Well I just want to say I appreciate everyone's comments. I have been shooting with my youngest in the yard with his pellet gun on his left side which is his dominant eye side. He is spot on! He had no problems shooting from his left side even though he's right handed. The way he began you'd think he's been shooting that way. Thanks again everyone.
Will
Question for everyone? I've never encountered this issue until my youngest began shooting and is going to start hunting. My son is fine shooting a scope however not so much open sights, mainly a shotgun. It appears he's right handed but left eye dominant. When we shoot open sight B.B. Gun I can watch him adjust. It appears he using his left eye dominant to shoot right handed but this is only after a few misses he figures it out. I'm told the reason he shoots a crossbow fine and slug gun is because of the scope. This is new to me and need some advice on how to deal with the shoutgun for Turkey. He is 11 years old and I'm wondering should I just teach him to shoot left handed considering he is so young or just scope the shotgun for Turkey season? He will be watefowling eventually when he becomes more experienced I guess when I get him shooting good at things in motion. My goal was to involve him skeet shooting this Summer. I'm just wondering has anyone ever dealt with this and if so how did you adjust?
Thanks
Will
I am right handed and left eye dominant. I shoot both compound bows and guns right handed. It took a lot of work to be able to do it with a bow. I shoot with both eyes open. My suggestion would be to teach him to shoot left handed. Scopes help a lot but when dealing with open sights or bow sights it can be pretty tricky.
Yes, at that age the simplest lifetime solution, given that he is just starting out, would be to teach him to shoot left handed. It's great that you picked up on it. My wife is cross dominant and had always shot right handed and could not adapt to shooting left handed. Another solution for wing shooting that works very well if he insists or is only able to shoot right handed is a small blurring patch about 1 cm in diameter on the shooting glasses of the dominant eye lined up to block the bead when the gun is mounted. These small patches are made just for this purpose and depth perception isn't effected. That's what my wife ended up using and it works great.
Thank you for the responses. I was seriously considering teaching him to shoot left handed considering he's so young and easier to train. I figured someone on this webiste had encountered this before and greatly appreciate the help.
I close my left eye
Listen to what I'm going to say cause you're gonna hear lots of things about this. I am a certified instructor that teaches lots of newbies a year. Especially kids. We always start out w an eye dominance test. It's extremely important.
I only say so to qualify you what I'm saying has basis.
Now say you had a shotgun, arrow whatever and pointed it at target righty but aimed w the left eye. Your left eye would view the shot straight. ( try it by closing right eye, mounting and than opening. See where shot is aimed)You're righty stance places the gun to the side. Say you had a bow and sighted in at 15 yards. You actually could get the sight and arrow poi in the same place because of sights. A little further say 20 you'd be off to one side. A little closer off to another. Works that way anytime you use both eyes.
You can alleviate that by forcing dominance to the off eye. You ever see guys shoot patched? Ever see sticky markers on one side of a shooting glass? This is compromising the dominant eye by blocking it.
You've forced dominance to one eye with a scope. He's prob closing dominant eye or the magnification has the off eye showing dominant.
Why not just close one eye someone might ask? Well you lose binocular vision. This aids in depth perception, range estimation. It's also VERY unsafe to shoot a shotgun one eye closed.
Pick up a broom. Mount it like a shotgun and have say a poster or next to you. Close one eye and, quickly like you're wingshooting a bird,swing toward the poster that's on the closed eye side.
Notice you're dangerously close to the poster before you see it. If you tapped the trigger and swung through like you should you'd possibly put pellets in that poster.
Imagine your son shot that way and his little sis was standing next to him. Very dangerous.
I do not recommend shooting w a non dominant eye. Please teach him correctly.
If you need help PLEASE pm me.
Quote from: dejake on February 19, 2018, 10:49:09 AM
I close my left eye
Dejake please read what I just wrote
I taught my daughter to shoot left handed. Both her and my wife are right handed left eye dominant. She does prefer a scope over iron sights. In the long run it's probably better to shoot with the dominant eye.
As an eye doctor, who is cross-dominant (i.e. right-handed & left eye dominant)... Here is my advice.
First get him in for a full eye examination with an optometrist who has a good reputation with children... Make sure they do a dilated eye examination, and check his prescription after dilation (this is called a wet or cycloplegic refraction, and is very important for children).
