arrow out of the quiver, nocking the damn thing was a true lesson in frustration. Getting better though, and so happy to be back.
TOM

[trad_in_cali]

When I had to restart shooting after a motorcycle injury, not to pick up some bad habits, I found it very helpful to spend a part of my shooting session starting with blind bail shooting. It helped smoothing out the shot and feeling acquainted again with it s feel. As shown on Masters of the Barebow 3, in the section by Rod Jenkins.
Marco

[Lazy Ike]

Borrowed a left handed 25 lb target recurve this monday and have been shooting at the blank bale each day. I am just concentrating on building a shot sequence. I am amazed at how well I can talk myself though the sequence with no urge to release until it's the right time. I am able to come to full draw, establish a solid anchor, increase back tension and hold a nice solid follow-through. I have let myself take a few shots at a target at 17 or 18 yds. I was able to perform the exact same sequence, no problem.
I have also added at least 1 1/2" to my draw length. I know some of that is due to the lighter poundage , but I really think most of it is the lack of tp.
This is fun again!!!


Ike

[ChetterB]

I am a right handed person, Left eye Dominate. When I shot wheel bows shot right handed -- when I switched to traditional I switched to Lefty. Love it!!! start with a light bow and develop good form, in fact let down before you shoot a shot with bad form. If every shot is shot with good form, your confidence and ability will soar!!! good luck.

[Dryfired]

I agree with the above, having recently switched to a RH bow. I am right-eye dominant and left handed. The RH bow has made my shooting more accurate although my form is pretty poor and I need to concentrate more on it. When my form is good, I can shoot arrows RH more consistantly and confidently than LH, simply because of my right eye dominance. I shoot instinctive.

[Lazy Ike]

Well I've experimented enough over the last 10 days. I'm switching to left hand shooting. Now I've got to get a bow !!


Ike

[Lazy Ike]

O K, I bought a bow saturday from Lancaster Archery/Tradtech.
First Rob K. , the owner of Lancaster Archery and John W. the new head of Tradtech are the BEST !!!!
Now to the lefty shooting. To Quote Jim Castro Jr. " it's the best thing I've done in all my years of archery "!!
Now , I can actually practice the things that Rod Jenkins preaches. I come to anchor , establish a good sight picture, increase my back tension and focus on a good follow-through. The release just happens by it's self somewhere between increase back tension and follow-through.
It's the coolest feeling in the world !!!
The arrow just leaves. No flinch. No colapse.
BTW Rod I also bought one of your Safari Tuff Gazelle take-down bow cases from Lancaster Archery. Fits the Pinnacle II riser and medium recurve limbs like a glove. Fantastic Quality !!
Let me know if you need a rep for the mid Atlantic region.
Also the guys at Lancaster had nothing but great things to say about you.....


Ike

[Tyler2045]

I am right eye dominate but my left eye is actually stronger because of the fact that I have bad eye sight.

[Lazy Ike]

I am hoping that over time my left eye will be able to line things up even with both eyes open. But , if not , no big deal . The shot process is so much better on my left side that it's still a good trade.


Ike

[Cherry Tree]

It should become to were you can have both eyes open! Glad you like the change!!