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Right handed, Left eyed?

Posted By: Henry Hefner

Right handed, Left eyed? - 09/27/09 10:12 PM

I just took my son to the range to shoot pistols, his first time ever. It turns out that he is left eyed, but he is right handed. I had shown him the Weaver stance, but it feels more natural for him to stand with his left leg back. He tried shooting left handed, but no-go there. Any of you have any tips? I don't want him learning bad habits he has to unlearn later. I'm sure he isn't the only right handed left eyed shooter out there.

Posted By: aussie1

Re: Right handed, Left eyed? - 09/27/09 10:40 PM

A kid from our trap club was left eye dominant and he started shooting left handed and did pretty well. Just be sure to leave both eyes open. He will be alright it'll take a little getting used to.

Good luck

Posted By: HardWired

Re: Right handed, Left eyed? - 09/28/09 03:43 AM

I am the same. Shotgunning is the only one that bothers me as I would like to be able to shoot with both eyes open but see too much barrel so I'm forced to close the left. I'm a much better shot with passing shots being from right to left.

Rifles cause no problems scoped or un-scoped as I close the left eye.

Pistols cause no problems and strangely enough I can switch eyes, closing one or the other and shoot just fine with either eye. With left foot forward or standing straight it makes no difference, I can align either eye.

Bows cause no problems because, again, I close the left eye.

It's not the worst thing that could happen, but it sure would be nice to be able to keep both eyes open in all situations.

Posted By: Judd

Re: Right handed, Left eyed? - 09/28/09 04:22 PM

This is something to try. Take a piece of scotch tape and position it on his glasses where the left eye catches the bead on the gun. That will confuse that eye and allow the right eye to take over.

A few clay shooters have that problem and don't switch to left handed stuff either. If he is young I would really try and push him to keep practicing and trying left handed. I think in the long run it would be better for his shotgunning.

Posted By: Henry Hefner

Re: Right handed, Left eyed? - 09/29/09 12:08 AM

Thanks, guys, I just had him come read all your tips. We will try them out.

Posted By: Closed Traverse

Re: Right handed, Left eyed? - 09/30/09 04:52 AM

my bro is the same way, he was taught to shoot left handed, and i think that is the best way to go about it.

Posted By: Mr. Clean

Re: Right handed, Left eyed? - 10/01/09 07:20 PM

I am right handed, right footed and left eye dominant. I shoot a Bow right handed, using my right eye, I shoot a pistol right handed using my left eye and I shoulder my rifles and shotguns left side using my left eye.

WEIRD I KNOW....but it works GREAT!!!

Posted By: rdh1

Re: Right handed, Left eyed? - 10/01/09 09:10 PM

I am left eyed dominant. I was brought up shooting right handed guns because that is what my dad did. Started shooting a bow left handed. Now I can shoot a bow left or right and not to bad left handed shot gun better right.

Posted By: 750SpiritRdr

Re: Right handed, Left eyed? - 10/01/09 09:10 PM

well i'm backwards... i'm left-handed/ right eye dominant. i shoot my rifle/shotgun left handed my bow right handed and pistols in the left. the only thing that took a while to learn was bird hunting. practice, practice, practice.

i also bat righthanded but catch and throw left. i eat in my left but i'll flip you off with my right. offtopic

Posted By: TexasVine

Re: Right handed, Left eyed? - 10/08/09 03:15 AM

I'm left eye dominant but right handed. I been shooting for 42 years left handed with both a rifle and bow. All other sporting and daily activities I do as a righty. It's just natural shoot left handed.
Mike

Posted By: Guy

Re: Right handed, Left eyed? - 10/09/09 03:23 AM

Originally Posted By: Henry Hefner
I just took my son to the range to shoot pistols, his first time ever. It turns out that he is left eyed, but he is right handed. I had shown him the Weaver stance, but it feels more natural for him to stand with his left leg back. He tried shooting left handed, but no-go there. Any of you have any tips? I don't want him learning bad habits he has to unlearn later. I'm sure he isn't the only right handed left eyed shooter out there.

I think for rifle shooting it really does not matter, just shut your left eye problem solved. You can do the same thing with a shotgun, but you will never reach your potential shooting a shotgun (moving targets) with one eye shut, you need both eyes open, and your dominant eye needs to be right over the barrel. I would take him to a pro and get their advice, it will be $100 bucks and probably the best money you ever spent. I would first really want to make sure he is truly left eye dominant, and a pro will tell you and give you sound advice. up

Posted By: Guy

Re: Right handed, Left eyed? - 10/09/09 03:27 AM

Originally Posted By: Henry Hefner
it feels more natural for him to stand with his left leg back.

Left leg back is left handed shooting, you mean right leg back?

Posted By: Henry Hefner

Re: Right handed, Left eyed? - 10/09/09 10:33 PM

Originally Posted By: Guy
Originally Posted By: Henry Hefner
it feels more natural for him to stand with his left leg back.

Left leg back is left handed shooting, you mean right leg back?


Right leg back. I knew he was right handed, of course, and had tested him for eye dominance. We tried several times, and once he used his right eye, but all other times he used his left. Because he showed right eye once during the testing, I thought maybe he wasn't strongly dominant in either eye, but when it came time to shoot he definitely preferred his left eye. He was uncomfortable trying to shoot left handed, so he was using his right hand but bringing the gun to sight with his left eye, and I noticed he had his left leg back. I had been paying attention to his grip and sighting, not his legs, and he just naturally stood this way. I corrected his stance, but afterward wondered if moving the pistol to his left eye made him more comfortable with the left leg back.

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