MGH_PA

If you read some of my previous posts, you saw me make mention of making the switch from RH to LH due to being left eye dominant. Well I recieved some mixed advice, and decided to take the plunge. I have a LH 101st on the way, LH limbdriver, and plan to reuse my quiver and flip my CJ comp sight. Well, I was out shooting a bit today (I needed to get out, and I'm just starting to get over being sick), and decided to play more with my anchor point and my eyes. I wasn't concerned with hitting my mark, moreso with getting tight groups. I decided to try a variety of anchor points (all of which if I kept would require DRASTIC movement of my peep, but still doable). I was able to get some really tight groups at 20-30 yds, and pretty consistant. I was also able to realize that by just slightly squinting my left eye (not shutting it), I can get rid of the double vision while maintaining better peripheral vision than I had before by shutting my left eye completely. Does this mean I'm not as strongly left eye dominant as I thought?

A couple of reasons why I'm doubting my decision are:

For one, I recently strained a muscle in my left arm that is certainly going to interfere with me pulling back on a LH bow (the 101st will be 60#, but still 60# on a binary cam may still be too much for it).

I also feel like I will need to be blank bailing for a long time, and then slowly work myself out to small yardages before I get comfortable enough to shoot normal distances. I'm not sure how long all of this will take, but I'm still not confident I can do it.

Then there's the advice I recieved from some members on here who I respect about the situation (one even shoots right handed but is left eye dominant...Matt/PA), and they mentioned that in reality, it's more about consistant anchor/form and shot execution than it is about eye dominance. Obviously, it's working just fine for Matt/PA given his shooting resume, and the more I think about it, I'm wondering if I'm using this switch as a justification (or excuse rather) for poor form/bad shooting. I told Matt my BIGGEST issues right now are
Trouble finding a CONSISTANT anchor
Troube keeping the pin steady (I'm always dropping my bow arm, and the fighting it back upwards, and then I start to shake more).

Part of me wonders if I'm even going to see any difference between going from RH to LH other than maybe a wider field of view. Everyone on AT seems to swear once they switched to left handed, they were shooting AMAZING compared to shooting with the non-dominant eye, but then there's Matt/PA, Dave Cousins (I believe), RJ's friend who's a state/national champ, etc whom all shoot right handed but are left eye dominant.

I've been shooting right handed since I was 14 (I'm 23 now), and it feels so natural, I'm just not sure it will ever be the same left handed. Plus I really love the availability of equipment/bows (especially used) RH, whereas LH used equipment is about non-exisistant.

Of course I'm thinking about all of this AFTER I ordered everything, but I suppose that's how it goes. So, am I just over-reacting or what? Should I wait for the bow to get here, and spend months training with it to see if I actually like it, or just sell the equipment, save some money, and improve my form?

Greg / MO

I don't DEIGN to be near the shooter Matt is, but I shoot right-handed and am left-eye dominant myself -- and I consider myself an above-average shooter.

I was re-watching Michael Braden's "Straight Talk" DVD last night as I begin mentally preparing myself for my 3d campaign, and he clearly has to squint his left eye as he prepares to shoot; it's even a legitimate step in his shot sequence he has written down.

I agree with Matt's advice above... proper form, stance, weight distribution, anchor points combined with a mentally tough approach could serve you as well as making a wholesale switch.

Germ

Unless you like waiting for 4 momths on average for bows, I'd stick with a Right handed one.

Dude if you would have PM me I would sent you a LH hoyt to play with. DL adjust 26.6-29, you could have shot it all summer. I sold all my LH's to buy these two knew ones.

I had 6

MGH_PA

Thanks for the input Greg...didn't know you were also one of the right hand/left eye dom shooters. We must have more of us on here than I thought. Any idea as to what could be causing my bow arm to want to drop? I really am torn here because there's a lot of folks who REALLY are adiment about shooting with your dominant eye no matter what, then there's plenty of those who say it's not as big of an issue as people make it out to be.

LOL darn it! I never would have thought you had 6 bows[:@] Have you always been shooting left handed? Are you left eye dominant? I hear you on the availability though, just trying to find some used accessories to outfit this bow was a nightmare. I ended up having to buy the rest new, and it took a few weeks just to find a used left hand bowtech for sale[&:]

Germ

Yes I am a true leftie.

If it does not workout I may buy the rest and bow from you I bought a pile of bows at Cabelas when I worked there.
Buying anything leftie sucks

TFOX

Although I agree that form and consistant anchors are the most important part of shooting consistantly.AND,the release.The Eye dominance comes into play as far as comfort,tension and field of view.I squint as well to make sure I am centered on my housing,but I open immediately after I have alignment.


There is a reason that MOST pofessional coaches will recommend shooting with the dominant eye.That doesn't mean that all pros do.There will always be exceptions to any rule.

Greg / MO

I may be off the mark here, as I haven't had any "official" coaching by a pro like some of the members here have had, but my first guess would be to say it's a discipline problem... In other words, you must stay disciplined to stay "with" the shot, to have a proper follow-through.

I'm guessing you're dropping the arm to see where the arrow's hitting, or something of that nature. Concentrate on aiming, let the act of firing the bow be more of a subconsious act that you just "let happen" (which may requiresometime put towards blank-bailing if it's not happening that way), and concentrate on burning your pin into the X until well after the shot is over with. Don't worry about where the arrow goes; even if you could see it before it hits the target, you're still not going to change its impact point. Execute your shot sequence correctly, and it'll go where it needs to.

archer58

I second Germ's sentiment. Buying LH equipment sucks. plus I sold 2 bows I would have been glad to send you to try out.
I read some of the thread back when you posted about considering the switch. My initial thoughts were that If you're in normal hunting situations, why switch? I know for a fact shooting Right handed for me would be a disaster. I would not, and could not, feel natural. No matter what eye dominance would dictate.

I am a little different than some. I am LH , but I bat RH. I remember my dad trying to get me to switch to RH when I was playing little league as a kid. His reasoning was I could see a baseball better w/ my right eye to bat , I must really be right handed and I must be right eye dominant. I'm neither according to my optomitrist, but my left eye is only slightly dominant. I have NO idea what that means.

I'm not getting to the point very fast. I'll stop rambling.
My point is that, if you have been shooting RH as long as you have , I would think your eyes would adjust to the required task,(shooting RH) even if your left eye is dominant.
I would think this is easier than teaching the other side of your body to hold , aim and shoot a bow comfortably.
I couldn't catch w/ a RH mitt or throw w/ my RH , no way, after a year of trying.
IMO , stay RH.

MOmightymite

My dad is the same way you are and he shoots right handed. It is too late for him to change now, but he is a damn good shot for being all messed up. His anchor is so consistent every time, and I think this allows him to be more accuarate.

121553

Told ya so. Na,na,na,nana!!!
As the other southpaws said it sucks. The availability of the equipment is not there and as I stated before if you close your other eye it doesn't make any difference what your domoinate eye is.
If you want to sell your bow list the specs, one can never have enough bows for back up.

Bobby