Dominant Eye

Larry Mack · November 15, 2008, 02:04 PM

Greetings all- I am left eye dominant, but feel more comfortable using my right hand as strong hand. Is this a big mistake? Anyone else do this? Can you compensate to make up for this? Thanks for any help. Also, what a goldmine of info this site is! It's great to feel a part of a shooting community.

Larry Mack

Pahoo · November 15, 2008, 03:09 PM

While teaching at the M/L station a couple of years ago, had a young female student who mentioned that she had never shot one. That may be so but right off, did not have to assist her in her stance and gun handling. Shot the 10X at 35 yards, offhand. I also noticed that she was cross-eyed dominant when she was at the line. I was impressed and had to ask her how she overcomes the problem. She stated that she had just got back from Irag and that the Army had taught her but did not state just how. Perhaps others reading this can tell us. I often get students with this problem and to overcome it, I put a piece of transparent scotch tape over the dominant lense of the safety glasses. Not black, but transparent so they can still see but forces them to focus more with the weak eye and seems to work.

Be Safe !!!

Threefeathers · November 16, 2008, 12:00 AM

Larry at LFI Mas Ayoob teaches a technique that really works. My son is the same as you and he carries a Taurus PT140.
Simply cant the gun at about a 30 degree angle and the dominant eye will take over the sight pic. It is so simple it is funny. Try, it is fast and you can then use your strongest hand.

T. O'Heir · November 16, 2008, 02:15 AM

"...Is this a big mistake?..." Nope. It's just how you are. I'm the same. Left eye dominate, but shoot a handgun right handed. Shoot a rifle left. Shoot a bow, right.
Teach yourself to shoot with both eyes open and concentrate on the front sight only.
Mind you, a lot depends on what kind of shooting you're doing. When shooting, manly, one handed bullseye with iron sights, your stance matters. Move your hind leg to bring the sights over. Head up and don't cant the pistol.

alloy · November 16, 2008, 07:11 AM

larry mack, i dot know if its correct but thats how i am. i used to shoot with both eyes but my vision isnt clear as it was, and now the dominant left eye has taken over the job. doesnt seem to cause me problems.

alloy · November 16, 2008, 07:37 AM

ill add that the problem i see with it is that what most call a proper stance, doesnt work that well, but i still poke holes in paper.

wuluf · November 16, 2008, 12:20 PM

Right handed, left eyed here. I keep both eyes open and slightly tilt my head to the left when i aim.

Sigma 40 Blaster · November 17, 2008, 12:53 AM

Same here. I was right dominant before having LASIK, now I'm left as a result of complications from the surgery. I can see OK out of my right eye but it's not as clear (my right eye was always stronger even before).

I use a modified isosceles stance, close my right eye, and tilt my head. I am working on keeping both eyes open and remembering that the left picture is the one that's "real".

I'm not a bullseye shooter by any means but I do OK in IDPA (sharpshooter).

Threefeathers · November 17, 2008, 08:54 PM

Guys, tilt the fracking gun 30 degrees and stop tilting your heads, it is fast, effective, and requires much fewer motor skills.

KLRANGL · November 17, 2008, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Guys, tilt the fracking gun 30 degrees and stop tilting your heads, it is fast, effective, and requires much fewer motor skills.

Just tried this out for the first time today at the range (off hand shooting), and boy are you right... But its a totally different feeling with the recoil going somewhere other than up. Had to get used to it.

vranasaurus · November 18, 2008, 11:51 AM

I have the same issue. I may try canting the gun next time I go to the range.

My stance feels much more natural when I shoot left handed but I don't feel comfortable firing a pistol with my left hand. Since I shoot rifles left handed I may try to get used to shooting pistols left handed.

Jermtheory · November 18, 2008, 06:08 PM

im the same,left eye/right hand dominant.

are we talking about pistol shooting?

just use your left eye and right hand...

no need to tilt anything,just move the pistol over the slightest ammount.try switching back and forth from eye to eye...the movement needed is almost nil.

