Trad Gang

Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Bob Macioch on July 24, 2008, 01:40:00 PM

Title: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Bob Macioch on July 24, 2008, 01:40:00 PM
When shooting instinctively do you shoot with both eyes open or with one eye closed ? I seem to be able to concentrate better with one eye closed.
How about you?

Best
Bob
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: agd68 on July 24, 2008, 01:42:00 PM
Shoot with both eyes open.Just like throwing darts or a ball,concentrate on your target a let her go.
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: sswv on July 24, 2008, 01:43:00 PM
both eyes open
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: ksbowman on July 24, 2008, 01:47:00 PM
Both eyes open.
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Peachey on July 24, 2008, 01:47:00 PM
Both open.
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: robtattoo on July 24, 2008, 01:51:00 PM
Both eyes open. Depth perception is important, can't judge range without it  ;)   :D
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Tim Fishell on July 24, 2008, 01:51:00 PM
Both open!!
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Curveman on July 24, 2008, 01:54:00 PM
Both open. It's strange though that when I shoot trap I have to shoot one eye closed. Why is that?
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Night Wing on July 24, 2008, 01:59:00 PM
Both eyes open.
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: sunshine on July 24, 2008, 02:03:00 PM
both eyes open. but i've been told that when i really seem to be concentrating/focusing i squint both eyes more than usual.
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: jhansen on July 24, 2008, 02:06:00 PM
Both eyes open.  As someone else noted, depth perception is critical to range judgement.

John
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: steadman on July 24, 2008, 02:15:00 PM
One closed. I concentrate better. It doesn't seem to affect my depth perception.
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Orion on July 24, 2008, 02:18:00 PM
When target panic strikes, both eyes closed.  :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: WildmanSC on July 24, 2008, 02:26:00 PM
I estimate range with both eyes open.  I then close my left eye to shoot.  And all to often like Orion I forget and close both eyes when the adrenalin rush hits me!      :biglaugh:    I might add that I carry a range finder into the woods and range the distances to various trees around me, especially trees close to trails.  I dont't want to go pacing the distances before climbing the tree and depositing scent all over the place.

Bill
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: DeerSpotter on July 24, 2008, 02:28:00 PM
When coming over from the other side, the (wheels) I just brought over some habits, and I think closing one eye is one of them.  I never even thought that it would be different shooting with;

" With both eye's open "

That sounds like a good book title for traditional bow hunter.  I will give it a try, because I never thought of it being a problem before.


Thanks for the tip !

Carl
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Aggie1993 on July 24, 2008, 02:29:00 PM
both open
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: cdworks on July 24, 2008, 02:31:00 PM
both open
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Blackhawk on July 24, 2008, 03:21:00 PM
It is certainly better to shoot with 2 eyes open for the vast majority of us. The targets will look larger as well as closer.  Even on moving targets, they will appear to be moving more slowly.

Remember that our eyes are used to working together as we move about and do our daily tasks, such as walking, driving a vehicle, etc.

BUT, keeping only one eye open while shooting is still better than closing both eyes.   :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: frassettor on July 24, 2008, 03:26:00 PM
Both open  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: BRITTMAN on July 24, 2008, 03:37:00 PM
Both open
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Widowbender on July 24, 2008, 04:16:00 PM
Both open...unless I'm half asleep   :knothead:

David
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: LEOPARD on July 24, 2008, 04:20:00 PM
Both eyes open.....
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Grant Young on July 24, 2008, 04:30:00 PM
Both open...
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Doc Nock on July 24, 2008, 04:41:00 PM
Jay Kidwell's book on "Instinctive Archery" really deals with the one or two eye open thing pretty well.
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: BubbaETT on July 24, 2008, 04:51:00 PM
I shoot with both open, always have, always will. :)
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Big Dave on July 24, 2008, 05:04:00 PM
Both open.
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Bob Macioch on July 24, 2008, 05:57:00 PM
Thanks Guys
I just came back from a practice session and here what I got out of it.
If I cant the bow I shoot much better with both eyes open.
If I don't cant the bow I shoot much better with one eye closed.
To me its much more natural to cant the bow when shooting instinctive.
Thanks for all your thoughts
Best
Bob
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: John3 on July 24, 2008, 05:59:00 PM
Both open in order to "pick" a spot correctly.


