1 eye or 2
 

I have always shot with one eye open lookin through my peep and the other closed. I was at a shot sunday and relized alot of other people shot both open. Now i would like to no, how do u all shot. One open or both open?

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

Both open.I learned here to do that. I have a much better field of view. And what if I'm aiming at a doe with one eye closed and I miss seeing that booner out of the corner of my other eye?

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

that is a very good point

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

Both open. Increases your FOV, makes it a lot easier to shoot under low light conditions and I think it helps with target panic. Now of course you have to be rt. eye dominant for a rt. hand shooter and left eye dominant for a left hand shooter to be able to do it.


Dan

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

Good question killzone. I also shoot with only 1 eye open but now that you raise the point, would probably be more beneficial to shoot with both eyes open. Can't wait to hear some more responses on this question.

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

Both open. With one eye closed you lose depth perception and ability to estimate yardage. You also loose field of view as txj and mfd pointed out.

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

I wish I could figure out how to shoot with both eyes open. I have a string splitter peep so it should be easy to shoot with both eyes open but I cannot seem to focus the pin on the target with both eyes open? Not sure why but I'm going to pratice this summer.

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Have you checked your eye dominance to see if you're shooting with the correct eye? If you're shooting out of your non-dominant eye you'll have to close your dominant one.

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I dont think thats accurate. My buddy is left eye dominate and shoots right handed, shoots with both eyes open and he is an awsome shot.

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

I shoot both open.
I used to shoot instinctively until last year and I had real trouble changing to a sight till I started keeping both open.

If you are having trouble focusing the pin on the target try focusing on the target and just having the pin float there, rather than trying to bring the pin into focus, thats what works for me.

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

Do any of you two eye shooters wear glasses?

I do and it seems impossible for me to shoot with two eyes open wearing glasses.

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

I used to have glasses, ive got contacts now, but ishot with both eyes when i had glasses and i did fine.

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

I made the switch to left handed last spring for this very reason. With that being sad, I'm starting to drift back into the habit of squinting my non-dominant eye a bit. It's not that I can't shoot with both eyes open, I just seem to do fine the way I'm currently shooting. I may practice a bit more on it this spring, but I just shot a 293-11x Vegas round today, so I'm not sure if I could improve any points with both eyes open or not.

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

No way in h-e--double hockey sticks I can shoot both eyes open- I'm right handed left eye dominant- I've shot both ways, right handed and left handed- have to close one eye regardless- see two of each pin otherwise and they show up pretty far apart. (I also have astigmitism(sp) and this may make matters worse)

Shooting a shotgun was a problem at first as well (used to shoot skeet and alot of upland birds/game/ and waterfowl)- after awhile I started to notice I'd always roll my head over far enough to get my left eye over the vent rib- but it still messed with my sight picture as things always happen too quick shooting birds and I couldn't get focused. Finally started closing my eye and all was good

You do lose some field of view and depth perception, but I can assure you I'd end up shooting every deer in the neck or in the stomach if I didn't close one eye, regardless.

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

I think that a lot of y'all who are shooting with one eye closed are putting WAY too much emphasis on "aiming". You aim when you are shooting with a scope at indoor spots using clarifyers and all that trash (well its not trash but you know what I'm getting at).

I shoot both eyes open. Always have. All my focus and concentration is on exactly what I want to hit. I notice the pin... and sure its a little fuzzy... I have 20/15 perfect fighter pilot eyes too. I focus on my target, notice the pin... and before the arrow is gone I can see the nock going right to where I want it... then there is a woosh.

Nobody is dead rock steady.... just cannot happen... you focus on that one small spot and make a good shot and its going to happen.

For hunting... you should absolutely be shooting both open... folks who complain about not being able to see through their peeps are near always shooting one closed. If you are left eye dominant... you should be shooting left handed.

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

My Eye dominance is not overwhelming either way and does vary. I am left handed, but do many things right handed as well as left handed. I shoot with one eye closed because that's what will work for me.