...now,a rifle without a illuminated optic can be a real pain for me.i just shoot lefty in that case(rifle with irons or non-illuminated optic).

but its never been an issue with pistols.

mega twin · November 18, 2008, 09:38 PM

Well,I'm blind in my right eye. I shoot a handgun right handed and rifle left handed. I never felt the need to tilt my head or my gun,but maybe thats because I have no need to force my dominate eye to focus over a weak eye?

ezriderga · November 18, 2008, 11:14 PM

Right handed...left eye dominant...works for me. ez

ADM Knives · November 18, 2008, 11:20 PM

When I got licensed as an ArmedGuard 10 years ago, I thought I was screwed. I am left eye dominant. Found out doing the triangle with your hands (looking through and closing each eye to see which moves the triangle). I was continually missing the target. I changed my rear sights on my glock (knocked them over to the right a little bit). I spent a long time at the range, shot 1000's of rounds through my glock and suddenly, I was incredibly accurate. But, now it's been 10 years and I rarely get to the range (no longer doing armed guard work). I just bought a pm-9 and was continually shooting left. Driving home, I remembered about the eye. I'm going back in a week or so (after adjusting the sight a little). I think if I can shoot with both eyes open, it won't be a problem.

Threefeathers · November 19, 2008, 12:22 AM

Holy herkimer, just try what Mas teaches and see how it works. Cant the pistol just enough so the dominant eye picks it up immediately.

In LFI qualification he makes every one shoot a bunch with their non-dominant hand and we all got good. Use it, or not, I don't care, I don't give a damn if you put your head through your legs and shoot backwards. Mas does so I'm passing it on.

FireForged · November 30, 2008, 10:47 PM

For years while twohanded shooting I would bring my pistol (left) arm across and line it up with my (right) dominant eye. Finally I decided to just close my dominant eye and use a correct shooting stance. I would prefer to keep both eyes open but I discovered that I shot alot better with the domiant eye closed.

gustav129 · November 30, 2008, 11:01 PM

When I was in JROTC doing my marksman qualifications, we used an eye patch. That kept both of our eyes open so you don't squint and tire the open eye.

I'm left eye dominant, but I shoot right, because all of my guns are right handed. I did shoot left handed to get my small bore expert qualification in JROTC, but it's a pain in the ass to reach over with your left hand to work a bolt action.

I still use the eye patch method to an extent, the bill of my ballcap has a deep curve in it, so it blocks my left eye when I'm shooting. Works just fine for me.

bustavista32 · December 6, 2008, 07:35 PM

My dominant eye would have to be the left.

November 15, 2008, 02:04 PM	#1
Larry Mack Junior Member Join Date: September 11, 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3	Dominant Eye Greetings all- I am left eye dominant, but feel more comfortable using my right hand as strong hand. Is this a big mistake? Anyone else do this? Can you compensate to make up for this? Thanks for any help. Also, what a goldmine of info this site is! It's great to feel a part of a shooting community. Larry Mack

November 16, 2008, 02:15 AM	#4
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...Is this a big mistake?..." Nope. It's just how you are. I'm the same. Left eye dominate, but shoot a handgun right handed. Shoot a rifle left. Shoot a bow, right. Teach yourself to shoot with both eyes open and concentrate on the front sight only. Mind you, a lot depends on what kind of shooting you're doing. When shooting, manly, one handed bullseye with iron sights, your stance matters. Move your hind leg to bring the sights over. Head up and don't cant the pistol. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

November 16, 2008, 12:20 PM	#7
wuluf Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 2006 Location: River City CA Posts: 228	Right handed, left eyed here. I keep both eyes open and slightly tilt my head to the left when i aim. __________________ Freedom isn't the choice the world encourages. You have to wear a suit of armor to defend it.

November 18, 2008, 06:08 PM	#12
Jermtheory Senior Member Join Date: September 20, 2007 Posts: 1,283	im the same,left eye/right hand dominant. are we talking about pistol shooting? just use your left eye and right hand... no need to tilt anything,just move the pistol over the slightest ammount.try switching back and forth from eye to eye...the movement needed is almost nil. ...now,a rifle without a illuminated optic can be a real pain for me.i just shoot lefty in that case(rifle with irons or non-illuminated optic). but its never been an issue with pistols. Last edited by Jermtheory; November 18, 2008 at 06:14 PM.

November 18, 2008, 11:14 PM	#14
ezriderga Member Join Date: April 25, 2007 Location: NW Georgia Posts: 31	Right handed...left eye dominant...works for me. ez __________________ Eternity...it's hell without Jesus

November 15, 2008, 03:09 PM	#2
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	While teaching at the M/L station a couple of years ago, had a young female student who mentioned that she had never shot one. That may be so but right off, did not have to assist her in her stance and gun handling. Shot the 10X at 35 yards, offhand. I also noticed that she was cross-eyed dominant when she was at the line. I was impressed and had to ask her how she overcomes the problem. She stated that she had just got back from Irag and that the Army had taught her but did not state just how. Perhaps others reading this can tell us. I often get students with this problem and to overcome it, I put a piece of transparent scotch tape over the dominant lense of the safety glasses. Not black, but transparent so they can still see but forces them to focus more with the weak eye and seems to work. Be Safe !!!

