Switch hitter?

[McDave]

I'm considering practicing left-handed shooting.  I'm a right-handed shooter, and have no plans to change that.  But I'm considering adding left-handed shooting, for two reasons: for general physical fitness to counteract the one-sided effect of always shooting right-handed, and to be able to shoot more.  I already shoot a hundred or so arrows a day, and I feel like that's about as much as I can shoot right-handed without injuring some joint or tendon from overuse.

I probably wouldn't mix left and right handed shooting in one session, but I might shoot right-handed in the morning, and left-handed in the afternoon, say.  The question is, what effect do you think this would have on my right-handed shooting skills?  Improve them, make them worse, or no effect?

[Winterhawk1960]

I don't think it would have any effect on your right handed shooting skills.

Winterhawk1960

[easyup]

Do to neck problems I had to switch to LH which worked out nicely as I am left eye dominant.  As the neck came around I returned to shooting RH but kept up alternating days with LH.  I would say it is at least not detrimental and maybe slightly better now RH.  No confusion or problems switching at all.  In fact when I have a bad day I think I often loose the unidentified form problem by switching.  Also at 60 I like the day of rest for the mussels which I know from other joint problems is a good idea.

[Wapiti Bowman]

McD,

Being north of 70, and having been plagued with carpal tunnel syndrome since I over bowed myself as a 14 yr old, while I don't "switch hit" I do what easyup does: take a day off between shooting sessions. However, when I shoot, I generally loose 150-200 arrows per session. My 7days/wk, 8hr shooting days are over. This seems to work for me, and has allowed me to build up the draw wt that I can shoot without experiencing the wrist pain from the "carpal tunnel".

But, we're all different, and I'd go with what works best for you, and allows you to keep it Fun!  

[damascusdave]

I do this all the time and the answer is a resounding yes.

Depending on how things are going that day it can improve your skills, make them worse or have no effect.

More than anything what it does do is keep things from getting old. I find I am more willing to experiment and, for example, I am going to switch to shooting 2 fingers under after hunting season.

I will soon have both a right and left handed compound, four right handed recurves, and two left handed recurves. Some are in the mail or awaiting paypal to go through.

My next project is to build a double shelf longbow from a blank. I am going to try to revive the double shelf concept by teaching as many kids as I can to shoot from both sides.

DDave

[McDave]

Hi Dave,

My son feels the same way you do.  I offered to have a bow built for him by a well-known bowyer, and he asked if it could be built with a double shelf.  I told him that the only bows I am aware of that are built with a double shelf are starter bows.  I don't know if the "well known bowyer" would be interested in building a bow with a double shelf, but I do know that there is at least one person other than you who would be interested in the answer!

[sffar]

The St Charles Thunderbird recurve is available with a double shelf. Two bows in one!

[Bill Skinner]

I have the same problem as EASYUP, except I am right eye dominate.  When I first started, I got the worst case of string slap I have ever had.  I wanted to cant the bow out of my line of sight, I hit very high right and my arm.  I now hold the bow verticle, no problems.  Start with a very low poundage bow, 30# max, your left arm will thank you.  Limit the # of arrows until you build up the muscles on your left side.  Bill

[Encino Man]

I shoot both handed for just those reasons. I think symmetry is important for overall fitness.