Right hand, left eye

[TooManyHobbies]

Like I don't have enough problems with my own set up, I'd like to get my son into trad too. He is definitely different. He shoots bow right, shoots gun left, eats with left, but throws with right and is left eye dominant. Where do I start?

[stevemfwills]

ummmm good luck with that...my nephew is the same way...i let him shoot both a right and left handed bow and let him choose

[Shaun]

There are some great shooting Bear Kodiak bows made in the mid 1950's with a shelf on each side. Get him one of those and  let him work it out.

[ron w]

You should let him shoot what ever he is comfortable with.It should feel natural for him when he tries!

[3arrows]

My son was the same,teach him to shoot his dominant eye so he can be the BEST HE CAN.I had no one to help me when i started and shot right handed for 18 years.Now i have been shooting left for 26 years.Really makes a difference pass 20 yards.

[Cherokee Scout]

Let him shoot however he wants. He will find is own way.
Think about a baseball player or a golfer, are they concerned about eye dominance?
Unless he is using point of aim, it makes no difference.
Now the debate can start.........

[hunt it]

Right handed and left eye dominant here. The only way to go is get him a left handed bow and have him go at it. In the long run if he shoots with his dominant eye he will be more accurate. Not saying he can't do it right handed but he will achieve his best potential with left handed bow.

[COMPOUNDLESS IN CONCRETE]

If you teach him to shoot instinctive, eye dominance doesn't matter because you look at the target and not the tip of the arrow.  

I think if he is already shooting right handed, that is probably what is comfortable to him.

I am ambidextrous as well but can't shoot left handed, it feels like a man hug that lingers too long, awkward and uncomfortable.

[Jack Whitmire Jr]

If you don't start him with his dominant eye it will be a major diservice to him IMO.

I know I'm right handed and left eye dominant and was started right handed.


Jack

[AkBillyBow]

I am the same way...right handed but left eye dominant. I shoot right handed, and I think I simply turn my hend into the string a bit more than average (placing my left eye over the string more).  Either way, the brain will figure it out and compensate for it,  It will just take time, like anything.

I can shoot left handed with a lighter weight bow, and actually shoot it better at short distances.  But, it does not feel natural to me, and I cannot pull near as much wieght without loosing my form.

I agree with others that say let him shoot what feels best.  He will have to practice either way, so it really won't be an issue.

The only time I found it to be an issues was sooting with a peep site (compound bow) or shooting with a shot gun.  I cannot hit anything with the shot gun until I close my left eye.  It takes a few misses until I remember!!

AkBillyBow

[stickbowmaniac]

I'm the same as your son.Left i domonant.Shoot a gun left handed and a bow right handed.Don't have any problems shooting a right handed bow.I shoot everything guns and bows with both eyes open.like Akbillybow i can shoot a bow left handed but it has to be lighter poundage.Most of all as long as he is having fun.

[TooManyHobbies]

Since I don't want to get him two bows right away, I like Shaun's idea. Now, let's see if we can find an old Kodiak with two shelves. Thanks for all the quick replies. I'll let him read this thread though, to help ME make up HIS mind. lol.

[Shawn Rackley]

i am left eye dominant. and right handed. i simply close my left eye. has never been a problem for me.

[bowmofo]

I switched to left as I am left eye dominant but it does not matter to much  I shoot instinctively and shoot either way. Poorly I might ad!

[joebuck]

Let him shoot what ever his strongest side is. Then teach him to shoot bow 3 under and look down arrow like vent on his shotgun. Dominant eye now is a non factor!  Strenght and form is more critical than dominant eye. To swap dominant eyes, have him squint a tad in opposite eye. I have same son plus I taught myself to shoot right and left handed. Good luck. Don't Sweat it

[Bowwild]

I'm RH and LH dominant. I shot a bow RH for 28 years and have been shooting LH since 1996. I'd highly recommend you match the string hand do the dominant eye; better peripherial vision, better depth perception, and for some better balance with both eyes open. I've trained several veteran archers who were like I am.  A fellow in ND had shot for 32 years RH with Left eye dominance. He was shooting (according to him, not me) better in two days left-handed.  I'm hoping my grandson is LH domiant when he turns early teens so I has someone to hand down all my LH recurves too! I shoot a shotgun LH but rifles and handguns RH.

[Don Batten]

If he learns to shoot both ways, he could be like the NC state basketball player from the 80's, Charles Shakelford. He said on espn, " I can dribble with my right and left hand, I'm amphibious" LOL.

Seriously, I shot bows as a kid lefthanded and guns righthanded. Throw and kick and bat left. So I'm kinda in the sameboat. When I learned about dominant eye, I started shooting bows right handed. Yes, awkward at first but by the end of one session I could see improvment in my accuracy. Never looked back. DB

[mattmcdonald]

i am the same way eat with my left throw right and do most things right handed and am also left eye dominate and shoot left handed it works well for me beacuse i can shoot with both eyes open id get him a left handed bow

[BA]

I like the way Joebuck puts it.  He showed me three fingers under and said to treat it like a shot gun and it made all the difference in the world.  I am right handed and left eye'd.  Doesn't seem to matter at all.

[Canyon]

Go with the dominant eye. It was almost magic once I realized my son was left eye dominant and switched him to a lefty bow. He didn't like it at first but as the hits started coming he changed his mind.