I have a long ways to go!(pictures added of today"s group)

[Mudd]

As some of you know I started out last month to try to learn to shoot left handed.

All I had to try with is a selfbow and my dual shelf Maddog Mutt. Neither bow is cut to center so I decided to get a true left handed bow.

I traded for a nice 7 Lakes 64" and 51@28. I decided that after having shot it just a couple of times right after it got here that today was the day to begin in earnest.

I started out at 30 yards but the arrows couldn't be called a group so I moved in to 16 yds and here is my 1st grouping...lol if you can call it that.

 

I think I need to move up a minimum of 6 yards.
or maybe even 11...lol

God bless,Mudd

[ChuckC]

You are keeping them in the same yard.  Great start.  Move up and work into it.  Have fun.. don't worry.
ChuckC

[lpcjon2]

I am impressed at the fact you would even try left handed.      

[mcgroundstalker]

That's something I may try in the future. A Lefty Learning Curve... Interesting.

... mike ...

[Mudd]

I am just now getting to the point that getting an arrow on the string isn't such a big deal.

Who would ever have thought that such a simple task could present such a big challenge...lol

Shooting is proving no easy task either. So far I am only getting about a 27" draw. I was really glad that I put up such a large back stop..lol

I will have to say, it is fun and I love doing it.

God bless,Mudd

[MercilessMing]

Great start, Mudd.  Will you let us know your progress and share your lessons learned?  

I am starting the same path as you now.  I noticed that I am able to hold the bow full draw longer and more stable since my right hand is stronger.  

Good luck on left hand shooting.

[Friends call me Pac]

That's good shooting Mudd.  If it were me shooting left handed you'd need a super wide angle lens to get a photo of my group.

[Bowwild]

Mudd,
I made the conversion from Rh to LH in 1995 after 28 years RH. I was using a compound then. I started at 10 yards.  

To teach myself to shoot a recurve again, I started at 7 yards. When I began damaging arrows (tight groups) I moved to 14 yards. Now I'm shooting at 20 yards. I'm not there yet (damaging arrows) at 20+ yards.

I tried to save some time yesterday and skip 20 and went to 30 yards.  Very disheartening!  My eye must wander much more at 30 yards --  I moved back to 20.

One tip I'd recommend.  Always try to be positive with yourself. Think about what you will do correctly next shot rather than what you did wrong this shot.  Feeling bad about a shot is unproductive to say the least!  If for example you failed to follow-through with a shot and the arrow hits low, instead of thinking or saying "I didn't follow-through, think next shot I will follow-through."  The mind is a funny thing.

[Rank Bull]

I can't believe your wife lets you shoot the couch! That's awesome.

[JEFF B]

way to go bro Mudd!!!!                 you will be a lefty in no time  :thumbsup:may the force be with you young string walker

[seabass]

good job mudd.i tried it with a 1961 black widow lh target bow.i had trouble putting and keeping the arrow on the string.i was afraid i was going to dry fire that beutiful vintage bow.i think you did a great job.keep up the good work buddy!

[BOWMARKS]

Mudd  

I did it a couple years ago could not see from right eye I tried to beat it but just was not possable,finaly switched to lefty after about three months I started to see an improvment,now it just comes natural.  

Good luck to you maybe I can get a lefty hat MARK

[Mudd]

I am back at it this morning.

I moved up to 10 yards and experienced some improvement. I can't say I'm ready to shoot at a live animal but it is some better than yesterdays group.

I need to remember to warm up the muscles on the left side the same way I do on the right. I wish I knew why it was a step that I skipped but now wish I hadn't..lol

Thanks for looking!

God bless,Mudd

 
 
 

[Looper]

Are you left eye dominant?

[xtrema312]

I am about to try this myself.  I want to build up my left side for muscle balance.  I could do that with some bands or something, but what fun would that be?  I will have to drop 20 lb. in draw weight I think to start because I can only hit about 26" with my right handed bows and I need to get to over 29".  I am thinking it would be better to get a full length draw then short draw so much.

[Gray Buffalo]

send me that bow. I'll check it for a while to see if it's you or the bow                

[Gen273]

Stay with it Mudd, you are doing much better than I could.

[Mudd]

Originally posted by looper:
Are you left eye dominant?

No, right eye dominate.

God bless,Mudd

[Looper]

I'll bet that if you cover your right eye, or close it, your groups will tighten up.  Shooting opposite of your eye dominance will have an adverse effect on your accuracy.

[ChuckC]

you will adapt to the shooting, but harder still is to make everythig seem graceful lefty.  Try sneaking up to a shooting spot, you ALWAYS que up for a right handed shot.  In the woods it is worse.  Takes time and practice.
ChuckC