JDS III
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: GRINCH on July 24, 2008, 08:02:00 PM
It's settled then the EYES have it.
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Shawn Rackley on July 24, 2008, 08:14:00 PM
i leave both open pulling the string back .right before anchor i close my left to center up the shot. just seems to help me aim .
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Jmatt1957 on July 24, 2008, 08:16:00 PM
the way I shot tonight I think I had both closed!!!
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Bob Macioch on July 24, 2008, 08:38:00 PM
One of those nights Jmatt1957  :banghead:
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: WidowEater on July 24, 2008, 08:43:00 PM
if im shooting lefty i shoot both eyes open, righty, one eye closed
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: peak98 on July 24, 2008, 08:44:00 PM
both open
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: deadpool on July 24, 2008, 08:47:00 PM
in distances of less than 10 yards, i will shoot with one eye open, any more than that i shoot with both, wierd huh?
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Don Stokes on July 24, 2008, 10:39:00 PM
This afternoon I was practicing form, and drew the bow with both eyes closed. When I was solid in my anchor, I opened both eyes, lined it up and shot. Otherwise I always draw and shoot with both eyes open. When I got my form where I wanted it, I kept most of my arrows in a 6" circle at about 16 yards. I had been too erratic at getting to anchor and had to tighten up.
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: warden415 on July 24, 2008, 11:08:00 PM
one open but i have very limited vision in my right eye. Steve
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: amar911 on July 24, 2008, 11:54:00 PM
One eye open is for shooting with sights if you can't focus on the sights with both eyes open, and most people probably can't. That works well for rifles and compound bows with sights. Two eyes open is unquestionably the better way to shoot with a traditional bare bow or a shotgun without sights. The only exception is if you are left eye dominant and trying to shoot right handed without sights.
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: ozy clint on July 25, 2008, 12:50:00 AM
if you were meant to use one eye you would only have one eye. you can not hit what you can not see.
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Berube on July 25, 2008, 06:36:00 AM
Both eyes open and concentrate on small spot
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: GR on July 25, 2008, 07:52:00 AM
Both open
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: WildmanSC on July 25, 2008, 10:05:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by warden415:
one open but i have very limited vision in my right eye. Steve
Steve,

I take it that you shoot LH.  Correct?

Bill
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Doc Nock on July 25, 2008, 10:06:00 AM
amar,

I've become left eye dominant over time...and I shoot fine with both eyes open. Instinctively.

Our eyes are in front of our head. Gives us binocular vision.  Like other predators. Gives us depth perception.

Jay Kidwell, in his book on Instinctive Archery, does a very fine graphic that shows if you're gun barreling or gap shooting down the shaft, then you would tend to have the bow more upright, and anchor so the arrow is as close under your DOMINANT eye as possible.

If you shoot with a canted bow, and try to do what most of us call "instinctive" then the vision you would be using is binocular.  And that by definition suggests "both eyes open."

No hard fast rules, but then, I would respectfully disagre that eye dominance, is quite the cut'n dried issue as you type it either.

I can't begin to shoot anything with a sight without closing my dominant left eye being a right handed shooter, but this whole "burn a hole and release" idea of instinctive has worked very well for me...occassionally out to 40 yards when my form is solid... so I find eye dominance is NOT a factor in true instinctive shooting..

