I've got a really bad bow shoulder and it's getting worse. The pain is the root cause of my target panic, I'm sure of that. I'm not quite ready to quit shooting just yet, so I'm thinking about switching from righty to lefty. I've played around with it some, with my selfbows in the back yard. After nearly 50 years of shooting righthanded, lefty feels plumb wierd, but I can pretty much hit what I'm pointing at.

Playing basketball in high school and college, all those years ago, I learned to be pretty much ambidextrous anyway. I'm hoping shooting hoops and shooting arrows really aren't all that different.

I know Fred Bear was a natural righty, but had to shoot lefty because he lost a fingertip on his right hand. Just wondering if any MORTALS () have made the switch to shooting with the off hand and how successful have you been?

I was told in an NAA Level II Coaches' Course that an experienced archer should be able to make the switch successfully in 2-3 weeks of concentrated practice. Thought about doing it myself because I'm cross dominant, but I've just got too much invested in right handed bows, tabs, quivers, sights, etc.

Art,

I believe Glenn St Charles switched also due to TP. I had heard about Fred and his finger but never could find a picture of it.

I do believe there were a few of the more unknown, but not lesser, greats who made the switch for whatever reason back in the heydays.

After a couple of days playing with this lefthanded shooting stuff, the wierdness is starting to wear off. Still got some fumble-itis when it comes to nocking an arrow, but I'm getting better. The left hand seems to still be trainable.

Hey, Lilhunter... Bear seems to have gone out of his way to disguise his missing fingertip in photos. I searched and searched for evidence, myself, when there was a big argument going on over at the LW over the story. The only pic I know of where you can see it fairly well is on page 91 of 'The Archers Bible' where he's shooting fluflu's at aerial targets. Grab your magnifying glass and check out the ring finger on his right hand.

I tried shooting a left-handed bow once, and after I regained conciousness I said "NEVER AGAIN!".[:@]

Well, maybe that's a little big of an exaggeration. I did try it once, with a 60 or 65# recurve, and man alive it ate me up. I have heard of folks doing it sucessfully though, and I reckon if I had to shoot lefty or stop shooting, I'd learn. I know one fellow that shoots both--he kills us watching him shoot at targets. He shoots a double shelf bow, and will shoot one target right handed, the next left-handed. He's not Howard Hill, but he does pretty good.

Good luck Art--hope that shoulder gets better!

Chad

I gave switching to lefty some serious thought cause I am cross dominant but after I tried it a few times and I still went crosseyed trying to look at the arrow I said phooey on it and will just plug away right handed. Good luck with the switch and the shoulder Troy

Art,

Yuppers, you can definatly see it in that photo. Thanks!

I switched from shooting left handed to right handed about 13 years ago because of being right eye dominant. I had shot left handed for 17 years. The switch improved my shooting and worked out great since its easier to get equipment that is for right handed shooters.
The hardest part of switching was that I would always grab the bow and arrows with the wrong hand for a while. Otherwise the switch was not that bad.

Happy Hunting

Hi Arthur.

About two years ago I tore two of the rotator cuff muscles/tendons in my right shoulder and had to temporarily learn how to do a number of things left handed to allow it to heal. I tore my cuff due to years of overuse and strain. I did go to a doctor, but I also got a book called, "The 7-minute rotator cuff solution" which has helped me build back up the strength and eliminate quite a bit of the pain in my right shoulder, allowing me to do alot of activities right handed again.

I'm not sure if this is your case, but I highly recommend this book as rotator cuff injuries are actually very common due to overuse. It is a very neglected muscle group which leads to many injuries. The book is hard to find, as I've heard it is out of print, and many places sell it for overly high prices. But I did find one site that is selling it for $20:

http://www.crainsmuscleworld.com/booksmedicine.html

Take care and I hope your shoulder gets better.