Make sure that any significant refractive error (i.e. need for glasses) is addressed before making a final check for eye dominance. Eye dominance does not change, but "apparent" eye dominance can change with uncorrected vision.
And, hyperopia (or far-sightedness) is the trickiest devil here... A child (or adult) might be significantly far-sighted and still see well at distance...
Most parents taking children in to see me know I have some shooting experience... I would check dominance before getting into the examination and checking vision, and if there was any type of corrected refractive error, I would check dominance after being corrected... And, I would then have the child wear the glasses for a month before checking dominance one last time. Too many times, I have seen that dominance change after the child adjusts to his/her glasses.
And as a shooter who has suffered at wing/clay shooting as a cross-dominant shooter, I fully intend to teach my children to shoot off their dominant eye, not their dominant hand.
I would recommend and eye examination for all school-aged children... There are many benefits that parents do not think of (such as lens protection from blue screens and electronics, far-sighted issues which are usually hidden but can dramatically affect reading/learning issues, and more obvious issues that the child simply does not complain about due to not knowing better).
Quote from: Bowguy on February 19, 2018, 11:00:25 AM
Listen to what I'm going to say cause you're gonna hear lots of things about this. I am a certified instructor that teaches lots of newbies a year. Especially kids. We always start out w an eye dominance test. It's extremely important.
I only say so to qualify you what I'm saying has basis.
Now say you had a shotgun, arrow whatever and pointed it at target righty but aimed w the left eye. Your left eye would view the shot straight. ( try it by closing right eye, mounting and than opening. See where shot is aimed)You're righty stance places the gun to the side. Say you had a bow and sighted in at 15 yards. You actually could get the sight and arrow poi in the same place because of sights. A little further say 20 you'd be off to one side. A little closer off to another. Works that way anytime you use both eyes.
You can alleviate that by forcing dominance to the off eye. You ever see guys shoot patched? Ever see sticky markers on one side of a shooting glass? This is compromising the dominant eye by blocking it.
You've forced dominance to one eye with a scope. He's prob closing dominant eye or the magnification has the off eye showing dominant.
Why not just close one eye someone might ask? Well you lose binocular vision. This aids in depth perception, range estimation. It's also VERY unsafe to shoot a shotgun one eye closed.
Pick up a broom. Mount it like a shotgun and have say a poster or next to you. Close one eye and, quickly like you're wingshooting a bird,swing toward the poster that's on the closed eye side.
Notice you're dangerously close to the poster before you see it. If you tapped the trigger and swung through like you should you'd possibly put pellets in that poster.
Imagine your son shot that way and his little sis was standing next to him. Very dangerous.
I do not recommend shooting w a non dominant eye. Please teach him correctly.
If you need help PLEASE pm me.
:z-winnersmiley:
This is the right way to do this, I have mentored and have done Hunter Education Classes for many and the first step to shooting is always "dominant eye" identification. For some it is a hard change as adults and if you have the opportunity with a youth or new hunter is to take the step and to follow eye dominance.
MK M GOBL
Great stuff guys and a huge thank you. I've had Jesse to the eye doctors numerous times because he wears glasses. The topic of eye dominance has never occurred to me while he has undergone an exam, until now. I will follow up with the doctor but you all have definatley educated me on the topic. My oldest and me never had this issue. This first came about this past year shooting a shotgun during hunter education class. They shrugged it off and said he's probably cross eyed dominant. Needless to say he walked away disappointed because he couldn't hit the milk jug with the shotgun. Watching him shoot a cross bow and scoped slug gun I noticed him adjusting. He's spent enough time behind a B.B. gun to that I should have caught it. He hasn't been shooting for long so I'm happy to get on top of this now.
Quote from: Will on February 19, 2018, 09:20:40 AM
Question for everyone? I've never encountered this issue until my youngest began shooting and is going to start hunting. My son is fine shooting a scope however not so much open sights, mainly a shotgun. It appears he's right handed but left eye dominant. When we shoot open sight B.B. Gun I can watch him adjust. It appears he using his left eye dominant to shoot right handed but this is only after a few misses he figures it out. I'm told the reason he shoots a crossbow fine and slug gun is because of the scope. This is new to me and need some advice on how to deal with the shoutgun for Turkey. He is 11 years old and I'm wondering should I just teach him to shoot left handed considering he is so young or just scope the shotgun for Turkey season? He will be watefowling eventually when he becomes more experienced I guess when I get him shooting good at things in motion. My goal was to involve him skeet shooting this Summer. I'm just wondering has anyone ever dealt with this and if so how did you adjust?
