Left eye dominant?

[Tripod]

I never had a problem when I was shooting with a compound and sights, but ever since I switched to traditional a few years back, I've been shooting about a foot to the left when I don't practice a lot. I can shoot well if I'm out there everyday, but if I have a layoff, I have a real problem with my left eye trying to take over. I was left handed as a kid, but was given a right handed bow when I was 12. I've been shooting right handed since then, but now I'm thinking of finally changing back to LH. Thoughts?

[s_mcflurry]

If you're used to shooting right handed, I'd say stick with that.  Learning everything over but on the opposite would seem like a pain to me.  If you're shooting instinctively, you're more than likely going to shoot with both eyes open anyway.  It's easier to train your eyes/brain than your
handedness, I think.

[Bowwild]

Tripod,
I'm right-handed and shot bows right-handed for 28 years. I'm left-eye dominant. I had to close the left eye (or wink it some) to make the right eye do the look'n.  Close'n that left eye cost me depth perception and peripheral vision.

I converted to LH shooting to match my dominant eye in 1996 and have never looked back. It took a while and I had to drop in bow weight by 10 pounds at first. I've seen many people make this conversion.  One was a fellow in North Dakota who shot RH for 32 years.  

Bad thing though is my son is right eye dominant and so is my grandson. I have no one to hand down my LH bows to someday.  However, my dauther just gave us grandson #2 -- maybe he will be left eye dominant?

[njloco]

In the army back in the late 60's, I was given a rifle left handed. Didn't know anything about shooting so I shot it left handed. Shot #1 out of 500 guys, I think they called it high expert. Shot only rifles that way until the year 2000. Then I taught myself how to shoot a rifle right handed. Now I can shoot firearms equally well with either hand and either eye.

Don't know if this will help but if I were you I'd switch, the worse thing that will happen is you will be able to shoot both ways.

Ken

[Tripod]

You guys have confirmed a lot of the things I was thinking. Thanks a bunch.

Now, I've just got to change all my gear to left handed.

[David Mitchell]

Definitely switch!  I made the change years ago--I was in my 50s at the time and thought it would be tough after "trying" to shoot right handed for 30 years.  When I got thatr arrow under my dominant eye I could not believe the difference.

[Tripod]

I'm thinking the same as well.

Ya know, Howard Hill shot RH while being left eye dominant and was a world class shot. Not everyone can do it though. I've killed plenty of hogs and deer shooting RH, but I'm thinking left handed will just feel much more natural for me and I won't have to try to keep that eye from taking over and causing me to shoot poorly.

I'm glad to know that several of you guys have already made the switch.

[jcar315]

Switch and don't look back!

Struggled with the same sort of issues until switching 18 months ago and SO glad I did. Now I really know what "instinctive shooting" is.

[Bowwild]

What we say in NASP is that in archery both hands do something equally important...one holds the bow the other the string.  Having the string hand at the dominant eye is a definite advantage.

[portugeejn]

I don't know how this might relate to someone a bit older than your average Boy Scout.  

When I taught the Archery Merit Badge, right handed boys who were left eye dominant had serious problems until they changed to left handed bows.  They would then proceed to make the score needed to get the merit badge.

RonP

[yaderehey]

Your experience with the Boy Scouts mirrors mine with my youngest son.  When I started him shooting with a right hand bow the arrows were all over the place and there didn't seem to be any progress with practice.  When I figured out he was right handed, but left eye dominant and got him a identical, only left handed bow his shooting instantly improved about 200 per cent.  I know some say it does not matter which eye is dominant and the brain will eventually adjust, but this convinced me you are going to naturally shoot better with your dominant eye over the arrow.

[Derwood]

A very heartfelt good luck to you.  I know how frustrating this can be.  I'm left eye dominant but right handed.  I've struggled with this problem for years, but just couldn't make the switch.  It certainly wasn't from a lack of trying -- I tried very hard indeed.  It was very costly and I ran into more problems than the original problem was.  I ended up sticking with my right hand bows or I should say newly acquired right hand bows.  $$$  Ouch!!!  

Not at all trying to discourage you from making the switch.  I sincerely hope it works out for you and it probably is the correct way for you to shoot.  However, if it doesn't work out don't beat yourself up over it.  Pick a bow, pick a spot, shoot it and don't look back.  You'll sleep better at night.  LOL!!!

Ps.  Start with a very lightweight bow.

Keep us posted.

[Hopewell Tom]

Make the switch, since you had trouble off the right side. I missed out on 10 years of the bow because of left eye dominance and right hand bow. Couldn't get consistant "over there".
Start with a light bow. The biggest thing for me was trying to get an arrow out of the quiver and nocked with a non-dominate hand. But after a thousand arrows or so it's not too bad and when drawn, it's ALL good.

[jcar315]

The ONLY issue I had when switching was the exact one Hopewell Tom did. At first the whole picking up and nocking an arrow was weird but after a while it too became second nature.

To anyone considering the switch: Make the switch! Don't even hesitate.

[pickaspot]

I am right handed & left eye dominant. Thankfully, my Dad picked up on this when I was a little fellow and taught me to shoot southpaw.

When I started shooting a Tradbow, it seemed to be an advantage to have my "strong" arm holding the bow. It helps my form by reminding me to draw & hold with my back...not my left arm.

Lots of good advice above. My advice would be to make the switch!