It has been discussed here before but thought I would post some brief thoughts on my current experiment on dominant eye and shooting.
I have been in archery for 40 years- trad specific for almost the past 30. I shoot right handed. I have considered myself "instinctive" as I do not see the arrow or the point. When I can keep my head I can be a decent shot on game and even placing high in a few local 3-D shoots.
I have heard the dominant eye theories/discussions. One thing I have noticed over the years is my dominant eye seems to fluctuate. I even wonder if there are times in the heat of the moment if my eyes fluctuate- which would throw the arrow left or right (which has happened on game!). Today I was with a friend and hunting partner- he is also an eye doctor. He took me in his office, gave me a little "vision" education, and we started experimenting.
Long story short- my eyes do fluctuate between left and right dominant. To even make one eye clear and one blurry does not overwhelm the dominance to the clearer vision eye. Even in his office my eyes were fluctuating at times.
So- my Doc buddy tells me I should really try shooting with my left eye closed or patched. It may surprise me.
I get home tonight and start the left eye closed experiment. Its early on, but I really am amazed at the difference of sight picture. When I close my left eye- forcing right dominance, my right and left arrow placement is simply perfect. I mean, I can not imagine how I could even shoot left or right as the arrow-in my dominant eye periphery is lined up on perfect windage. Without much effort out to 18 yds I was pretty much stacking arrows on one another. The elevation feels a little awkward, but I am really intrigued.
I will keep you posted if you like. Open to others thoughts for sure. . .
Very interesting. I've often wondered this myself. Keep us informed on your progress.
I am left handed. I am right eye dominant and shoot a bow left handed. I shoot a bow and pistol left handed and a rifle and shotgun right handed. I always have to close my right eye when I shoot left handed. I know that this is strange but I have shot this way since I was a little boy. I am 52 years old now and feel its to late to change. :dunno:
I am right eye dominant, but know sometimes my brain seems to equalize the eyes when shooting and my arrows are off. I wish I could sense it when it was happening. Might have to start squinting the left eye right before release.
Thank you for starting this thread.
I now have some work to do, something to try.
I have this statement printed in very large letters and posted up on the wall in my living room.
"It is not necessary to believe everything you think."
I have found that if I believe what I think I sometimes limit myself.
If I believe "I can't" (whatever), then I will most likely prove myself correct.
God bless,Mudd
Read my first tag line to get my view on this matter...I corresponded for a while with Dr. Jay Kidwell and one thing he told me is that he spends about half of his shooting time experimenting with different concepts...good for you thinking, and operating, outside the box and for involving someone with a totally different level of expertise in the process
DDave
When I am ready to shoot I will squint/close the left eye forcing the right to take over, usually takes a couple seconds, can then open left draw and shoot. Yes I switch dominant eye also.