Check for dominant eye. One of the most difficult things for a youngster to master is shooting with both eyes open. Learning that skill is even more difficult when a right-handed shooter is left-eye dominant.
You probably know the drill. Tell the youngster to point his or her index finger at an object that"s 40 or 50 yards away keeping both eyes open. Then have them close their left eye. If the index finger is still pointed at the object, the shooter is right-eye dominant. If the finger is pointed well to the side of the object, the shooter"s left eye is dominant.
Check several times with each eye to be certain.
A right-handed shooter with a dominant left eye can train the brain to compensate, but it will take lots of practice and perhaps require the help of a shooting coach. One popular technique is to place a patch over the left eye during early practice sessions. Another is to simply close the left eye and "rifle sight" the barrel.
Eventually the yongster will have to learn to shoot with both eyes open, which requires crossing the wires from the eyes to the brain. It can be done, but it will take time and practice.
It"s a good idea to start with cardboard targets hanging from a fence. There"s no sense trying to shoot moving targets until the youngster can train his or her brain to focus on a stationery one.
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
I only have one eye so it was easy for me to figure out.I had two eyes but lost my dominant eye in an accident. It was not easy learning to shoot left handed after 30 years of shooting righty.
Thanks for the reminder James. We will check it out. I recently helped her aquire a ruger in 32 H&R Mag with a birds head grip. She enoys it but she is grouping substantially to the left. I have my suspicions.
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Mess Chief, Ft Arroyo
"Tucson sweet. Best chili in the Saguaro."
I only have one eye so it was easy for me to figure out.I had two eyes but lost my dominant eye in an accident. It was not easy learning to shoot left handed after 30 years of shooting righty.
I always had to close the left eye to shoot right handed, cause I'm right handed with left dominate eye, but in2000 I had the cataract removed from the right eyeand a lens implant. Ihaven't done the left eye yet, but the cataract in the left covers the pupil and makes me right dominate for now.
__________________
Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
Thanks for the reminder James. We will check it out. I recently helped her acquire a ruger in 32 H&R Mag with a birds head grip. She enjoys it but she is grouping substantially to the left. I have my suspicions.
BJ, if you have suspicions of her being left dominate, place a small stick-onthe left lens of her shooting glasses just enough toblock the left pupil. She will have peripheral vision, but theblocked pupil will make her right dominate when shooting.
__________________
Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
I have always shot with one eye closed, the left, right eye dominant. However, trick I learned in the Army. You close one eye to take sight from peep, and after the shot open both eyes to acquire the next target then close, aim and squeeze. Works pretty good for me! [8D]Course not many around to verify! If you know what I mean! [8D]
To figure out dominant eye, just have her hold her index figure upat armes lengthand close one eye at a time. The dominant eye will keep the index finger in the original position and the weaker eye will appear to move the obect to the dominant side.
I am right handed but left eye dominant, I use to be able to shoot both ways but required a closed eye to shoot off the right and it caused accuracy to decline. It always felt more natural to shoot left, so i just went with it. In terms of shooting and hunting, I like both eyes open.
If she is more comfortable shooting off the right side but left eye dominant then try and train her. If vice versa go with it, let here be a southpaw. Of course assuming she is in fact left eye dominant. Personally think feel is very important to shooting success which leads to enjoyment. So let her deciede the way vs forcing her.
Well I appreciate the ideas. She has access to a pretty good "pay per view" pistol range of modest cost in Kansas City. I will get her a couple boxes of wad cutters and we can try things out. Funny she reports that using the finger pointing test they are very close. Only she can tell. I am very right eye dominant.
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Mess Chief, Ft Arroyo
"Tucson sweet. Best chili in the Saguaro."
I'm left eye dominant and shoot lefty. Don't even try to get me to shoot righty! Lord only knows where the round will hit! [&:] I can't even shoot with both eyes open (except for skeet shooting). Rifles, handguns, archery, etc... I have to close my right eye. I'll end up seeing two sets of sights or two sets of targets if I open both eyes. Yeah I know, I'm one of those weird guys... [:-]
eye dominance
I had two eyes but lost my dominant eye in an accident. It was not easy learning to shoot left handed after 30 years of shooting righty.
If you know what I mean! [8D]
