Instinctive v. Sight Shooting Question

[Wary Buck]

My best friend and hunting partner is very much wanting to try traditional archery.  She currently shoots 40 to 45 lbs. comfortably with a compound, using LH since she is left eye dominant (very poor sight in right eye) and had chronic shoulder issues (volleyball) when young.  She has over a decade of big game experience under her belt, and has killed about 10 deer, including four last year.

She has shot my longbows rarely, and they are RH, exhibits good form when doing so.  And she has very good form when shooting LH normally.

Anyway, she's a "thinker" on everything, and wondered aloud if she'd be better off when she tries to makes this switch in starting to shoot a stick RHed since she does everything else RHed?  One bow dealer told her the instinctive shooting is more related to other "natural" things (like throwing a ball RHed, writing RHed, etc.) than eye dominance.  I'm not so sure.

Based on her years of shooting wheels LHed, it would seem to me to be counterproductive to switch over to RHed AND traditional at the same time.  "Too many variables at once" kind of thing.  

Or can she shoot wheels LHed, and a stick RHed and keep those two different styles separate that way?  

What say you all?  Any of you dealt with this issue?  How important is the relationship between string hand and eye dominance when shooting instinctively?  If it were your friend, what would you advise?

[GRINCH]

If she is left eye dominant I'd stick with it,she should feel more confident shooting a left handed bow.

[McDave]

She could probably learn to shoot either way, or both ways, but I really can't see any advantage in changing to RH if she's left eye dominant.  A greater concern would be if prolonged shooting of a trad bow would aggravate her shoulder problems, since it requires more strength to hold a trad bow at full draw than it does a compound.

[Grey Taylor]

I am left handed but right eye dominant. I shoot a right hand bow.
Between what she's used to, eye dominance, and the shoulder injury, I suggest she stay with the LH bow.

And for what the bow dealer said... when was the last time we heard about a compound shop giving good trad advice?

Guy

[terryzac]

im naturaly left handed but shoot my bows rh. i can shoot lh with the bows. i shoot a rifle lh but use my monocular with my right eye.
id give it a go with both before i decided on which bow to buy

terry

[Lee Robinson .]

I can relate. Check out these two "sticky" articles at the top of  this page...

[BowsanAiros]

Wary Buck..
A major factor in being an consistent Instinctive archer is being comfortable with the bow you shoot.
Where you mentioned your friend having (very poor sight in the right eye and had chronic shoulder issues)
I would strongly advise her to stick with shooting LH.

Even though an Instinctive shooter can adapt to any shooting situation, problems in any part of a shooters
ability to shoot comfortably can lead to lack of confidence, bad habits can arise.

Now as far as keeping the two styles separate. The only thing shooting compound and shooting stick Instinctively
have in common is form and having a solid consistent anchor.
Start your friend close, 3-5yds, make sure she FEELS her anchor point and totally focuses on the target at
hand, she'll do fine...

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

Bryce,, Some of the old Bears were ambidextrous (1954-1956)
Most can be had for less than $150 and if in decent shape will shoot with most modern bows..
Get her one of those and let her decide if she is going to shoot south or north.
Kodiaks were full recurve but Cubs, Alaskans, and Polars were semi-recurve.. aka reflex deflex, or is that deflex reflex???

[Pat B.]

I'm right eye dominant and have shot right handed for 40 years...  A few years ago I had some neck issues and switched to left handed. Better than not being able to shoot at all.. I hunted part of the season left handed but ultimately decided that, for me, I was better off staying with my dominant eye and went back to right handed and enduring some pain...  Finally the pain subsided and all was good.  Shooting with your non dominant eye can obviously be done but I think it adds to the difficulty of shooting.

[knobby]

With the shoulder AND eye issues, I'd have my friend stick with left-handed. The coordination in handling a bow would stay the same(one less variable to learn). And I wouldn't want to waste any time on the switch only to learn the poor eye-sight prevents accurate shooting, which would lead to a frustrated archer. Have her try instinctive shooting with her compound at first,to let her get a "feel" for how it's done. Then switch to the stickbow. That way she's only climbing one mountain at a time. Good luck!

[Wary Buck]

Thanks for all the input guys, it is very helpful.  I'm just so glad she's interested in traditional archery, and she's certainly already got traditional hunting values so I think the learning curve will be more gradual than most making the switch.  Any other input gladly taken...

[Rick Richard]

I would have your friend stick with the LH bow and have her start with a bow weight that is MORE than comfortable for her to manage.  The reason is twofold: She needs to build consistency with her form. If she is struggling with bow weight, then her focus will be on managing the bow weight and not on repeatable form. Secondly, the bow arm/shoulder takes considerable more abuse than when using a compound.  Too much weight to begin with may aggrevate old injurires.  I would also suggest a weight training routine for 3 times a week for a couple of months to strenghten those unused muscles.  All of this based on my experience since I did not take the necessary prcautions and ended up with injuries.

[NJWoodsman]

"The only thing shooting compound and shooting stick Instinctively
have in common is form and having a solid consistent anchor."  ----which is pretty much EVERYTHING.

Have her stick with LH, and using a sight will be more familiar. However, if she's shooting 40-45# with a compound due to shoulder problems, a target weight bow would be prudent.

[BowsanAiros]

NJWoodsman.. When I shoot my bow from the hip, neither are present. So I have to disagree with you're above
statement that, form and anchor are EVERYTHING..
Try it for yourselves, it may surprise you...

Wary Buck.. If you like a shooting schedule for your friend to work on, send me a PM. I'd be more then happy to
get her on the right track.. Even if she wants to shoot the compound Instinctive. Or if she wants to shoot a recurve,
longbow or a stick bow Instinctive..
If not, Good Luck..