Another new member and a question already!

[Charles Hoff]

#3114

I just joined and enjoying everyone already. I’ve been trad shooting for about 2 years. I could use some help. I am right handed and shoot right handed. Been shooting a bow for about 20 years right handed. Basically I do everything right handed. I recently read in TBM that if you are left eye dominant you need to shoot left handed. I took the eye dominance test and sure enoug I am left eye dominant shooting right handed. My problem is along with the cost factor of switching to a left bow I can hardly wipe my nose left handed, so shooting left is pretty much out. I’m 60 yrs old and hard to retrain. Does any one have any ideas of what I could do other than shooting lefty. I’m not to bad right now, being a rookie. thanks

[Yellowfeather]

#16625

I found myself in a similar predicament almost 10 years ago. I am right handed and I had been shooting a bow right handed, a gun left handed, and am left eye dominant. I traded in my right handed bow for a lefty. The reason I just up and traded hands is because my shooting was pretty bad. I figured that if I traded hands to match my eyes it would get better. It did and I am fairly happy with the results.
I guess my advice would be that if you are happy with how you shoot and you have trained your eyes to work that way for a good many years there is no reason to swap. If you need to swap like I did then pick a cheaper low poundage bow to start with. I used a PSE Impala that drew 50lbs@28″. I probably should have started lower since it took me a while to be able to draw properly. The lower the weight the more you concentrate on form and not brute force.
Best of luck either way,
Damon

[Chris Shelton]

#16821

try shooting with both eyes open!?

[Charles Hoff]

#17318

Thanks for the suggestion. I do shoot with both eyes open. That’s why the dominant eye thing was bothering me. I’ve tried closing my left eye and that won’t work. Currently I’m able to shoot paper plate groups at 15-20 yards 4 out of 5 arrows. I guess I was trying to close that in. My goal is softball size groups at 20 yards. Thanks again.

[Steve Sr.]

#17339

I’d suggest taking a look at Jay Kidwell’s book, “Instinctive Archery Insights”.

Jay, himself, is right hqnded and left eye dominant and covers that subject as well as many others. (PS. He stays with right hand shooting and suggest the same for others)

After shooting instinctively for 50 years now I still found helpful information and it’s also a “good read” with some great suggestions and some good humor.

Instead of telling each how to do it, his instructions allow you to adapt your own style to gain consistancy.

While I didn’t agree with EVERYTHING he says, there is definately some helpful info there!!

BEST 14 bucks I’ve spent in some time.

Google it and his page will pop up.

God Bless

Steve

[Mark Turton]

#17374

A few years ago I attempted to teach my left eye dominant ambidextrous wife to shoot clays, it was hard work, she can comfortably shoot of either shoulder and switch without realizing it, the only consistency we achieved was when she closed one eye, so I have some understanding of your dilemma.

If closing one eye seems unnatural and awkward try using an eye-patch this reduces muscle tension in the face and stops you thinking about what you are doing, if this does not help the cheapest alternative may be a left handed light weight take-down that would allow you to start with a lighter draw weight as yellowfeather suggested and add weight with heavier limbs later.

Whilst typing this it occurs to me that if you have not done so already go see a coach and ask him/her to review your performance it may be that they will see something you are missing yourself.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on, Pothunter.

[MontanaFord]

#20351

My wife is right handed but left eye dominant, as well. We were fortunate to find a cheap little lefty recurve for her at a 3-d shoot. She definitely shoots better left handed than right. Closing one eye didn’t work well for her when she was trying to shoot right handed. Myself, I’m fortunate to be right eye/right hand dominant, though I have figured out a way to shoot a right-handed bow left handed, if I ever need to. Not real accurate, but fun to play with. Good shooting and good luck.

Michael

[aeronut]

#20628

I’ve been shooting a bow for over forty years and started when no one said anything about eye dominance. I am right handed and left-eyed but find that if I concentrate only on the target and not the arrow I am fine. If I ‘see’ the arrow as I am making the shot I will usually screw up the shot.

Dennis

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