right handed, left eye dominant: HELP???

[profesor]

1) I am right handed but left eye dominant. Can someone give me some aiming suggestions???

2) I currently aim with my right eye closed, but I have heard in the forum that it is good to shoot with both eyes open. This is the first that I have heard of this. Is something that I should try??? If so, how do you do this???

[mhillsing23]

I am R handed, and L eye dominant. You don't HAVE to shoot with both eyes open, but it is a good thing to learn to do, not just because of your cross-dominance, but because you will have your full peripheral vision while shooting. Start practicing using both eyes by just bringing the gun up to you and trying to acquire the front sight clearly with both eyes open. Some guys put some tape over the non-dominant eye of their shooting glasses. This trains your dominant eye to take dominance even though your non-dominant eye is still open. As far as aiming tips for shooting with one eye cross-dominant, it helps some guys to tilt their head (in your case to the right) a little bit. This helps line up the dominant eye directly in the correct sight path. I hope that all makes sense.

[profesor]

Originally Posted by mhillsing23

I am R handed, and L eye dominant. You don't HAVE to shoot with both eyes open, but it is a good thing to learn to do, not just because of your cross-dominance, but because you will have your full peripheral vision while shooting. Start practicing using both eyes by just bringing the gun up to you and trying to acquire the front sight clearly with both eyes open. Some guys put some tape over the non-dominant eye of their shooting glasses. This trains your dominant eye to take dominance even though your non-dominant eye is still open. As far as aiming tips for shooting with one eye cross-dominant, it helps some guys to tilt their head (in your case to the right) a little bit. This helps line up the dominant eye directly in the correct sight path. I hope that all makes sense.

It makes perfect sense. Thank you, this is very very helpful. I will work on this technique.

[Barbarossa]

I'm in the same boat with the right handed left eye dominance.

My vision has changed over the last 6 Mo's. (lots of computer time @ work)

I have tried shooting with both eyes open. Problem is I see 2 targets when I focus on the front site and I don't know which to shoot at.


Would a different front site help this? I ave the standard white dots.

Tx,
~Barb

[J.C. Outlaw]

Why worry? Shoot at both of them

Sounds like a focus issue to me, seeing two sights. How far is the front sight from your eyes? I can understand it if your holding the gun up close to your eyes. (HOPEFULLY NOT, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS)

Actually, after thinking bout it Barbarossa, It seems to me if your seeing double, your not using a dominant eye. Your seeing equally with both. i tried it with my hand just sticking my finger out like a barrel and that's what I came up with. If you constantly see double, you may have to do the single eye trick and gradually train yourself to use both.

[StrykerDM]

I'm left eyed and right handed. I shoot pistols right handed, rifles left handed, and keep both eyes open; so far I haven't had any problems.

[Cupsz71]

Left-handed / left eye dominant - but shoot pistol right handed.

I shoot rifle/bow lefty. Play hockey/throw baseball right. DOUGH!!

I've tried the 2eyes open, with mixed results. Some serious sight focal point clarity is a big issue. I tend to tilt my head to the right, dim the left eye, line up... and shoot. Accuracy seems pretty good at 7-10 yards, but I find any further out I have to close my non-dominant right eye completely to focus properly.

Bottom line - use what works for you.

[Cpig]

Man you freaks have some serious problems, especially you Cupsz.
(OK I'm joking of course)
Cupsz said it best, "Use what works for you". Both eyes open is not critical, if you shoot better by closing one eye, I wouldn't worry about it. You will just loose a little bit of peripheral vision while shooting.

[operator81]

I am right handed/left eye dominant as well. In the academy, I used a Weaver stance and simply turned my head to the right, lining the left eye up with the sights. This seemed to work pretty well.

I now use an isoscolese (spelling???) stance, and after some practice, am able to keep both eyes forward and open. Just takes practice. The real trick is keeping both eyes open with an AR, which I have trouble with still.

[mhillsing23]

Originally Posted by Barbarossa

I have tried shooting with both eyes open. Problem is I see 2 targets when I focus on the front site and I don't know which to shoot at.

The site isn't the problem. It is just training your eye to focus. Practice target acquisition and dry firing with both eyes and you will probably get the correct focus. Even though both eyes are open, you still want your dominant eye to be the dominant one. It isn't now, and that is why you are seeing two front sites.