Beginner 7 year old advice needed...

[ThePushArchery]

My nephew is just getting into traditional archery. He has been shooting a cheap nylon strung "compound". His dad is going to buy him a recurve for his birthday in March.

My question is, that he is left eye dominant. He has been shooting that "compound" for only a month now right handed. With how fresh he is to shooting, would it be a good idea to get him shooting lefty since he hasn't been shooting very long??

[ThePushArchery]

That is, should his dad buy him a Left or Right handed bow?

[BobCo 1965]

At that age, I would definetely stay with the dominant eye. Even if you have to change.

[eggomaniac]

I am left eye dominant. Found that out after I got into archery with a right handed bow. Went through a whole period of considering a left handed bow. Heard about a state champ, left eye dominant, right handed, who squints his left eye and thought about sticking to that.
Then I noticed if I point my finger at something to the left I am right eye dominant. This is no bull, and I have no idea if it's rare? When I put an arrow on a point to the right, the left eye holds, but to the left my right eye holds. (Actually, I just discovered that straight on I see 2 arrows equally, and I can't choose which one to cover with. This is new!)
Before training a rightie into becoming a lefty, I would think about training one eye, instead of a whole body? (In the military there was talk of people who retrained the other eye to be dominant.) Have him cover a distant point with his finger pointing straight out to the left. If the right eye holds you are off to the circus.
  Oh, when he shoots the compound does automatically lean his head over to 'look' with the left eye? If he holds his head in the right position, without peeking over, and shoots pretty good with the compound, maybe there is nothing to fix?
From what I remember,if the person can concentrate and see the second pointer, and move it back and forth from one to the other, it possible to retrain. If it's impossible to see the second one, I don't think you were supposed to try.

[longbowben]

Go with the dominate eye,my son was the same,i bought him a left handed bow he had no problem.And now he wants my bows.

[eggomaniac]

The following came up from a Google Search. It was in an airgun forum and, supposedly, written by an archery teacher, Chris. Other Google hits said it is impossible to retrain the eye if you are over 5. Funny thing is I had 'invented' the strategy he mentions, of closing one eye, but that is when I noticed the there was no jump, but there was if I closed my right eye , and thus found I was right eye dominant in shooting stance, even though left eye straight ahead. ----------------
from Google>
I've come across this problem before when teaching archery, in which it is, if anything, far harder to retrain someone to shoot with their off hand.

The best solution seems to be to use both eyes open to assess the range, then close the dominant off hand eye to take the shot.

You may need an extended period of practice to stop yourself forgetting to close your dominant eye, but there is the advantage that with modern optics you can adjust your scope to perfect focus with your weaker eye, so you shouldn't end up at any disadvantage.

Chris.

[eggomaniac]

if you go to the top of this page and type 'dominant' in the search button, there is some good reading.
````````````````````````Oh Oh,, this came up with just the opposite point of view.>>>
``````
from Google
For most people, their dominant eye is also their naturally preferenced side for doing other things- writing, eating, basic dexterity things.

The general consensus among athletics and neurologists is that it is easier and more efficient to retrain your larger muscles (arms, chest, legs) than it is to retrain your brain/eye. Howard Hill once said that an archer will never become a championship quality shooter (I am wholly paraphrasing here) if he insists on shooting against eye dominance. So, if a person has cross-eye dominance, he'll find that he will do better in sports (such as archery, pool, golf, baseball, anything that requires the eye to get the job done) if he learns to do it with the dominant eye side.

For example, in my case, I am right-handed, but left-eye dominant. I have a left-handed bow, golf as a lefty and shoot as a lefty. Once I made the switch, my accuracy and ability went through the roof.

[Savate]

Man that is bad news.  I'm Left Eye Dom/Right Handed...I don't think I could ever learn to do ANYTHING left-handed.  :(

But then again, I don't want to be a champion, just be able to hit deer at 30yd.  

[BodarkOkie]

My youngest daughter started shooting right-handed when she was 4 years old.  Found out she was left-eye dominant and switched to left hand.  No problem.  Over the next few years her eye dominance switched back and forth, as did her shooting.  She is now 27 and his basically left-handed and left-eye dominant.  She now shoots pistol left-handed; rifles and bows right-handed....Go figure!!

Gene

[AllenR]

There are several bows available for kids that age, that can be shot left or right.  If his dad gets one of those, your nephew will figure it out for himself.

My son is as right handed as anyone, but is left eye dominant.  We figured this out when I saw him shooting his right hand bow left handed.  He was simply not comfortable shooting right handed. Of course he had a left handed bow as soon as I could get one.  

Even at 7, kids know what is comfortable to shoot and are usually a lot smarter than we give them credit for.  Get a bow that can be shot either way, explain the dominance problems to him and let him work it out.  He will probably love being in control of the decision to shoot right or left and may be a little more interested in archery.

Even if he makes the wrong choice, it's no big deal.  I've known several adults that successfully made the switch from one to the other.  If he wants to, he can switch at any time.

Allen

[Big'n]

Switch the child to Lefty and start him that way. Yes you can overcome eye dominance but you will NEVER know your full potential whether it's shooting a pistol, shotgun, or a bow. The average person will not shoot enough to overcome an eye dominance problem. Like the champion mentioned above. DAVE

[Kingstaken]

I disagree with switching. At this young age eye may switch. Shooting traditional is with both eyes open. More bow choice for right hands.
Let the child have fun.

From experience and due to an injury I had to switch to lefty being right eye dominant. No big deal.

Here's my 8 year old having fun.

 

[ThePushArchery]

thanks for the info guys..

His dad read this post tonight. As for the decision, we'll keep you posted

[Firstlight]

Keep searching for more info.

I don't think you should switch.  I know many left eye dominate, right handed shooters whom are truely excellent shooters.

While I understand the arguments for switching you will find many archers disagree with the dominant eye theory.  If shooting instinctively it won't matter as your not aiming with any one eye.  The arrow is seen in our secondary vision lessoning the site of the dominant eye. If you cant the bow it's really more in between both eyes anyways.