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Posted: 11/23/2011 6:24:25 PM EDT
[Last Edit: IIRC]
I'm trying to get my girlfriend into archery, but she's left hand dumb/right hand dominant and left eyed. She shoots a rifle lefty but isn't too comfy with it.
Any advice? |
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My wife is left-handed, but when she got her first bow, she got a right-handed one. I'm sure not sure which one of her eyes is dominant, but I assume that it is the left one. She shoots okay with that set-up. I've read of people in that situation using a patch over the dominant eye while shooting. Your girlfriend may have to try that method if she has difficulty.
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It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.
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Im right handed, left eye dominate.
I just close my left eye.....no problems. |
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I'm left eye/right hand, and just started shooting a left handed bow. I group fine (sights are not dialed in). The only downside I can think of is I can't shoot very long, due to that side being a little weaker, but that will change as I practice.
The upside is that my brothers can't use it. |
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I'm left handed for most things, but do lot's of stuff righty.
Bow is right handed for me and I just close my left to ensure that I'm using the correct sight picture with my right eye and then open both eyes before making the shot. |
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I'll vote for shooting with the dominant eye!!
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I'm right handed , left eye dominant also so I just started shooting everything left handed and now it is totally natural and shooting right handed is weird.
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My 11y.o. is right handed/left-eye dominant. He shoots left handed better than right handed. He just can't shoot as high a draw weight until his left side gets stronger.
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Tempus fugit. Frater, memento mori.
"Where Peter is, there is the Church." ~St. Ambrose Proud Member of Team Ranstad...The Fantastic Bastards |
Thanks all.
I actually started out cross dominant also. I was just making sure there was nothing different about bows. |
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Originally Posted By FiremanBrad:
I'll vote for shooting with the dominant eye!! If you can stay with the dominant eye, I would. It is easier to start someone out this way than try to convert them later. If she is too weak to be able to draw with her weak hand and she decides to draw with her strong hand instead she may or may not have issues. Eye dependancy varies. Some folks can just blink they're dominant eye a few times and they're non-dominant eye will take over, others may have to wear an eye patch. I would start with going to a shop and test shooting a few bows, both LH and RH. |
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"When you need it and ain't got it, you're singin' a different tune..."
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Originally Posted By FiremanBrad: I'll vote for shooting with the dominant eye!! +1 I am in the same boat that she is, and while I have not shot a lot of bows I shoot much better with my dominant eye (rifle or bow). |
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"If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace."
Thomas Paine, The American Crisis, No. 1, December 19, 1776 NRA Member (www.nra.org) GRNC Member (www.grnc.org) |
Originally Posted By Badfish25:
Originally Posted By FiremanBrad:
I'll vote for shooting with the dominant eye!! +1 I am in the same boat that she is, and while I have not shot a lot of bows I shoot much better with my dominant eye (rifle or bow). Much as I would have loved to be able to shoot dominant eye, I had to go the other way. I am left handed, but right eye dominant, and I had to shoot a LH bow as I could not get myself comfortable with a RH shooting position. I can shoot (most) right handed bows from a LH position, but ultimately went with a LH bow. Perhaps if I were to stick to a RH shooting position longer I might eventually be more comfortable, but in the end I do ok either closing or blinking my right eye. Bottom line is do what you feel comfortable with, but obviously if you can shoot with dominant eye things are easier... especially of that means a RH bow, as you have many more options that way. I always do things the hard way... |
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"Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others; it is the only means." -- Albert Einstein
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I thought I was the only guy having to deal with this. I'm right hand left eye dominate. Shoot rifles, billiards left handed. Handgun right handed. I think I shot rifles lefty bc as a kid we didn't know I needed glasses so it just felt right. But luckily can shoot bows both equally. I opted for a right handed bow. No reason in particular.
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I'm right-handed, left-eye dominate, and looking at getting my first bow. I shoot rifles and pistols right handed using my left eye or both eyes open and shoot POI/POA.