Thanks
Will
if competition or self defense is the case, then maybe teach him to shoot left handed but if not then simply tell him to close his left eye. I am right handed and left eye dominant. I trap shoot, shoot my bow, and open sights all right handed. I keep my left eye open as I'm watching the target and then close my left eye as I get on target and shoot. Has not ever really been a problem for me...
Shoot from the eye-dominant shoulder and don't look back. It will be a little uncomfortable for a while and then everything clicks.
Quote from: silvestris on February 19, 2018, 03:58:54 PM
Shoot from the eye-dominant shoulder and don't look back. It will be a little uncomfortable for a while and then everything clicks.
Yep, I'm left handed but my right eye is dominant. My dad picked up on this when I was little and taught me to shoot right handed. I could shoot left handed now if I absolutely had too but it feels strange and I wouldn't do well shooting clays or wing shooting.
A friend is cross dominant and was talking at a DU function years ago. The way that he and his counterpart showed to test for dominance was to point at an object like a light switch across the room with both eyes open. Maintain the point, and cycle through a closed right eye and then a closed left eye. The point will be precise with the dominant eye and "off target" with the inferior eye.
My older friend with the cross dominance used a highly bent stock to address it. A lot of people use tape on shooting glasses over the cross dominant eye.
There is a lot of materials out there in gun publications and youtube. A session or two with an instructor that knows gun fitting and cross dominance issue will be a lot of help for your son.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7QEUKslIvU
Quote from: Swather on February 19, 2018, 06:56:03 PM
A friend is cross dominant and was talking at a DU function years ago. The way that he and his counterpart showed to test for dominance was to point at an object like a light switch across the room with both eyes open. Maintain the point, and cycle through a closed right eye and then a closed left eye. The point will be precise with the dominant eye and "off target" with the inferior eye.
My older friend with the cross dominance used a highly bent stock to address it. A lot of people use tape on shooting glasses over the cross dominant eye.
There is a lot of materials out there in gun publications and youtube. A session or two with an instructor that knows gun fitting and cross dominance issue will be a lot of help for your son.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7QEUKslIvU
Great video
Thank you
Quote from: Bigeclipse on February 19, 2018, 03:39:30 PM
Quote from: Will on February 19, 2018, 09:20:40 AM
Question for everyone? I've never encountered this issue until my youngest began shooting and is going to start hunting. My son is fine shooting a scope however not so much open sights, mainly a shotgun. It appears he's right handed but left eye dominant. When we shoot open sight B.B. Gun I can watch him adjust. It appears he using his left eye dominant to shoot right handed but this is only after a few misses he figures it out. I'm told the reason he shoots a crossbow fine and slug gun is because of the scope. This is new to me and need some advice on how to deal with the shoutgun for Turkey. He is 11 years old and I'm wondering should I just teach him to shoot left handed considering he is so young or just scope the shotgun for Turkey season? He will be watefowling eventually when he becomes more experienced I guess when I get him shooting good at things in motion. My goal was to involve him skeet shooting this Summer. I'm just wondering has anyone ever dealt with this and if so how did you adjust?
Thanks
Will
if competition or self defense is the case, then maybe teach him to shoot left handed but if not then simply tell him to close his left eye. I am right handed and left eye dominant. I trap shoot, shoot my bow, and open sights all right handed. I keep my left eye open as I'm watching the target and then close my left eye as I get on target and shoot. Has not ever really been a problem for me...
My father was a smoker for a long time. Was never really a problem for him either. Til he got throat cancer., Our parents, uncles, whoever were not instructors otherwise they'd have shown you dif. You'd be way ahead of the game instead of trying to band aid a real easy issue to avoid.
Someone young, new to shooting hasn't even developed a feel for a hand.
The safety aspect I spoke of and perhaps have not read is a very big reason to Keep BOTH eyes open the whole time you shoot.
I'm not a young man, I've shot all my life. I got lucky, I was strong side hand and eye dominant on the same side.
Shot a minimum of 400 rounds a week and up to 1500 a week for about 15 years. My hands are practiced.
