I NEED HELP

I am the same. I am left eye dominant and shoot right. It can be done. Here is what I do and it works for me. As I pick my spot on the target, just befote I start to draw, I close my left eye for a split second and bore a hole in the target with my right eye. By the time I am drawing my bow, both eyes are now open but closing my left eye for that split second allowed my right eye to take over and become dominant while I shoot at my target with both eyes open. It works for me. Hope this has helped.

Jeff

lots to be said on this subject,at the time years ago I just learned to shoot left handed for left eye dominate

I am also cross eye dominant. Right handed, and left eye dominant.

I never really thought about nor had a problem with it until someone else found out about it, and started trying to "fix it for me" (LOL).

In my opinion it's a big "Crock Of Crap" to try to force your body to do something that doesn't feel natural to you.

Just learn to use the cross dominance. You can, and you can do it as accurately as someone who isn't cross dominant.

To keep me from losing my depth perception I focus with both eyes open as I draw & set to anchor.

After I reach my set I close my left eye which forces a slight lateral/windage adjustment, which I don't even notice doing anymore, and do so quickly no one else will notice.

Of course I'm a lowly gap shooter (actually split vision / gapstinctive), so how I do it don't count much amongst the "Trad Community" (LOL).

Rick

THE VERY BEST THING YOU CAN DO, is learn to shoot left handed. It will take a little to get used to it, but in the long run that is the best thing you can do.

My daughter is cross eyed dominate, and as soon as I found out, which luckily was after the first 10 shots with a right handed bow, I switched her to a left handed bow. worked great

If I recall correctly, Jay Kidwell, in his book "Instinctive Archery Insights", indicates eye dominance is not crucial to accurate shooting and advocates for what is comfortable and feels natural rather than subjugating to eye dominance.

Try to read the whole book, or at least his comments on eye dominance. As with all books on shooting it's yet another person's opinion.

Good luck.

WMM

IMO the best thing you can do is close one eye. I am left eye dominant and shoot right handed, I just close my left eye...PR

I'm in the same boat and gots lots of useful advice here over the last couple of years. I shoot left-handed but I'm right eye dominant.

I've tried shooting right-handed and I don't like it very much. Now I try to raise the bow up and point the arrow at the target. I pick a point and focus on it. As I draw the bow back I focus on the target but I can see the arrow below my left eye in my peripheral vision. I draw back, come to anchor and then check my sight picture for a senod or two and then release.

I'm not brilliantly accurate but I shoot a reucurve better than most right-handed guys I've shot with.

Archery is supposed to be fun for me, I get enough stress and second guessing in work. I shoot the way I like and make the best of it. It you can switch and still enjoy it then more power to you!

Regards, James.

My problem with wrong eye dominance vanished when using perscription glasses . I found this out while Trap Shooting with both eyes open and has has carried over archery . Shooting with both eyes open (instead of one ) will enhance low light arrow launching . Cheers from the West Coast of Canada .

Greybark,

Could you explain a little bit more, what do you mean by perscription glasses? I shoot with contact lenses.

Regards, James.

Rick Barbee summed it well and accurately for the cross dominant archer.

Two of my sons are right handed but their left eye is their master eye.

Assuming either eye has decent acuity, just squinting the dominant left eye will make the less dominant right eye take over as dominant for the shot alignment task. and it DOES make a difference unless all your shots are at lunchbox sized targets at 10 yards..:)

As was said, draw and look at the mark-target with both eyes open for best depth-distance perception..

THEN close or squint the left dominant eye and let the right eye get the shot aligned.

Takes a fraction of the time to DO this that my keyboarding skills required to write it..Jim

You DON'T HAVE TO SHOOT LEFT HANDED!... and this cross dominance is not a big deal. YES, having your "Dominant" eye over the arrow makes things easier (a little) but being cross dominant isn't a death blow to good archery.