From what I've read, I should get a left handed bow so I can shoot with both eyes open? Will my left arm get stronger and more coordinated with practice? |
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Originally Posted By Alembic:
I'm right-handed, left-eye dominate, and looking at getting my first bow. I shoot rifles and pistols right handed using my left eye or both eyes open and shoot POI/POA. From what I've read, I should get a left handed bow so I can shoot with both eyes open? Will my left arm get stronger and more coordinated with practice? Your dominant eye should be the one looking through the peep (i.e. left eye dominant = left hand bow). You should be able to adapt and shoot left handed and your body with strengthen and get comfortable. So the theory goes, and it makes life easier. However, there are advantages to being able to shoot RH bows, and some of us are so uncoordinated that we can't shoot the way we should. In the end, you'll have to try and see which way works best for you. |
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"Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others; it is the only means." -- Albert Einstein
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Originally Posted By EdwardAvila: I'll see if I can find a local place to try drawing both ways. Thanks.Originally Posted By Alembic: I'm right-handed, left-eye dominate, and looking at getting my first bow. I shoot rifles and pistols right handed using my left eye or both eyes open and shoot POI/POA. From what I've read, I should get a left handed bow so I can shoot with both eyes open? Will my left arm get stronger and more coordinated with practice? Your dominant eye should be the one looking through the peep (i.e. left eye dominant = left hand bow). You should be able to adapt and shoot left handed and your body with strengthen and get comfortable. So the theory goes, and it makes life easier. However, there are advantages to being able to shoot RH bows, and some of us are so uncoordinated that we can't shoot the way we should. In the end, you'll have to try and see which way works best for you. |
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I'm a lefty, but right eye dominate.
I shoot bows right handed and have ever since I was a little 9 year old boy and got one of those little red fiberglass bows.When I decided to start bowhunting back in the early 80's I just got a right handed bow and it seemed right I guess. Maybe the proshop asked me, but I honestly don't remember. A lot of people buy bows and don't understand hand eye dominance or aren't explained the difference or it just feels right to use the wrong hand for your eye. Then they have issues during the stress of taking the shot when hunting. They end up looking at the sight pin with their dominate eye and miss the animal by several feet one way or the other. This issue can't be overcome. You can't train yourself to be dominate in a certain eye on demand and under pressure. [or at least I can't and most people can't ] I would recommend getting a bow that fits your eye and train your body to shoot with that bow from the outset. If you presently shoot a wrong eyed bow, I would switch. I really think you will be happier in the long run especially if you are going to hunt. |
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ARFCOM.....Time well wasted.
Originally Posted By Keith_J: Just remember to pay it forward. If someone is in need, do something positive. |
Originally Posted By FiremanBrad:
I'll vote for shooting with the dominant eye!! if she's just starting out this is my vote. |
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My Son is left eye dominant, he started shooting his recurve bow right handed and never really closed his eye. I went and bought him his first compound bow, an Alligator Blue Mission craze not exactly a cheap bow, I bought it right handed. Here is something I have gathered, Bows now are made to shoot from the left side of the riser if you are shooting right handed and the right side if you are shooting left, from what I have read and seen thru the history of hundreds of years this is the opposite, people who draw with their right hand had the arrow on the right side of the riser. So can you use your left eye and shoot right handed or vice versa? Can you shoot strong side with your non dominant eye or with both eyes open. I think in archery is doesn't matter as long and you do it the same every time, same anchor point, same draw, same sight picture from the same eye every time. So I used this logic to bet the $350 that he can shoot strong side with a non domination eye, and he is at this time hitting his targets consistently. So he will see how this all folds out.
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Go with your dominant eye if you can.
Learning to shoot, or even changing old habits is a lot easier than people make it out to be, and the benefits in archery are huge. Shooting with both eyes open is a significant advantage in hunting. I did it and am glad I did. |
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