As far as depth perception and field of view. All I need to see is what I'm shooting at and I've done got the range down at that point.;)

Dan

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

ORIGINAL: mfd1027

Both open. Increases your FOV, makes it a lot easier to shoot under low light conditions and I think it helps with target panic. Now of course you have to be rt. eye dominant for a rt. hand shooter and left eye dominant for a left hand shooter to be able to do it.




MOhunter-I dont think thats accurate. My buddy is left eye dominate and shoots right handed, shoots with both eyes open and he is an awsome shot.



MOhunter- INHO I think I'm rt. on this one. If your bud is left eye dominant and he can shoot accurately rt. handed with both eyes open he's the exception.

Dan

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

Probably true for many people, but not always. I'm not forcing my pin anywhere. I let it float, and concentrate on the general location that it needs to float in, and keep it there as I let my back muscles do the work for me. I think it's certainly EASIER to concentrate on one point with both eyes open, and it also allows the pin to be taken out of focus, but for me, I seem to take one or the other too FAR out of focus with both eyes open. When I shoot with both eyes open and concentrate on just the spot, I don't pay any attention to my pin, and I usually drop low.

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

2 eyes open for everything except rifle scopes on higher powers...

i started shooting better when i started shooting both eyes opened...

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

I shoot one eye closed. Left eye dominant and shoot right handed. I've tried both open but I miss the target.

You can train your eyes to cross dominate so it is possibe, it takes a long time and is activity specific. I shoot a shotgun right handed with both eyes open. I have no trouble with this but if I try to shoot the bow with both eyes I don't even hit the target.

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

Both open for the past 20yrs, makes a HUGE difference, imo. When I started I shot one closed....so glad I switched. Teaching my son 2 eyes open from the get go and so far he's doing well. If you are having trouble, just practice alot - you will get used to it, as awkward as it may seem at the start. Yeah, you might get a flyer now and then that misses wide - but once you get it down, you will be happy you did. I too feel eye dominance makes a HUGE difference in two eyes open. If your dominant eye is on the off side, you will fight it constantly.

Mike

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

I may be ignorant here, but how do you tell which eye is dominant?

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

IH...here's how I have people do it...that is fairly easy to explain (I hope)

Hold your arm out in front of you and make a circle with your finger tips and thumb. Center something across the room in the circle - door knob, lamp, lightswitch, etc. Now, with both eyes open, focus on the objectwhile you slowly bring your hand towards your face. The "circle" will go to your dominant eye automatically, with the object still centered in it. Most folks will shootmuch better if they are shooting with theirdominant eye.

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

The following is from a backyard shooter / bowhunter:

I don't think about it, but I close one eye. I shoot a bow like a pistol, focus is on the front sight. I know where the pin is on the target, but clear focus, especially at release, is on the pin. I only see the arrow in flight at longer distances.If I don't keep focus on the sight my shot doesn't hit where I want.

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

OCD- That's a tough way to shoot!! Are you saying you concentrate and have the pin in focus with the target out of focus? IMHO- I think that if you practice during this off season concentrating on the target and keeping it in focus while being aware of where the pin is you'll notice a big improvement in your shooting. I wouldn't get intothe habit of watching the arrow in flight either.

Dan

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

OCD, i dont understand how you shoot the way you do, but if thats what works for you, then do what works is the way i believe! When TP is getting at me (it happens every once in a while) I always realize that i am not focusing on the target and am focusing on the pin. Like i said tho, if that makes your shots, then it sounds good to me...

I shoot with both eyes open 95% of the time, but there are times when i find it convenient to shoot with just one, weather it be b/c of glare or lighting condition or whatever. Idk when i noticed that i shoot with both eyes open, but its just what worked for me. I never really tried to do it, it just came naturally.

Derek

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

well from what im seeing its all in personal prefrense. i no im more accurate with one closed, but i have done that since i started. Im tryin to keep them both open but in alot of light i cant do it. when its a little dim i can becuase my pins are bright. I have .019 but they are bright i have to focus on my pin and put it on the target or cover my fibers up or they are to bright. 2 me it seems its up to u, shot the way u want and whats working for u.

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

This topic got me pretty interested and I decided to go home and shoot yesterday to try some varying techniques. I shoot right handed w/ left eye closed and have been doing so for years.