November 16, 2008, 12:00 AM	#3
Threefeathers Junior member Join Date: June 7, 2004 Location: AZ Posts: 392	Larry at LFI Mas Ayoob teaches a technique that really works. My son is the same as you and he carries a Taurus PT140. Simply cant the gun at about a 30 degree angle and the dominant eye will take over the sight pic. It is so simple it is funny. Try, it is fast and you can then use your strongest hand.

November 17, 2008, 12:53 AM	#8
Sigma 40 Blaster Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2007 Location: East Texas Posts: 997	Same here. I was right dominant before having LASIK, now I'm left as a result of complications from the surgery. I can see OK out of my right eye but it's not as clear (my right eye was always stronger even before). I use a modified isosceles stance, close my right eye, and tilt my head. I am working on keeping both eyes open and remembering that the left picture is the one that's "real". I'm not a bullseye shooter by any means but I do OK in IDPA (sharpshooter).

November 17, 2008, 08:54 PM	#9
Threefeathers Junior member Join Date: June 7, 2004 Location: AZ Posts: 392	Guys, tilt the fracking gun 30 degrees and stop tilting your heads, it is fast, effective, and requires much fewer motor skills.

November 18, 2008, 11:51 AM	#11
vranasaurus Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2008 Posts: 1,184	I have the same issue. I may try canting the gun next time I go to the range. My stance feels much more natural when I shoot left handed but I don't feel comfortable firing a pistol with my left hand. Since I shoot rifles left handed I may try to get used to shooting pistols left handed.

November 18, 2008, 09:38 PM	#13
mega twin Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2006 Posts: 434	Well,I'm blind in my right eye. I shoot a handgun right handed and rifle left handed. I never felt the need to tilt my head or my gun,but maybe thats because I have no need to force my dominate eye to focus over a weak eye?

November 18, 2008, 11:20 PM	#15
ADM Knives Junior Member Join Date: October 17, 2008 Location: Lodi, NY Posts: 10	When I got licensed as an ArmedGuard 10 years ago, I thought I was screwed. I am left eye dominant. Found out doing the triangle with your hands (looking through and closing each eye to see which moves the triangle). I was continually missing the target. I changed my rear sights on my glock (knocked them over to the right a little bit). I spent a long time at the range, shot 1000's of rounds through my glock and suddenly, I was incredibly accurate. But, now it's been 10 years and I rarely get to the range (no longer doing armed guard work). I just bought a pm-9 and was continually shooting left. Driving home, I remembered about the eye. I'm going back in a week or so (after adjusting the sight a little). I think if I can shoot with both eyes open, it won't be a problem.

November 19, 2008, 12:22 AM	#16
Threefeathers Junior member Join Date: June 7, 2004 Location: AZ Posts: 392	Holy herkimer, just try what Mas teaches and see how it works. Cant the pistol just enough so the dominant eye picks it up immediately. In LFI qualification he makes every one shoot a bunch with their non-dominant hand and we all got good. Use it, or not, I don't care, I don't give a damn if you put your head through your legs and shoot backwards. Mas does so I'm passing it on.

November 30, 2008, 10:47 PM	#17
FireForged Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 1999 Location: Rebel South USA Posts: 2,074	For years while twohanded shooting I would bring my pistol (left) arm across and line it up with my (right) dominant eye. Finally I decided to just close my dominant eye and use a correct shooting stance. I would prefer to keep both eyes open but I discovered that I shot alot better with the domiant eye closed. __________________ Life is a web woven by necessity and chance...

November 30, 2008, 11:01 PM	#18
gustav129 Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 140	When I was in JROTC doing my marksman qualifications, we used an eye patch. That kept both of our eyes open so you don't squint and tire the open eye. I'm left eye dominant, but I shoot right, because all of my guns are right handed. I did shoot left handed to get my small bore expert qualification in JROTC, but it's a pain in the ass to reach over with your left hand to work a bolt action. I still use the eye patch method to an extent, the bill of my ballcap has a deep curve in it, so it blocks my left eye when I'm shooting. Works just fine for me.

December 6, 2008, 07:35 PM	#19
bustavista32 Junior Member Join Date: November 22, 2008 Posts: 9	My dominant eye would have to be the left.