Does eye dominance matter?

[randian]

I am right handed, but I am left-eye dominant. Is this important for firearms marksmanship? I have read archery articles, for example, that suggest that left-eye dominant archers should shoot left-handed, even if that's your weak hand.

I may have answered my own question: the following article on Army shooters says that cross-dominant individuals have greatly lowered qualification scores compared to right/right or left/left individuals.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9120204

Does this mean I should learn to shoot left-handed? I am interested in any of your opinions and experiences on the matter.

 

[George63]

Re: Does eye dominance matter?

main strategy I have seen is to obscure the dominate eye, not necessarily block it, a piece of scotch tape on the glasses to blur the sight picture will block the conflicting input from the dominate eye

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Does eye dominance matter?

The article deals with the training of novice shooters, and implies that marksmanship related to cross dominance can be influenced by training. I think they got it right.

We were trained to be right handed shooters in The Corps. I think this was mainly an arbitrary decision based on how the issue rifles were right handed. The appearance was that The Corps was willing to accept whatever marksmanship anomalies resulted. They also serve who generate near misses....

Greg

 

[ToddM]

Re: Does eye dominance matter?

With a handgun it shouldn't matter as most people will naturally align the sights to their dominant eye when shooting with either hand. However with a long gun (or bow) that's obviously not possible since the angle of the gun is not flexible as it's connected to either the left/right shoulder.

Some people do learn to shoot very well swapping sides, but it typically takes awhile. In fact over time many shooters that make the switch shoot better than they ever did the other way. The quick fix is as George mentioned and using tape/blinder/etc. making it so the dominant eye cannot see the sights forcing the non-dominant eye to take over. With open sights there are other options, a longer front sight hood can obscure the non shouldered side eye from seeing the sight, or with a shotgun they also make a little "blinder" that goes on the vent rib by the barrel to do the same task. That's typically less "obstructive" to your peripheral view than the tape on the glasses but still forces the brain to accept sight input from the non-dominant eye and is probably a better option when having to spot and shoot moving targets such as trap/skeet/etc.

A lot of people can get away with it on scopes as well, without switching their brain over time will learn to accept input from the non-dominant eye. It's a crap shoot though with optics I know people that have no problems shooting shotguns/handguns both eyes open but their brain struggles shooting a scope both eyes open, some people seem wired for the brain to want the magnified input as dominant and some the non-magnified regardless of their eye dominance itself. Some of the most frustrating shooting with a scope is if both your eyes are very close to being equally dominant, your brain will flop back and forth focusing between the magnified and non-magnified input. Sometimes a person over time again can train their brain to stay with the magnified input, others just end up using a blinder or glasses tape.

The scotch tape is the best option to start with though, it's cheap (if not free) is easily adjusted and fully reversible without consequence.

 

[Casey Simpson]

Re: Does eye dominance matter?

Nah. Shoot with the weak eye

 

[bmt]

Re: Does eye dominance matter?

I am cross dominant. I shoot very well left handed.

Watch Saving Private Ryan. The sniper was left eye dominant and reached over the top of his 1903A3 springfield, to work the bolt.

BMT

 

[Casey Simpson]

Re: Does eye dominance matter?

LMAO <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bmt</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Watch Saving Private Ryan. The sniper was left eye dominant and reached over the top of his 1903A3 springfield, to work the bolt.

BMT</div></div>

 

[jwoolf]

Re: Does eye dominance matter?

I think you'll find a lot of opinions but, here's mine.

My first rifle experience was positional shooting ( starting at 10yrs old )... the first lesson I got was finding my eye dominance and after that, I learned how to get into an unsupported prone postion with a military sling... then sitting, kneeling and offhand.

I am right handed ( mostly ) but, I'm left eye dominant... I shoot exclusively left handed. I would NEVER teach someone to shoot in a cross dominate way. ( I have to fight with my wife every time... she is in the same boat )

I've had a LOT of instructors over the years ( including the army marksmanship unit ) and, they all say the same thing.... you should never attempt to shoot cross eye dominate. If you're left eye dominate, shoot left handed. period. You can learn to hold a rifle left handed with some practice but, you can never fully teach your right eye to be dominate.

That is my own opinion too but, you know what opinions are good for. lol

 

[azdead]

Re: Does eye dominance matter?

I agree with changing your dominant eye through training. Or as I read on another site "poke your left eye out".

 

[fusiachi]

Re: Does eye dominance matter?

I'm also RH / LED. Red dots, handguns, and scoped rifles are fine with both eyes open. I'll occasionally close my left eye sighting through a scope. I can't shoot clays right-handed with both eyes open to save my life.