Eye dominance frustration

[jimd441]

I used to shoot shotgun some, but have been shooting only rifle and mainly handguns for the last 20 years or so. I was right handed and right eye dominant, and have been dealing with a right eye issue for the last 4 years or so which included cataract surgery and some follow-on side effects. All is well now, I was actually at the eye dr. yesterday and have 20/20 uncorrected distance vision on my right eye and the side effects have subsided.

Today I took a sporting clays class, then we went to the practice range where the targets essentially come out straight (at first, until we move) , right in front of the shooter. In the past I would hit about 9 of 10 in this type of shooting. I missed my first 5 and the instructor did an eye dominance test and I am now left eye dominant (but still right handed) - no wonder I was missing!

The problem is that closing my left eye is ok if the target comes out straight in front or from the right but if it comes out from the left I won't see it until it is almost too late. Ideally, I could shoot left handed but that is SO unnatural for me that I don't know if it would work. Any advice (other than stick to rifles and handguns)?

Jim

 

[pete44ru]

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My Son is right-handed with a left master eye, also.

I caught it when he was very young (7 years old), but (@ 52 years old) he now (actually since he was 8 years old) easily shoots long guns from his left shoulder, after much practice when he was younger.

I would respectfully suggest you give shooting off your left shoulder a real try (as in several weeks/months shooting).

FWIW, I'm right-handed with a right master eye, but have taken several deer that came by on my right/rear via switching the rifle to my left shoulder - it's just not that hard to do.


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[Bear Paw Jack]

I have had a tremendous amount of eye problems over the years with 3 retinal detachments, 2 scleral buckles, and cataract surgery on both eyes. What I experienced is the your dominate eye can go back and forth. When my right eye had retinal detachments, and it happened twice, my left eye took over and became the dominant eye. When my right eye was healed, and I had left eye problems, my right eye was dominant. Spend a little more time with it with help from a shooting coach, and I'm inclined to think your dominant eye will change back. Also confirm this with your eye doctor, I think he will confirm it.

 

[Mobuck]

Since this is a shooting game, the targets are more predictable in their presentation than live birds. With this in mind, I don't see why closing your left eye AFTER the bird is in view is such a handicap. Isn't sporting clays a "low gun" game?

 

[jimd441]

Thanks for advice all, I do plan to ask my eye dr. if and how I can retrain my right eye to be dominant. I probably shouldn't disregard learning to shoot left-handed, it just seems so unnatural to me, but maybe I should just view it as a challenge to meet. The instructor did suggest closing my left eye as soon as I saw the target and I tried. I wasn't successful in converting it to better hits but I only had about 10 shots left. Maybe a little more practice... Thanks again

Jim

 

[contender]

One thing a lot of dedicated right handed,, left eye dominant people do is to put a piece of scotch tape over the center of the lens of their shooting glasses,,, to make the right eye do the harder work. As such,, you most likely had your left eye become dominant while your right eye was getting corrected. If you exercise the right one more,, you will likely find it returns to the dominant eye.

 

[buckeyeshooter]

I am left handed, but right eye dominant. I shoot right handed.

 

[Ka6otm]

I shoot Sporting Clays every week and seen a ton of people who put a stick on dot on their left lens to prevent this problem.

My master eye goes back and forth from time to time as diagnosed by my Ophthalmologist years ago and since I wear glasses, my solution is Monovision. My right eye is set up for distance with the prescription and my left is set up for computer/reading.

When the birds are thrown, my left eye sees them as blurs so my right eye takes over and I have no problems.

 

[tinman]

As stated, it is fixable if you want it to be.......and a lot easier than training yourself to shoot backwards handed.

 

[jimd441]

Thanks all for the advice, looks like I'll be training my right eye hopefully back into dominance.

Jim

 

[Colonel Daddy]

My wife is right handed, left eye dominant. She shoots left handed.