Recently I became sick, my dominant eye is cloudy. Can't see.
I've been mounting a gun on the off side cause now that eye has become dominant.
Sounds lazy not to try and switch (I'm not calling you lazy it's my mentality on myself.)
Point was w my father, and the child we need to look ahead. We weren't all taught this way as obviously you weren't but why on earth sway a man from giving his son the best chance at success? I know that was not your intent but think about it.
You started out saying if competition or self defense was the case you'd maybe advise learning a dominant eye. Let's think about this, he's a little kid, who's he gonna compete with or defend himself from?
What if he enjoys it and decides to compete or later in life becomes a cop, ranger, what have you? Do you recommend he switch than or should a father know he won't go those routes? Should every non dominant eye shooter be never allowed these options.
Again I know it wasn't intent but think about these things.
Hope it gives you food for thought
It's not hard, especially at a young age, to have him switch to left hand shooting. I think that's easier than all the tricks and exercises to defeat left eye dominance.
I do realize the shooting world isn't real friendly to lefties, such as not many autos or pumps well suited for them.
Quote from: Tail Feathers on February 20, 2018, 02:21:38 PM
It's not hard, especially at a young age, to have him switch to left hand shooting. I think that's easier than all the tricks and exercises to defeat left eye dominance.
I do realize the shooting world isn't real friendly to lefties, such as not many autos or pumps well suited for them.
No the shooting world sure isn't. It baffles me because I'm sure there is a fair amount of left handed shooters out there.
There's tang style guns that operate with a thumb safety wise
Here is how US Olympic medalist Corey Cogdell does it.
http://john1911.com/olympic-medalist-shooting-tip-cross-eye-dominance/
:gobble:
One of my buddies is right handed, but shoots billiard's south paw. He's cross eye dominate, what are you gonna do, shoot pool squinting? ;D
I only started shooting 7-8 years ago or so. I started out shooting right handed because I am. As said, shooting through a scope is no problem using one eye, and that's how I started. I then read about the importance of shooting both eyes open and tried it. Eye yi yie. Quickly learned that I was cross eyed :z-dizzy: Been teaching myself to shoot from the other shoulder.
I started bowhunting 3 years ago. Knew about it at that point and bought a lefty bow. Unreal difference, best thing I ever did. Point to your son, if it's new enough to him start him out on the correct eye. Lots of useful info in this thread. :anim_25:
I'm a lefty but have a right dominant eye. I got lucky and was handed a .22 by an old farmer and told to hold it on the right side. I probably wasn't over 7 or 8 at the time so it was no big deal to learn to shoot right handed. I'm thankful that old boy didn't know any better and neither did I. 58 years later I'm still shooting right handed. Get him 2 or 3 bricks of .22 and get him on the left side and have at it.
I am right handed and left eye dom. and I shoot right handed. When I was 5-6 I would lay over on the gun so I could line the sights with the left eye. My dad noticed the issue and would have me wear a patch over my left eye while target practicing. I guess you could say my right eye is now trained to pickup the sights and I have no problem wing shooting with both eyes open, but to this day, I will still test left eye dom.
I noticed the same issue with my son when he was around 4. I debated the left hand switch but he just didn't seem as coordinated on that side (which I can relate to) so I have been taking the same approach as my father. He is 7 now and seems to be doing fine with his right eye, and over all handles a firearm safer and more fluently than most grown men I know.
There are obviously different opinions on this topic but for me, EVERYTHING I do left handed feels bass ackwards. I would much rather over come a small mental hurdle like eye dominance than change hands. Everything from reaching for a gun, gripping it, loading it, trigger pull, cycling a round, proper stance....it just all seems crazy to have to perform with your weak side when your other eye works perfectly fine. You just need to learn to use it if you can. :z-twocents:
As a young kid i always picked up a gun and shot left handed, even though I was right handed. Everybody told me I was doing it wrong, but nobody told me about eye dominance at 6 years old.
My dad bought me my first model 700 .243 in a left handed model, but every other bolt action I bought from there on has been a right handed bolt. Why? They are easier to find and easier to get rid of if you don't like the gun.
Along the way I taught myself to shoot from both sides and I can shoot well from either hand. Still, by instinct I favor the left side. Wing shooting, I always mount left.
