Kid's bow choice...please help.

[Stripstrike1]

Does it matter if you are left eye or right eye dominant when setting up a Trad outfit for a youngster?  My seven year old son bats left- handed, throws right,  and is left-eye dominant.  Should I set him up with a left-handed bow or start him out right-handed?  It would be easier right-handed because he can use my stuff when he gets older.

[lpcjon2]

My son is left eye and shoots right handed.I got him and eye patch( he thinks it 's cool) so as to help him in using his right eye.He is pretty good and I worked with him with a BB gun first so he can concentrate on form when he shoots the bow.BTW he hits and throws right.With kids you can change eye dominance if you stay consistent.If he is ambidextrous now it should be fairly easy.Try it and see how it works.Just my opinion

[reddogge]

Geez, I don't know what to tell you.  My son switched at 5 years old from shooting left handed to right handed and he is 100% right handed as an adult.

I believe with shooting sports go with the dominant eye.  Goes for rifle, shotgun, bow.  Less problems down the road for him.  All use the eye as the root of the aiming system.

[Oregon Okie]

My son's bow shoots from either side. He's 5 and one time he'll shoot right and the next time he shoots left. I figure he's just working things out but it'll build muscles and coordination either way. They are little they can work out the details a little later. JMO.

[richbat]

just an idea,but why not get him a bow that has dual shelves,that way he could see which works better for him.

[T Sunstone]

Go with the dominate eye.

[vermonster13]

Go with the dominate eye. It will only help over the long run. My son is left handed but right eye dominate so he is shooting a right handed bow. Now is when it will be easiest for him to learn and having learn the right way is always best.

[Chuck Jones]

Most kids should shoot with their dominate eye, if they can do it. A very few, have problems if, for instance, they are totally right handed, but left eye dominate. If they do some things with either hand; there shoudn't be a problem shooting with the dominate eye.

[Stripstrike1]

Thanks for all of the input. Looks like I may have to go with a south-paw rig.

[gregg dudley]

Go with the dominant eye.  I switched my daughter to a left-handed bow as soon as I realized she was left-eye dominant.  It made all the difference in the world.

[TimZeigler]

I would say, go with the dominent eye if he's comfortable drawing left handed.  My wife is left eye dominent and I believe my 5 year old is as well, and have been shooting right handed, but they have to close their dominent (left) eye to do so.

[portugeejn]

When I was actively teaching the Boy Scouts archery, if a boy couldn't hit the broad side of a barn it was usually a left eye dominance issue.  If I could convince them to try a left handed bow, they invariably did better and were able to continue on and get the Archery Merit badge.  The boys that couldn't be convinced, not so much!

RonP

[gregg dudley]

http://www.huntersfriend.com/eye-dominance-issues.htm

Good information about shooting and eye dominance.

[Sheepshooter]

I first noticed the left eye dominance in my stepdaughter when she was trying to shoot a pellet gun. Luckily the gun could be shot either way and she went from being frustrated to shooting very well instantly. Took a little longer to convince her to shoot a bow left handed but she is now. She shoots better that she did right handed but she's still getting used to it.