how hard to switch from RH to LH

[khardrunner]

I got surgery a year ago on my right shoulder but I seem to be redeveloping symptoms. I'll be talking with the doc soon.

Currently I shoot RH and am R eye dominate. How hard would it be to switch to LH and how long would it take shooting regularly to be able to be "hunting good"? I'm fairly athletic and I do throw LH, so that shoulder is decently developed, though obviously everything would be different.

[Bud B.]

My advice would be to buy an inexpensive lightweight LH bow and practice practice practice. I shoot RH occasionally and at short ranges (12 yards or less) I would not hesitate to hunt using a RH bow. I am all lefty except swinging a bat and hitting a golfball.

[Alexander Traditional]

I always heard try to shoot with your eye dominance,but it doesn't sound like you are going to have an option. I have a hard enough time much less having to learn with the other hand.

[Bowwild]

I switched from RH to LH shooting in 1996. I had been shooting RH since the mid-1960's.

I dropped 20% in draw weight to begin the switch. I took a couple months of daily shooting to get ready for hunting season.

In the work I do I've helped about 200 archers switch from RH to LH over the past 9 years or so (out of about 4,000). All of these switched due to dominant eye issues. Some, say have become better shots in 2 days than they've been their entire archery lives. I've found women to be more willing to make the switch than men.

The good news about switching is you have an opportunity to re-learn how to shoot.  If you have any undesirable habits or form flaws on the RH side they disappear on the Left if you know what to do and then do it.

I've also personally found this is the most instantaneous fix for target panic. It is gone on the first arrow. Now, you have to know what causes TP and then re-organize your thought process to prevent it from developing on this new side.

[khardrunner]

I have had issues with TP in the past, so I can see that being a positive as well. I'm hoping I don't have to make a switch though. After I talk to the doc I will have sme information to decide.

[Matt Fowler]

As stated start out light. I switched due to eye dominance. I shoot everything left handed now, bow ,flintlock, rifles, handguns. It's not difficult but does require time and effort. Also, not sure about switching to left hand with dominate right eye.