With a bow I shoot right.
With a baitcaster and spinning rod, I hold the rod in my left hand.....both casting and reeling.
With a fly rod, I hold the rod in my right hand. Cast with my right......but switch and reel with my right.
I got myself all turned around. LOL.
i taught myself to shoot right handed with right eye and left handed with left eye.
The way I see it we are a bunch of weird dudes with all this cross ways stuff.
That's possible.
Quote from: Ozark Ridge Runner on February 22, 2018, 05:10:05 PM
The way I see it we are a bunch of weird dudes with all this cross ways stuff.
Def not weird bud. It's weird you don't see it as the facts are. Can't look one way and aim another. As stated if you had sights you could dial them in for one exact place. Any further you'd be off, any closer you're off to the opposite side.
Try mounting a broomstick like a gun. Cheek it an point it at an object on both sides. You'll see you're absolutely off.
Idk why guys always fight this. Prob cause they do it wrong and don't want it to be wrong if that made sense.
We weren't taught anything bout eye dominance years ago. Why do you think so many people think they just stink at shooting?
I was teaching at an open house at the range. Kind of a family day combined.
This fellow came up and swore he was right eye dominant. He was never tested. He was a cop and said he was so so shooting . Hmmm I checked him. He was left eye dominant. I showed him some things and he was dead on. What miracously happened?! He had the barrel and his vision for once on the same side and lined everything up.
Do what you want but don't recommend a child shoot against their vision cause you think it's weird.
Quote from: born2hunt on February 20, 2018, 11:24:13 PM
I am right handed and left eye dom. and I shoot right handed. When I was 5-6 I would lay over on the gun so I could line the sights with the left eye. My dad noticed the issue and would have me wear a patch over my left eye while target practicing. I guess you could say my right eye is now trained to pickup the sights and I have no problem wing shooting with both eyes open, but to this day, I will still test left eye dom.
I noticed the same issue with my son when he was around 4. I debated the left hand switch but he just didn't seem as coordinated on that side (which I can relate to) so I have been taking the same approach as my father. He is 7 now and seems to be doing fine with his right eye, and over all handles a firearm safer and more fluently than most grown men I know.
There are obviously different opinions on this topic but for me, EVERYTHING I do left handed feels bass ackwards. I would much rather over come a small mental hurdle like eye dominance than change hands. Everything from reaching for a gun, gripping it, loading it, trigger pull, cycling a round, proper stance....it just all seems crazy to have to perform with your weak side when your other eye works perfectly fine. You just need to learn to use it if you can. :z-twocents:
You say a little thing like eye dominance. It's not little believe me. Now you say everything you do with the opposite hand feels wrong. For starters do your hand and eye line up? If so there's nothing to discuss because you can't be sure how hard it is to shoot accurately when you're using the wrong eye.
Second if you ever drank coffee lefty it feels odd if you've always done it righty. What if you got some reason lost use of your right hand? Ya gonna quit life? No you're gonna start using a left hand. In time it gets easier. The point is though we're talking a child who has yet to develop a style. Why make things harder.,
You also say there's a difference of opinion. Who's different the guys who do it wrong? Not one person who does it right says either way is fine. The opposite is true. Last thing I might add eye dominance is not a mental hurdle, it's physical. Fighting it is a mental hurdle guys need to overcome so life is easier
Quote from: Bowguy on February 23, 2018, 08:10:15 PM
Quote from: born2hunt on February 20, 2018, 11:24:13 PM
I am right handed and left eye dom. and I shoot right handed. When I was 5-6 I would lay over on the gun so I could line the sights with the left eye. My dad noticed the issue and would have me wear a patch over my left eye while target practicing. I guess you could say my right eye is now trained to pickup the sights and I have no problem wing shooting with both eyes open, but to this day, I will still test left eye dom.
I noticed the same issue with my son when he was around 4. I debated the left hand switch but he just didn't seem as coordinated on that side (which I can relate to) so I have been taking the same approach as my father. He is 7 now and seems to be doing fine with his right eye, and over all handles a firearm safer and more fluently than most grown men I know.