You have a bunch of options, one is to squint your dominant eye. This forces dominance to the other, while keeping your bifocal vision (i.e., you keep your distance judging ability with 2 eyes). You can also start out with both eyes open to get your aiming/calibration accomplished, and then close the dominant eye, using the non dominant exclusively.

Clay bird shooters often place a piece of opaque tape on their shooting glasses, over the center of the dominant eye. This too allows for the depth of field situation AND the cross dominance.

These are a few of the solutions, there are others. Good Luck, and don't let anyone tell you you're done as an archer, or have to sell all your bows and shoot lefty!

TomL

2/3's bodyweight on front foot...Focus on a spot...Cant bow and pull thru chest...middle finger corner of mouth...release and repeat...2/3's bodyweight on front foot...Focus on a spot...Cant bow and pull thru chest...middle finger corner of mouth...release and repeat...Practice makes perfect... aim small

you have the samething when learning how to shoot freethrows in basketball...muscle memory but also release...when it feels good it hits

"you have the samething when learning how to shoot freethrows in basketball...muscle memory but also release...when it feels good it hits"

Nope. Shooting a ball at a distant object calls for both eyes open....but the hand on your dominate arm will launch the ball. Aiming a rifle, shooting an arrow, etc, you see things differently when its up close.

I am right handed but left eye dominate. The best thing I ever did was go to a left handed bow. It can be done either way but if your fresh out the gate and have not purchased a bow yet get a bow that matched your dominate eye. It took all of ten days for me to get 100% comfy with a left arm/shoulder to shoot left handed.

Hmmm which eye did I close? Did I close an eye? I just shot and hit a 3pointer...

I to am cross eyed dominate left eyed and shoot the recurve right handed. For the better part of ten years I gap style using the arrow as a point of reference always shot pretty well but thought it could be better. This past year and decided to master instintive shooting with both eyes open. First is to not be over powered with your bow weight. Next i spent months working on form close to the target 10 yards or less just working on the mechanics. Once felt confortable with the mechanics I started concentrating on a spot and push the bow arm towards the spot. What i found was i consistantly hit left of the target. What I found that corrected the problem was to identify want started my shot sequence for me it is the tightening of the shoulder muscles in my bow arm. As I start my shot sequence I make my right eye focus on the target than start the shot. I agree that split second you make your non dominant eye focus it becomes the dominant. This has achieved amazing results. When my form is on and i am not being sloppy shooting seems effortless. I have stopped shooting more than a couple of arrows a time cause I keep splitting them and ruining them. Concentrate on consistant form every time and then the accuracy and aiming will fall into place takes alot of practice. One last thing in regards to priscription glasses i had my non dominate eye instead of being corrected to 20/20 I had it corrected to 15/20 this increased the sharpness in that eye. Good luck

Form can play a big role in dealing with what is called cross dominance. I'm considered left eye dominate and shoot right handed. Shooting left handed feels wrong to me and would ruin the fun of ARCHERY. I stand kneel or sit so I am shooting with my shoulders in align with where I want to hit as the instructions state and show. Then both eyes are so close to "beingtogether"(ie head turned and looking to left if right handed)that unless you are looking to split a hair you'll hit close enough to where you are looking. Last but not least. Try to just let go. The less you think the more the animal part of you will be in control.

Look at this youngin's form... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2XE5MKq1iM

HARRY, I tried your suggestion and it seemed to work better for me as I have not had any real instuction nor a mentor in my area of Kingwood Tx. thanks alot

Harry has it right as it concerns both eyes open with head positioned so the line of sight to the mark regardless of dominance is very close to the same. Sort of looking out of the corners of both eyes at the mark.

When one shoots at longer distances perhaps beyond 30 yards, the tiny difference in what the dominant eye tells the mind as it concerns the line to the mark become more noticeable...and one will not shoot the line so well. Also, eyes frontward gives better visual perception than eyes seeing from side. So no matter how you hold your head, both eyes open to 'dial in' the distance via perception and then squint or close the dominat eye for the final seconds of the alignment and loose.Jim

I tried to switch to left handed and actually killed a few animals but its something I just cant get used to.I'm much more confident righty.I can use either eye to shoot.

