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Eye dominance vs handedness

Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 7:10 pm
by wolfe05
So, I believe I have determined myself to be right eyed, but left handed.

Anyone have experience with this subject and have any aiming advice. Particularly rifle vs pistol. I tried shooting right handed with my pistol at the range last time. It was too awkward, but I did great as long as I closed my right eye. I think this is an okay way to shoot my pistol, but should I do the same for rifle shooting or switch shoulders?

Thanks

Wolfe

Re: Eye dominance vs handedness

Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 8:58 pm
by gthaustex
IMHO, you can pretty easily get away with cross dominance shooting a pistol or revolver. If anything, you may need to adjust your stance slightly to allow your dominant eye to better line up with the handgun sights. For any long gun however, you should shoot using your dominant eye, especially where optics are involved....

Re: Eye dominance vs handedness

Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 9:28 pm
by Reds45ACP
gthaustex wrote:IMHO, you can pretty easily get away with cross dominance shooting a pistol or revolver. If anything, you may need to adjust your stance slightly to allow your dominant eye to better line up with the handgun sights. For any long gun however, you should shoot using your dominant eye, especially where optics are involved....
This. :thumbs2:

If you are planning to shoot IDPA/IPSC/Steel/Etc you might try a trick I learned to shoot weak-handed if you need both eyes open while you shoot. Tilt the gun towards your dominant eye. Not full "gangsta" sideways but 20-30 degrees usually does the trick for your dominant eye to pick up the sights with both eyes open. I am left-handed and left eye dominant and this works well when I have to shoot stages that require the use of my right (weak) hand. I can just mirror my typical grip (takes a bit of getting used to but not bad) then tilt a bit and I have a stable firearm and a good sight picture. :coolgleamA:

Happy Shooting. :fire

Re: Eye dominance vs handedness

Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 9:52 pm
by Blindref757
I'm right handed and left eye dominant. My best shooting occurs when I shoot one handed...from the left side. It feels weird, but it works.

Re: Eye dominance vs handedness

Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 8:45 am
by bdickens
wolfe05 wrote:So, I believe I have determined myself to be right eyed, but left handed.

Anyone have experience with this subject and have any aiming advice. Particularly rifle vs pistol. I tried shooting right handed with my pistol at the range last time. It was too awkward, but I did great as long as I closed my right eye. I think this is an okay way to shoot my pistol, but should I do the same for rifle shooting or switch shoulders?

Thanks

Wolfe

I, too, am cross-dominant. I found this out in Basic Training when my shots were all over the place. Not like can't-hit-the-broad-side-of-a-barn wild, however, but inconsistent and poorly grouped. One of my Drill Sergeants did a simple eye dominance test and then told me to shoot right-handed. When I switched over, I went from scoring Marksman to Expert instantly.

For pistol shooting, you can simply tilt your head to one side so that your dominant eye is lined up with the sights. You may or may not have to close your non-dominant eye.

For rifle, you will probably have to switch sides. I am unaware of any way to put your dominant eye in line with the sights that wouldn't be extremely awkward.

HTH.

Re: Eye dominance vs handedness

Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 11:48 am
by tboesche
I am right handed, Left eye dominant. Previously, I would tilt me head over when shooting a handgun so I could use my left eye. For rifles, I used an opaque shield thingamabob, over my left eye. I could see thru it, but it was just opaque enough, that my right eye would take over. A Marine Gunny taught me that one.

Now that i wear contacts, things are different. I use monovision contacts. My right eye is set to focus just about where the front sight of my 1911 would be. While my left eye is set for distance vision. Works great