Shotgunworld.com

I'm one of those people who is right handed but left-eye dominant. I've tried closing an eye and taping my shooting glasses, but I still seem to miss a few birds each round because my left eye tries to take over. I've also tried shooting left handed, but got frustrated after a few birds and went back. (it feels soooo ackward)
How many of you have successfully switched from one shoulder to the other to accommondate a dominant eye? I might just bite the bullet and practice practice practice shooting left handed if I think I could adapt. (my left eye is 20/20, right is 30/20, so it's a BIG difference in dominance)

Thanks!

PM Live2Hunt, he made the switch about 45 days ago and after a few rounds his averages are improving every week. You'd better hurry though cause bow season is about to start and we'll lose him for a month.

I often shoot with an older gentleman who switched from shooting off the right shoulder to the left, but the reason was bad shoulder joint pain. He made the switch about four years ago. He shoots both trap and skeet and shoots well enough to get an occasional 25 straight in either game. I think that the limiting factor of his scores now are his age and his joint pain and not the fact the he is shooting left handed.

If you commit to the change and stay with it for quite awhile, I think that it could work for you. Unless there is some compelling reason preventing it, shooting from the dominant eye shoulder is the best way to go.

Gregg535

I guess you could say that I made the switch...but not exactly.

I am left-handed, but I shoot right-handed. I never actually switched, I started shooting that way when I was a kid with a Daisy Red Ryder BB gun. I just did it because it felt better that way. I was 50 years old before I found out that I did it because I am right-eye dominant.

However, my right eye is not dominant enough to allow me to shoot with both eyes open. I have what is called "incomplete dominance".

I solve my problem by "winking" my off eye as I establish the lead. That allows me to pick up the target with both eyes, while actually shooting with one eye. "Winking down" the off eye is much more effective than keeping the eye shut or taping your glasses. It works well for me - it has allowed me to reach NSCA AA class with 12 of the 16 punches I need for Master class.

If you can learn how to "wink down", it would be easier than learning how to shoot from your "weak" side. To me, winking is so easy it is automatic, and I usually don't even realize I am doing it. However, some people may not be able to wink that easily, so you may not have any choice.

Learning to shoot from the weak side is a lot easier for an 8-year old than it is for an adult.

Not me personally but my bother did. he shot trap for a couple of years right handed. one day i was watching him and he just did hold the gun right. I asked him to check his eye dominance and low and behold he is left eye dominant. He made the switch the next round and went from shooting low 20's to low teens. but after 3 or 4 since he made the switch he has shot more 25 and 50 straight at the trap line then i have. He made the switch at 14 or 15 i believe so he was not set in his ways much at all. He said the main reason he switched was he would have to get new toys, new shotgun, bow and deer rifle. Now he doesnt have to worry about me stealing he guns anymore.

skog

My father taught me to shoot starting when I was very young, probably 6 or 7 and I did fairly well. It wasn't until I was in my 20's and taking a gun safety class with an extra college credit that I discovered a left eye dominance. I tried handguns and rifles left handed after that and was amazed at the difference. In my youth I had tried skeet and trap, but was terrible at it. In my 30's I decided to try it again, left handed this time, and low and behold, I could do it! It does feel ackward at first, I admit that, but keep trying, I imagine the end result will be very satisfying and it will begin to feel quite natural.

Not here....I always went after girls.

Scott

not really switched, but started my daughter as a lefty shooter...since she didn't shoot much it was no big deal for her.

retired guy at the club, right handed, left eyed...first year he was just terrible. He bought a left handed Browning o/u, had it fitted, worked at shooting lefty, got it down, and is now someone you gotta watch out for! He got good quick.

I do think you are gonna need a lefty gun or do some extensive stock work. Good excuse for that new gun!

Trip Dog

Any major change like shoulder/new gun or gun fit/going to gun down will take you from 1000 to 3000 shots to get used to.

Don't give up too soon.

Roger

I like, MrBen, have Incomplete Dominance. However, I am right handed but my left eye is dominant in all tests. When I mount the gun right handed to shoot trap or skeet, I see along the sides of the barrels. When I mount left handed, the same thing happens! So, when I shoot mounted gun games, I have to shoot with one eye closed from the get go (I shoot from the right shoulder).

HOWEVER, I find that when I am shooting low gun sporting clays, I do much better with both eyes open. The way I shoot, the gun is in the shoulder for only a very brief moment before the trigger is pulled. As such, my left eye does not have enough time to claim dominance and I see over the barrels. When I first started shooting sporting clays, I winked down as suggested by MrBen. Since I have started shooting with two eyes, my average has climbed 15 birds. I found that I was very liable to stop the gun as I was closing my eye.

Try shooting low gun with both eyes open and delay the mount until the very last moment before you pull the trigger. It worked for me...

I am right hand/left eye dominant. I switched about months ago. My scores only suffered a little at first but now I average 97-100 in skeet. Of course I had only been shooting for like 3 months before I switched.

I saw the clay much better right from the start. I could never imagine shooting with one eye closed now.

I know an old geezer who made the switch to lefty at around age 84, after a stroke left him nearly blind in his right eye. Now, at 87, he still knocks off a 25 every now and then, though his vision is worsening in both eyes. Shooting low gun seems to help him, as it keeps him from thinking too much about shouldering the gun on the "wrong" side. Also helps him see the bird and the whole picture more easily.