FRED BEAR was cross-eye dominant. He managed to win a tournament or two, and put a few animals in his den and- The Fred Bear MUSEUM- throughout his lifetime.

If you shoot with both eyes open your mind will make the adjustments for you. don't sweat it. Fred didn't.

2x on what Rick Barbee said. I'm in the same boat-sorta, right eye dominant-shoot very well left handed once I got my form down. I shoot split fingered.

I'm not saying that switching to shoot from the side that your dominant eye is on is a bad thing, or that it won't work. If that is what you want to do, then do it.

What I am saying is, it isn't necessary in most cases, and a person can learn to use, and be just as accurate with cross dominant shooting as anyone else.

Rick

Better to shoot with your dominant eye .

Don't worry about it!!! The brain is a magnificent thing. You'll figure it out. I am VERY left eye dominant and VERY right handed. I went to the Black Widow Shooting school and they tried to change me to left hand. That was like a monkey washing a cat. I stopped worrying about and began concentrating more on hitting a small spot, keeping a loose grip with my bow hand and having a relaxed release. When I quit worrying about that eye dominance stuff, I shot much better.Just relax, practice and enjoy. Consistent form is the key!! Whitie

I am cross eye dominant too ....left eye dominant and right handed. I was discouraged when I first talked to someone about a bow because they told me I needed to shoot left handed...felt very unnatural and figured I wouldnt get anywhere. I went with the gut feeling and shoot right handed....I just keep both eyes open, relax like Desperado said above and shoot!! It works great!! Good luck!!!

Im also cross dominant. Shoot right handed and am left eye dominant. Switching is a load of crap. Im accurate out to 18 yards and am pretty decent at 20 or so. Just shoot and you will develop a method. Keep practicing!

proof is in the pudding. i consistently shoot groups like this. This was at about 17 yards.

The whole notion of cross-eye dominance being significant in the "aiming" process really only comes into play if you happen to close your dominant eye when you "aim" (instictinctively or otherwise).

Try these three things to prove it to yourself:

With your arm outstretched in front of you let the tip of your index finger represent the tip of your arrow.

1. With BOTH eyes open point at a spot on the wall.

2. Then close your NON-dominant eye and point at the exact same spot (notice how you were still able to point to the same spot)

3. Finally, close your DOMINANT eye and try pointing at the exact same spot as you did in 1 and 2 above.

What you'll notice is that when you have BOTH eyes open your ability to point (aim) to the same spot that you did when JUST your dominant eye was open is NOT compromised. In other words, when BOTH eyes are open, the power of your dominant eye will trump the effect of your non-dominant eye.

36bound, I understand and agree with what you describe above.

I have taught archers and handgunners to shoot for many years. The determination of the dominat eye is importnat in HOW one teaches and how the shooter shoots. I have two sons who are solidly right handed and left eye dominant. Both shoot right handed with handguns, rifles, bow. Both are excellent marksmen.

Now, where I will diverge from what you wrote is the end result of shooting cross dominat with both eyes open for the final sighting or shot. The right handed archer draws so the nock of the arrow is beneath his right eye..somewhere..:) IF he shoots with both eyes open, his dominant left eye describes the line to the target and his 'rear sight'is effectually rendered wrong.

Maybe at 10 yards it'll work OK..but beyond that he will not shoot the line to the target with both eyes open.

So I repeat that keeping both eyes open for triangulation-depth-distance perception is good............

BUT at the last second or three,when the shot is aligned and the loose done, squint or close the dominant left eye so the non dominant right eye atop the shaft can align the shot peoperly..Jim

Leave everything alone its a great excuse for missing

For "truly instinctive" archers is cross dominance a problem or fallacy?

As Garnet 65 posted J. Kidwell has an interesting take [definately a fallacy]. 'Am not experienced enough myself to have an opinion on if he is right or wrong?

