More on Which Eye is Dominant

[2fletch]

Yesterday I was doing an archery program at a birthday party where there were about 20 kids shooting and at least 15 of them had never shot before. Two of them were shooting consistently to the left and it made me wonder if they were left eye dominant. When I tested them they did prove to be left eye dominant. This is the first time that I have seen a case where it was so obvious. I just wondered if anyone else has experienced a situation where it was so obvious? I'll be more alert to it the next time I work with kids or adults.

[Possum Head]

Interesting finding.

[mathews8pt]

That is interesting.  I have a strong left eye dominance and shoot right handed.  It works ok, but im going to try and shoot leftly here soon.  When i try to teach others i start them on their dominant side though.

Anytime I am trying to help a brand new archer, I always test eye dominance first. When they are brand new, they don't know which way they are supposed to do it and it is easy to tell them to start opposite hand. It's the guys that have been doing it backwards for a while that have a real hard time switching!

Bisch

[2fletch]

One of the women in our Thursday night group was shooting a bow when I met her so I didn't check her for eye dominance. When I found out that she was left eye dominant I advised her to try shooting left handed. After two weeks she is now shooting much better left handed. One of the guys in the group shoots pretty good but he is left eye dominant also. He will probably switch also.

A lot of first time shooters will try to aim by putting the point on the bullseye. If they are left eye dominant shoot right handed then they will impact to the left consistantly. I was slow to realize that but then I have not heard anyone else say that either.

[Blackjack]

this is how I discovered my daughters eye dominance,always shot left,got a lefty mad dog coming to switch her up now.

[Tickbait]

I have three daughters.  Two out of the three are right handed but left eye dominant.  I read somewhere that cross dominance is more common in females but don't know for sure.  Eric.

[dcolavito]

If you haven't already, you might want to take a look at Jay Kidwell's book, "Instictive Archery Insights".

At least for those of us shooting "instinctively", eye dominance isn't much of a factor for accuracy, and he gives good reasons for this.  As he explains -- and again, for instinctive aiming ...

1. Dominant eye has more authority at close range and primary vision; loses authority at farther distance and peripheral vision.
2. Windage is a constant
3. We generally cant the bow, which moves the arrow out of the vertical plane beneath whichever eye we anchor closest to.

Have fun!

[maineac]

I always check the students in my archery club.  It is amazing how many are cross dominant.  The starter kit my school got from NASP, had ten right hand bows, two left hand bows.  Quite often I have to have lefties rotate in on the end of a round to get them all through.

[2fletch]

It's always a good idea to check for eye dominance if you are going to instruct a shooter. But when you have 20 or more shooter in line to shoot for the first time, there isn't much time to check all of them out.  

Most of the cross dominant shooters that I have encountered recently have been female. Another thing that seems to be mostly with girls is that occasionally when a new shooter pulls back the bow and can't make themselves let go the string. I see that a lot especially with young girls under 10 yrs. old.

[calgarychef]

I'm left eye dominant.  I figure if most folks are more comfortable shooting right handed just have them squint the non shooting eye.  It automatically causes the shooting eye to take over and the problem is solved.  It's really a lot easier than fooling around trying to get someone to use their less comfortable hand for holding the bow, there's enough problems already with first time shooters trying to get the arrow to stay on the shelf, etc.

[Archie]

I'm goofy... and have no dominant eye.  Whichever eye sees better through my glasses or contacts is what my brain uses as dominant.  When I switch between glasses and contacts, it takes about about an hour to make the switch, and gives me a lot of "vertigo".  I always knew something was up, but the optometrist confirmed it with me a few months back.

Fortunately, my glasses leave me with my right eye "dominant", I shoot right-handed with both eyes open, and wear glasses most of the time.  When I wear contacts, my left eye sees better and becomes "dominant", and I have to close my left eye when I shoot.

But... to some degree, I always have double-vision, and the "dominant-eye" tests don't work on me, because I always see two of everything closer or farther than what I am focusing on.

[Fishburglar]

funny that after seeing a thread on eye dominant i checked to see which eye dominant i am. Go figure im left eye dominant but am right handed. i pull my bow string with my right. i shoot instinctive. Both eyes are always open. i never tried to switch hands and i hope i dont try it, im scared if i like it i have to change my new bow hahaha. i prefer to pull with my right hand tho

[Bowwild]

It is very common.   The signs include:

1. Closing the off-eye.
2. Missing the target to
3. Leaning the head over the string to get the "wrong" eye to aim.

[YORNOC]

yes, always easy to see with kids. they know nothing of instinctive principles yet, and just do what they do.

[T Lail]

Don, I am left eye dominant and have shot right handed for years.....when I get tired or have shot a lot, I do start shooting left.....tried to switch one time, but gave up.....still shoot fairly good though......  

[2fletch]

Hi Tony, how are you? The only two people that I have worked with to change over because of cross dominance started of awkward. One of them showed improvement in her shooting on the first night and came back two weeks later smoking the rest of the group. The other one continued to experience awkwardness but definitely began to shoot better in 2-3 weeks.

[DennyK]

I need to shoot left handed, right eye dominant out of necessity. If my form is on I'm on.

[Sirius Black]

Don't feel odd Archie, I have the same issue. I suppose most people are either right or left eye dominant, but a few like us are eye neutral. We have the double peripheral vision whether we shoot right or lefty. I enjoy shooting my recurve anyway (I think it's the fingers release more than anything)but if I don't become a good shot (a dessert-size paper plate)out to 25yds, I will go back to my compound out of respect for the animals that I hunt.

[WRV]

I can't figure which is Don's dominant eye. I can tell however when doesn't have his "shooting glasses" on!!