Shoot left handed but right eye dominant...?

1264 Views 13 Replies 7 Participants Last post by Xtrema, Dec 24, 2003

Chris D.

Discussion Starter · Nov 12, 2003

Ok, so heres the deal. . . All my life (im 16) I have shot left handed (BB, pellet gun, .22, paintball) and thrown left handed even though I am right handed. I know im weird. I am getting ready to buy my first shotgun and do not know if I should get a left handed model, or just get a righty. So what do I do if I shoot left handed but my dominant eye is my right? Should I try to switch to shooting right handed? I have tried and it just feels really occward. So what do you think? Am I a hopeless case?
Thanks,
Chris D.

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winders

· #2 · Nov 13, 2003

Chris,

If you are right eye dominant and right-handed, I would make the switch to right-handed shooting now while you are still young. It won't feel awkward for long. If you don't already, make sure to learn to shoot your shotgun with both eyes open too.

Scott

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Chris D.

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 13, 2003

Alright. . . I will have to work on the switch. How long do you think it will take? I think I will keep shooting lefty until deer season is over, since it starts the 15th.
Thanks,
Chris D.

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· #4 · Nov 13, 2003

I am right handed also but figured out early I had a dominant left eye. So I made the switch and yes it was a little awkward but it didn't take real long to feel right. Now I couldn't shoot right handed if I wanted to.

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Chris D.

Discussion Starter · #5 · Nov 13, 2003

Ok well I will have to try. By the way, when someone says my "dominant eye" what do they mean by that? I mean I know the test and everything and how to figure out which eye is your dominant one. But what are they saying? Does it "see" better or something?
Thanks,
Chris D.

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· #6 · Nov 18, 2003

To determine which eye is dominant point your finger at a
small object approximately 15 to 20 feet away with both eyes open. Then close one eye at a time. Which ever eye stays more on the object is your dominant eye.

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Chris D.

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 18, 2003

Yeh my right eye is dominant... crap... Will using my left eye really effect the way I shoot (as in accuracy)?
Thanks,
Chris

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· #8 · Nov 19, 2003

I'm by no means an expert. I have a lft handed son that we had to address some of these issues. But, I believe that if you are right eye dominant and you shoot a shotgun correctly (with both eyes open) it will have an effect on your accuracy if you shoot left handed. Shoting a rifle you close on eye so dominance does not make a difference. Have you been to a gun club or had a friend throw some skeet and just tried to shot from both sides?

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New_Guy

· #9 · Dec 1, 2003

I am right handed, but as I was growing up, I couldn't close my left eye, so I started shooting left handed. I have since learned I am left eye dominate.

I always start out with my right eye closed, looking down the sight plane of my old SXS, but don't know if I shoot with both eye open or not, but I can see the clays shatter along the right side of by old gun.

Go with what feels good and natural, parctice will take care of the rest.

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870TB

· #10 · Dec 11, 2003

Chris,

I'm the same way, left handed but right eye dominant. I was taught (forced) to write right-handed when I was a kid, so I'm not truly a lefty, but I throw left handed and usually eat left handed. If I reach for something it's almost always with my left hand.

I shoot right handed, and always have. It seemed natural with a rifle when I first started because it was easier to close my left eye and shoot with my right.

My daughter is right handed, but left eye dominant. She's your age and has just started shooting trap with me. When I started teaching her the basics I gave her a choice of left or right handed. She tried both and said left handed was easier because of her eye dominance.

I'd say give right handed shooting a try.

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Jeff23

· #11 · Dec 11, 2003

Ok, we've had two recent threads on this topic; I encourage all to read them as well as this one. It's fine to start another thread, and Chris D., I don't mean to chastise you for it; I just wanted to mention that there's been quite a bit of recent posting about eye dominance--we can ALL learn from the search function.

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Germster

· #12 · Dec 13, 2003

I strongly suggest that you shoot on the side of your dominate eye. If you are right eye dominate shoot from the right side.

Since you almost always shoot with both eyes open, it's very difficult to shoot from the weak eye side. While there have been some who have radically bent stocks to accomplish this, it's really not necessary.

It's not that hard to switch sides from which to shoot. I doubt, however than you can cause one eye to take over from another; that is if both eyes are healthy.

If you had to teach yourself to write with your other hand, you'd be surprised how fast you can make the switch.

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· #13 · Dec 17, 2003

Chris,
There is a solution to your problem that does not involve switching to right handed shooting. I have a similar problem to yours. I am left eye dominant, write left handed, but do many other things, including shooting, right handed. Take a piece of scotch tape and cut out a circle about 1/2"-5/8" in diameter. This is kind of a pain to do. The easiest way I have found to do this is to hold a square of tape with a pair of tweezers and cut the corners off. Take this piece of tape an LOOSELY place it in the upper right hand corner of your shooting glasses. Put your shotgun to your shoulder and close your left eye. The circle of tape should block your view of the front sight through your right eye. If it does not, then move it around until it does (That is why you put it on loosely first). Once you have the tape where it needs to be go ahead and press it down firmly. When properly positioned the circle of tape should cause you to see a blurred circle centered over your front bead through your right eye while your left eye is closed. Once you have properly fit the piece of tape shoulder your gun with your glasses on and you should be able to sight your gun with both eyes open and have a clear sight picture (no double vision on the front bead). I was having a hard time when I first started shooting a shotgun until someone noticed my problem and had me try this. It has been very successful for me. Your problem is not all that uncommon. I have seen many shooters with "dots" on their glasses because they are in the same boat we are. Hope this helps. If something above is not clear, say so and I will try to explain it better.

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Xtrema

· #14 · Dec 24, 2003

Re eye dominance...if you are right handed, and thought you were right eyed, but now sense that your left eye is dominant, it could be that your eyesight has changed over the years. What happens is that the brain choses the eye with the best vision for the task at hand. If you get a good eye exam, you may find that a slight correction for astigmatism or a very slight increase in power on the right eye will bring it back to normal vision. Then, the brain will go back to using the right eye like you want it to.

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