When I started shooting yesterday I started regular to get a few shots in to get warmed up. I then decided to try to shoot with both eyes open. I pulled back and the peep sight seemed to be a blur but I could see the pins pretty well. I do wear glasses when I shoot. I kept my same anchor points and didn't shoot to bad despite 1 miss when I lost focus. I think with some practice two eyes open can be very beneficial.

Regarding the eye dominance issue, I tried the suggested dominance test and found out that I am left eye dominant but have been shooting right handed bows/rifles all my life (w/ left eye closed). Do you think there would be a substantial enough difference inperformance to switch to shooting left handed though?

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

**** I'm left eye dominant! Hopefully I can learn to shoot with both eyes open, cause theres no way I'm shooting left handed.

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

Make the switch when your financial means allow. It's worth it. Trust me. I did it.;)

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

I don't know on this, but I think that if you can shoot with both eyes open you should be able to shoot right or left? The more I think about it the more confused I become. What difference does it make if I sight my bow in to which ever eye I am used to shooting with. Will I shoot better switching to left? Please explain if any one can. How does eye dominace effect my shooting ?

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http://www.archeryweb.com/archery/eyedom.htm

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

I personally come to full draw with my left eye closed and once im in my anchor and have the pin settled over my target i open my other left eye. So both.

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

The couple guys I know that did it, said it was worth it. One was my brother in law andhe is a MUCH better archer now in all aspects. Took him a little while to get used to it, as he was shooting RH for about 15yrs prior.

For you, if you do stay shooting RH....I would shoot with your Left eye closed. Trying to shoot both eyes open, it will inevitably try to take over....even if you practice and have pretty good results most of the time. Last thing you need is for it to happen on the shot of a lifetime.


IH....not following you. ? If you are shooting a right handed bow, I can only assume your right eye looks through your peep, thus you are sighting with your right eye. I doubt you are looking through the peep with your left eye. ? Maybe you don't shoot a peep? Please elaborate, I'm confused now [8D]

The bottom line is...everyone has a dominant eye that will try to be "dominant", which is why you should try to use that to your advantage, rather than against you. There is always the exception to the rule, butthe majorityof people will be a much better archer using their dominant eye.

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

Sorry for the confusion. I shoot with my left eye closed and it works good for me. But after doing the eye dominant test I found that I am left eye dominant. I guess I am confused on how that effects my shooting. Does it only make a difference when shooting with both eyes open? I'd like to shoot with both eyes open, but will that be more difficult for me if I shoot right handed?

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

Gotcha. Yes, it only matters with both eyes open. If you shoot both eyes open in your situation, your left eye will try to take over just by the nature of it being dominant. If that happens (and you may not know it until you release) your arrow will fly VERY wide, lots of times missing the target by a good bit. You may also experience a bad case of double vision trying to sight properly. I'm certainly not "the expert" but from what I've seen and the folks I have dealt with, its tough to shoot both eyes open unless your dominant eye is sighting through the peep (or whatever you use). Best is probably to continue to shoot one eye closed, unless you want to switch to a LH bow. You can still be very accurate as you do now, leaving the dom eye out of the equation. Hope this helps.

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

Cool thanks for clearing that up for me. I guess I was panicing for nothing thinking that my shooting was not as accurate as it should be cause I use the wrong eye. I think for me I'll stick to closing one eye cause I can't see me shooting a LH bow.

RE: 1 eye or 2
 

I shot (hunted) for 15 years as a right hander that knew he was left eye dominant. I taught myself to close my left eye. This is how you are and will have to shoot if you want to remain shooting RH. I decided that I wanted to get more serious about my shooting and take advantage of the opportunity to start from scratch knowing what I know now and having access to the insight that I do now. It was honestly the best thing that I have done archerywise ever. Don't be afraid surprising yourself. The switch was natural, I mean that. It didn't take much at all to feel right at home drawing a left handed bow. Good luck in whatever you do with it. I love being able to shoot both fairly well and the big advantage is I can shoot lefthanded with bow eyes open while using my dominant eye. Yeah, there ain't as many deals on bows out there but the heck with it.[8D]