But if one is "truly instinctive" nothing visible/conscious except the target could it make sense? Is the brain capable of accomodating cross dominance [windage?] as well as it does elevation for the truly instinctive?

Is instinctive as somebody else [Austrians?] said "really intuitive".

fen tiger..

you rambled a tad in your post but I got the gist of it.

"Intuitive" is a far more accurate description of GOOD barebow archery than "instinctive".

Intuition skill and learning is based on experience and learned experiences. We know what needs sto be done and why without thinking consciously about the task IF we have some quality time in that endeavor.

"Instinctive" by denotation and many's connotation leaves all of that out and implies that somehow, some way, folks know how to shoot good archery well with no training, no equipment attention and no time spent shooting in quality practice. ( tho they sure talk alot about their methodologies and sell a bunch of stuff)

I am instinctively reactive about folks who say and act stupidly.People with new schemes and dreams that illogically attract those who want to jkeep things simple and they are themselves simple enough to buy into such marketing.

.ESP when they spout their theorums to the inquiring and new learners who are so susceptible to such gibberish.

It raises the hackles and makes me want to help those so vulnerable to the sideshow..and kick the arses of the pitchmen..or send them all back to school.

For Jawge T.: Were you and are you and instinctive chemist? Instinctive Chemistry teacher? I seriously doubt it, old son and friend.Jim

I Stuggled with this at 1st and I wore a patch on my dominant eye during my practice sessions. It worked for me, may not work for everyone.

dire wolf, sorry did not realize my rambling was contagious;-]

As a newbie single stringer have to admit some "trad gospel" espoused by experts? appears to ME to be on examination yet more "trad urban myth".

Coming from the sighted wheelie world and working slowly toward single string barebow has been an interesting journey. The writings/advice often confusing.

The transition has been rewarding and above all fun when as Kidwell says [paraphrasing] "stay in your comfort zone and work with what works for you".

I'm right handed left eye dominant.A fun game I like to play is a shoot off between my Dominant eye(both eyes open) and my right eye(closed left eye).You can make up your own rules.I shoot 2 arrows (both eyes open) and 2 arrows (left eye closed) the other and best shots win.So far shooting (both eyes open) wins most every time.Its kinda fun and you see what way you shoot best.I'm confident both ways as far as hunting and 30 yards and under.Have fun with it I actually like it this way.

I never had an opportunity to ask him, I wish I had but I believe that Fred Bear was right eye dominant but because he lost the tip of a finger on his right-hand shot left handed. It worked for him.

My son is left eye dominant and even though he has several RH bows, since he is young I have also picked up a left handed bow for him. I believe that it's best to shoot with the dominant eye if you can. I'll let you know how we do trying to switch him over.

Frank

I'm left eyed and right handed. If anyone who is right handed and right eyed would try to shoot left handed they'd see tough it can be. Why would anyone want to purposly and needlessly handicap themselves that way? When I first discovered my left/right situation it was a bummer to shoot left handed because it was more comfortable and felt more natural to shoot right handed. But it just takes some time to get used to it. But shooting from the wrong side of the bow will give you the handicap of a lifetime for most ppl.

I am totally left handed, left eye doninant, and have shot a bow right handed all my life. It's never been a problem, and i'm pretty well satisfied with my shooting. I've been shooting a trad. bow for close to 30 years now. Told Fred Asbell I had too many expensive rt handed bows to consider switching. Besides, I'm 68 years old and too set in my ways lol. Jack

I am totally left handed, left eye doninant, and have shot a bow right handed all my life. It's never been a problem, and i'm pretty well satisfied with my shooting. I've been shooting a trad. bow for close to 30 years now. Told Fred Asbell I had too many expensive rt handed bows to consider switching. Besides, I'm 68 years old and too set in my ways lol. Jack

Juan...I gave it at least 5 years left handed shooting ALOT.Is that enough?

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here