There are obviously different opinions on this topic but for me, EVERYTHING I do left handed feels bass ackwards. I would much rather over come a small mental hurdle like eye dominance than change hands. Everything from reaching for a gun, gripping it, loading it, trigger pull, cycling a round, proper stance....it just all seems crazy to have to perform with your weak side when your other eye works perfectly fine. You just need to learn to use it if you can. :z-twocents:
You say a little thing like eye dominance. It's not little believe me. Now you say everything you do with the opposite hand feels wrong. For starters do your hand and eye line up? If so there's nothing to discuss because you can't be sure how hard it is to shoot accurately when you're using the wrong eye.
Second if you ever drank coffee lefty it feels odd if you've always done it righty. What if you got some reason lost use of your right hand? Ya gonna quit life? No you're gonna start using a left hand. In time it gets easier. The point is though we're talking a child who has yet to develop a style. Why make things harder.,
You also say there's a difference of opinion. Who's different the guys who do it wrong? Not one person who does it right says either way is fine. The opposite is true. Last thing I might add eye dominance is not a mental hurdle, it's physical. Fighting it is a mental hurdle guys need to overcome so life is easier
I realize you are a shooting instructor and obviously passionate and knowledgeable on the subject and I respect that. As I posted previously, I did and still do test left eye dominate so I absolutely can relate to any challenges you speak of, and I overcome them. I simply stated my own story and opinion, be it right or wrong. The only reason I disagree with your direction is because the opposite worked fine for myself and I'm glad it did. Now I realize I am only one case and I have no other experience on the subject, but the fact that I have absolutely no problem wing shooting or shooting at all and I can shoot all my old guns right handed as they were meant to be shot just makes it hard for me to say it was the "wrong" approach. This is not a one is best for all subject. As for now, I will continue to teach my son as I have been and if he continues to progress I assume all will be fine. If not and signs of difficulties arise then I guess I would entertain the lefty switch, but it will be of last resort. Once again, only my opinion whether right or wrong.
Quote from: born2hunt on February 25, 2018, 07:53:22 PM
Quote from: Bowguy on February 23, 2018, 08:10:15 PM
Quote from: born2hunt on February 20, 2018, 11:24:13 PM
I am right handed and left eye dom. and I shoot right handed. When I was 5-6 I would lay over on the gun so I could line the sights with the left eye. My dad noticed the issue and would have me wear a patch over my left eye while target practicing. I guess you could say my right eye is now trained to pickup the sights and I have no problem wing shooting with both eyes open, but to this day, I will still test left eye dom.
I noticed the same issue with my son when he was around 4. I debated the left hand switch but he just didn't seem as coordinated on that side (which I can relate to) so I have been taking the same approach as my father. He is 7 now and seems to be doing fine with his right eye, and over all handles a firearm safer and more fluently than most grown men I know.
There are obviously different opinions on this topic but for me, EVERYTHING I do left handed feels bass ackwards. I would much rather over come a small mental hurdle like eye dominance than change hands. Everything from reaching for a gun, gripping it, loading it, trigger pull, cycling a round, proper stance....it just all seems crazy to have to perform with your weak side when your other eye works perfectly fine. You just need to learn to use it if you can. :z-twocents:
You say a little thing like eye dominance. It's not little believe me. Now you say everything you do with the opposite hand feels wrong. For starters do your hand and eye line up? If so there's nothing to discuss because you can't be sure how hard it is to shoot accurately when you're using the wrong eye.
Second if you ever drank coffee lefty it feels odd if you've always done it righty. What if you got some reason lost use of your right hand? Ya gonna quit life? No you're gonna start using a left hand. In time it gets easier. The point is though we're talking a child who has yet to develop a style. Why make things harder.,
You also say there's a difference of opinion. Who's different the guys who do it wrong? Not one person who does it right says either way is fine. The opposite is true. Last thing I might add eye dominance is not a mental hurdle, it's physical. Fighting it is a mental hurdle guys need to overcome so life is easier
I realize you are a shooting instructor and obviously passionate and knowledgeable on the subject and I respect that. As I posted previously, I did and still do test left eye dominate so I absolutely can relate to any challenges you speak of, and I overcome them. I simply stated my own story and opinion, be it right or wrong. The only reason I disagree with your direction is because the opposite worked fine for myself and I'm glad it did. Now I realize I am only one case and I have no other experience on the subject, but the fact that I have absolutely no problem wing shooting or shooting at all and I can shoot all my old guns right handed as they were meant to be shot just makes it hard for me to say it was the "wrong" approach. This is not a one is best for all subject. As for now, I will continue to teach my son as I have been and if he continues to progress I assume all will be fine. If not and signs of difficulties arise then I guess I would entertain the lefty switch, but it will be of last resort. Once again, only my opinion whether right or wrong.
