closing one eye

[razorsharptokill]

I started closing my left eye(RH of course) before the draw and my groups tightened up considerably! Anyone else close an eye?

[Soilarch]

Are you keeping it closed? I can see where it would help the mind focus on a point but I've always found that in all shooting (bow, rifle, pistol, shotgun) I do better if both eyes are open...HOWEVER...there've been several times I find squinting lightly and FORCING my dominant eye to be, well, *dominant* helps.

You lose depth-perception when you close one eye...so be mindful to not train yourself to close your eye before your brain can judge the distance.

[thunder1]

Soilarch is right on about the depth-perception. You also lose field of view and may never see that buck following that doe your about to take. Also makes hitting a moving target harder. I to will squint from time to time to better focus on a point.

[razorsharptokill]

I wondered about the depth perception/range estimation. I backed off to unknown yardages between 25 and 35 yards and still had good hits. I tried starting the draw with both eyes open and closing my left eye at about 10% draw. I then picked my spot with both eyes open, closed my left eye and drew to anchor and shot. I didn't see any big errors due to range estimation. I'm really liking the improved accuracy!

I'll keep shooting like this as long as it works. I'd like to try it on a 3D target some place other than the comfort of my back yard. That would be a better unit of measure.

[Big Bird]

that's the way I do it.been shooting that way for forty years.I can not shoot with both eyes open.I get double vision.

[Paul WA]

I started shooting with my left eye closed due to being left eye dominant, groups got tighter and I see the target better...PR

[steadman]

Jim I do the same thing. I have a cross dominance issue. I found when I turned my head a bit too much to the right my left eye took over and I would hit 8-12" to the left. Now i start my draw with both eyes open with a spot picked, and somewhere in the middle of my draw, close my left eye. Groups improved and accuracy improved. Good luck with it, and if it works for you, dont stop.

[Deadbolt]

I also have a cross dominance issue and shoot with my left eye closed.

Yes when your eye is close there is depth perception issues but who walks around with their eye always closed?  Before shooting I use both eyes to determin where I need to aim, close my eye and aim accordingly.  I gap shoot though so that doesn't affect me.

As for the not see'ing a trailing buck...if you dont see it with your eye open you were going to see it with both eyes open.

[bogeyrider63]

i find shoot better groups when i close my left eye.

[huntin_sparty]

Originally posted by bogeyrider63:
i find shoot better groups when i close my left eye.

me too I like the wider range of view but have a issue with accuracy with the left eye open!

[Winterhawk1960]

I must be different......I tried this today while shooting, and with three different bows I shot about 6 to 8 inches to the left with my left eye closed.

Winterhawk1960

[highelk]

I am also cross eye dominant.
before I switched to left handed shooting, I considered closing one eye as well.
My fear though is that in the excitement of the hunt I would forget to close my eye. so it seems to me logical to practice and shoot with both eyes since that's what's natural. with practice my shooting continues to improve.

[longbowguy]

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do- Sylvester Stallone.

That said I think it is best to try to work through your problems and try to learn to shoot with both eyes open.

For those of you who are cross eye dominant, consider this: several of the greats of our sport were cross eye dominant. Howard Hill was, Glenn St. Charles was, and I think Fred Bear was.

I suspect once you work through the early problems it may actually be an advantage in dynamic, quick shooting like on movers on flyers. So I suggest you do not give up too easily. This is not an easy sport and thoughtful hard work is often rewarded. - lbg

[jcp161]

I'm not cross eye dominant but my left eye some times "takes over" due to my right eye now needing a little more correction due to age. Squinting with the left eye seems to correct the problem, improve my groups and still allows me to use both eyes.

[stickbowmaniac]

I'm backwards i shoot a bow right handed and a gun left handed.But either one i always shoot with both eyes open.

[Doug Treat]

I shoot better with my L. eye closed (I shoot R. handed).  I think that my non-dominant L. eye will sometimes take over with both eyes open and I'll shoot left.  I have not found a disadvantage when shooting at game to close one eye.

[Northwest_Bowhunter]

Just before I hit "anchor" I squint my left eye if not completely close it.  I have never had my eye dominance successfully tested, it always depends on where I hold my hands during the test (looking through the window you make with your hands), so I just shoot right handed and squint with my left.

[kodiakkid]

I too squint my left eye just before reaching anchor. Paul<><

[Naticus]

I am left eye dominant but RH in shooting and writing but play pool and snooker LH. I was ambidextrous until I was was 12,

I keep both eyes open until I come to anchor

[Benny Nganabbarru]

I am shooting best with my left eye closed at ranges out to forty metres (I am right-handed). For longer ranges, I find I need both eyes open to see the target. I gap shoot.