Again, Jay Kidwell's book really shows some great pictoral representation of both ways of shooting for good insights. He also covers some "hybrid" ways some of us shoot where dominance might raise an issue.
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Lewis Brookshire III on July 25, 2008, 10:10:00 AM
I shoot right handed but am left eye dominant. I shoot with my left eye closed. I have always heard the closing one and you lose depth but you have both eyes open before you draw so thats never been a problem.
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: scriv on July 25, 2008, 10:21:00 AM
I shoot everything with both eyes open.  Bow, handgun, shotgun, rifle with a scope or iron sights.  Definately aids in tracking moving targets.  Causes less fatigue.  Practice this and it will help.    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Larry247 on July 25, 2008, 10:59:00 AM
Both eyes open....
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: GR on July 25, 2008, 11:23:00 AM
This would make a good poll question.
gr
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Dutchman on July 25, 2008, 12:12:00 PM
Both eyes WIDE open!
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Archie on July 25, 2008, 02:19:00 PM
I shoot with a sight on my Black Widow PMA.  All my life I've had issues with my vision in both eyes, and my eye dominance switches back and forth between eyes.  On my old compound bow & peepsight, I shoot one eye open.  On my recurve (which I shoot almost exclusively now) I shoot both eyes open, even with the sight.  Works great for me.
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Wednesday Caste on July 25, 2008, 02:19:00 PM
After reading this post, I practiced earlier this morning with both eyes opened and well...you've opened my eyes!  Shots are much improved, acquiring my target seems faster, and I'm less likely to drop my bow arm too quickly to see where my arra went.  Thanks
Quinn
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: BradLantz on July 25, 2008, 02:42:00 PM
Bret Favre, Dan Marion, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Wayne Gretzky, Pete Sampras, Hank Aarons .... they all exceled in their sports by shutting one eye didn't they ?


???
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: **DONOTDELETE** on July 25, 2008, 02:45:00 PM
Yes Both
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: 3Under on July 25, 2008, 03:41:00 PM
Both Eyes Open (then and now)

Prior to '95 when I shot compounds, I experienced some problems with eye fatigue. I'm normally right eye dominate. I found when shooting for a long time <200-300 arrows my left eye would take over dominance and my arrows would drift horizontally. When that happened I corrected by closing my left eye and my groups return back to where they were before.

I'm not sure if that happens with instinctive shooting, that I do now. Usually if I miss its for other reasons.

Has anyone out in TradGang land experienced eye dominate change due to eye fatigue while shooting instinctivley with Trad. equip?
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: cam188 on July 25, 2008, 04:25:00 PM
Both open with trad gear and one eye closed when shooting my "compound". Sorry for the foul language lol
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Toklat1 on July 25, 2008, 10:18:00 PM
Both eyes open, Same way I learned with a rifle
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Mr.Chuck on July 25, 2008, 10:33:00 PM
All four open!  :--0
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: ArrowAtomik on July 25, 2008, 11:04:00 PM
Both for hunting.  But if I am target practicing long range near "point on" distance, or taking a hail mary at a small varmit, I will often aim down the shaft with one eye to get my windage right at that range.  Sometimes I can make an incredible group at 45 yards that I can't possibly manage at 30 with this.
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Arwin on July 26, 2008, 05:25:00 PM
Both eyes open. Visualy burning a hole into what I want to hit.
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: buckhuck on July 26, 2008, 08:18:00 PM
Both open.  I can see twice as much!!   :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: Two Arrows on July 27, 2008, 12:36:00 AM
Apparentley, I have been shooting both eyes closed as of late. Don't know what the deal is.

By the way, anybody seen my neighbor's cat??
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: bowhunterfrompast on July 27, 2008, 12:44:00 AM
Both eyes open , just can't see a thing with them closed  :scared:
Title: Re: Do you shoot w/ both eyes open or......
Post by: J.Williams on July 27, 2008, 08:22:00 AM
Both open.My 13yr.old son shoots with one open and I use to tell him he should open the other too,thinking that was the right way,but he shoots so good I just leave him alone now.Works for him!