Was not trying to offend you so please don't be. I was talking about a child's best interest that's all. I don't wanna see them short changed. Like I said no way you can safely shoot righty without closing an eye or obstructing it to force an eye change unless you read what I call cross eyed dominant. Many guys use that terminology when their eye and hand don't match. Sometimes the person being tested switches back and forth during each test and even continually on the same test. I have kids line up and point at my nose tip for starters. It's something they don't realize I'm doing. Don't say I'm doing an eye dominance test. Their finger winds up under the dominant eye. This is only the first check often.
The people I speak of , the ones that switch, are a small percentage of the population and can train an eye it seems but there is no real dominant eye to overcome. Again it's not a mental will thing. It's all physical. If you were to look at me one eye is dominant. You can't be one way all day long and for that split second you shoot will yourself different. Just doesn't work that way.
What are you showing your son?
A higher percentage of women are cross eye dominant, my wife is. She switched to shooting left handed and enjoys it much more. Some target shooters also put a piece of tape over the left eye, if shooting right handed, to keep the left eye from taking over. It allows the left eye to still take in light but it wont take over. Try as many ideas as you feel comfortable with and see what works best. Good luck, Al Baker
Quote from: Bowguy on February 25, 2018, 08:58:45 PM
Like I said no way you can safely shoot righty without closing an eye or obstructing it to force an eye change unless you read what I call cross eyed dominant. Many guys use that terminology when their eye and hand don't match. Sometimes the person being tested switches back and forth during each test and even continually on the same test.
I am not sure what you are saying here???
I am cross-dominate (i.e. right-handed, left-eye dominant). I have learned to shoot right-handed safely, with both eyes open, and I am strongly left-eye dominant. It has taken some work and some practice, but I do not (generally) wink, close an eye, or squinch... I am probably a better-than-average wing/clay shot, but will never be competitive, and will never, ever be a George Digweed....
Due to both my background as an eye doctor and shooting, and due to the challenges I have faced shooting this way, I would generally encourage most parents to have their kids shoot off their dominant eye, and not their dominant hand.
Women often have more flexibility or less distinct (if any dominance) as related to eye dominance. In other words, women are more likely to be "ambidextrous" as far as eye dominance. Most women do have some degree of preference as far as eye dominance, but not the same degree as men in some cases.
And, as stated previously accurately determining eye dominance should be done wearing corrective glasses or contact lenses.
I didn't read all the replies so someone may have mentioned this. Use a red dot and shoot with both eyes open. You can't see the dot with your off eye, whether you shoot right or left. I've used a red dot on both my turkey guns and bows for many years.
Quote from: Marc on February 26, 2018, 03:10:57 PM
Quote from: Bowguy on February 25, 2018, 08:58:45 PM
Like I said no way you can safely shoot righty without closing an eye or obstructing it to force an eye change unless you read what I call cross eyed dominant. Many guys use that terminology when their eye and hand don't match. Sometimes the person being tested switches back and forth during each test and even continually on the same test.
I am not sure what you are saying here???
I am cross-dominate (i.e. right-handed, left-eye dominant). I have learned to shoot right-handed safely, with both eyes open, and I am strongly left-eye dominant. It has taken some work and some practice, but I do not (generally) wink, close an eye, or squinch... I am probably a better-than-average wing/clay shot, but will never be competitive, and will never, ever be a George Digweed....
Due to both my background as an eye doctor and shooting, and due to the challenges I have faced shooting this way, I would generally encourage most parents to have their kids shoot off their dominant eye, and not their dominant hand.
Women often have more flexibility or less distinct (if any dominance) as related to eye dominance. In other words, women are more likely to be "ambidextrous" as far as eye dominance. Most women do have some degree of preference as far as eye dominance, but not the same degree as men in some cases.
And, as stated previously accurately determining eye dominance should be done wearing corrective glasses or contact lenses.
Like I said it's best for a child or anyone to look and shoot in the same direction. Look I shoot a bow instinctive and realize the brain can figure some things out. People aren't most likely going to spend the time and energy to be as you said it more or less not at your best. The whole thing is silly. Why work harder for mediocre results? If your brain is compensating and I've been at this a long time tell me how many others can do it? Answer is almost zero and they never will be as good as if they shot straight.
A child should start off properly. If your dad knew that he'd have started you I'd bet w the highest odds of success as this father said. The post is about what's best for a beginning child. You agree it's dominant eye.
Kinda late to the party here...If still young, definitely teach them to shoot left-handed if you can. That'll solve the problem.
I'm right-handed and left-eye dominant. I still shoot right handed, and force my right-eye to just get 'er done. I keep both eyes open until just prior to aiming, then I close my left-eye, aim and squeezing the trigger. It's never been a problem shooting still targets (turkey, deer, etc). Now, shooting flying birds (aka: dove) is more of a problem.
Also, I HIGHLY recommend teaching kids to shoot both right and left handed. I let the turkey (or deer) determine which side I shoot from. If they approach on my right side, I shoot left-handed...if they approach on my left side, I shoot right-handed. I never have to move my body around just to get a shot.
Even though I'm right-handed, shooting left-handed is easy since my dominant arm (right) is supporting and aiming the gun. When shooting left-handed, the only thing my left hand does is squeeze the trigger with my index finger....that's easy. I enjoy shooting still targets left-handed even though I'm right-hand dominant.
Update with the first post
That's awesome, good to hear (read.)
Quote from: Bowguy on February 23, 2018, 07:57:53 PM
Quote from: Ozark Ridge Runner on February 22, 2018, 05:10:05 PM
The way I see it we are a bunch of weird dudes with all this cross ways stuff.
Def not weird bud. It's weird you don't see it as the facts are. Can't look one way and aim another. As stated if you had sights you could dial them in for one exact place. Any further you'd be off, any closer you're off to the opposite side.
Try mounting a broomstick like a gun. Cheek it an point it at an object on both sides. You'll see you're absolutely off.
Idk why guys always fight this. Prob cause they do it wrong and don't want it to be wrong if that made sense.
We weren't taught anything bout eye dominance years ago. Why do you think so many people think they just stink at shooting?
I was teaching at an open house at the range. Kind of a family day combined.
This fellow came up and swore he was right eye dominant. He was never tested. He was a cop and said he was so so shooting . Hmmm I checked him. He was left eye dominant. I showed him some things and he was dead on. What miracously happened?! He had the barrel and his vision for once on the same side and lined everything up.
Do what you want but don't recommend a child shoot against their vision cause you think it's weird.
Evidently you didn't read my post. I did not recommend the youngster shoot opposite of his dominant eye. Reread the post with your dominant eye. ;D
Quote from: Ozark Ridge Runner on March 05, 2018, 10:01:02 PM
Quote from: Bowguy on February 23, 2018, 07:57:53 PM
Quote from: Ozark Ridge Runner on February 22, 2018, 05:10:05 PM
The way I see it we are a bunch of weird dudes with all this cross ways stuff.
Def not weird bud. It's weird you don't see it as the facts are. Can't look one way and aim another. As stated if you had sights you could dial them in for one exact place. Any further you'd be off, any closer you're off to the opposite side.
Try mounting a broomstick like a gun. Cheek it an point it at an object on both sides. You'll see you're absolutely off.
Idk why guys always fight this. Prob cause they do it wrong and don't want it to be wrong if that made sense.
We weren't taught anything bout eye dominance years ago. Why do you think so many people think they just stink at shooting?
I was teaching at an open house at the range. Kind of a family day combined.
This fellow came up and swore he was right eye dominant. He was never tested. He was a cop and said he was so so shooting . Hmmm I checked him. He was left eye dominant. I showed him some things and he was dead on. What miracously happened?! He had the barrel and his vision for once on the same side and lined everything up.
Do what you want but don't recommend a child shoot against their vision cause you think it's weird.
Evidently you didn't read my post. I did not recommend the youngster shoot opposite of his dominant eye. Reread the post with your dominant eye. ;D
You haven't read my posts, due to a medical issue my dominant eye is very compromised, I've spent the effort and continue to spend the effort to learn switching as eye dominance has changed. I didn't say you said anything. It's just not weird.
Are you for real?
This thread has run its course. Shoot with your dominant eye. End of story.