When you shoot in competition do you see many that use eye patches to help with aiming? I seem to be having issues with aiming with both eyes open. At first I thought I was cross eye dominant. Then I read how to test for it. It said you should point at something small about 15 ft away then close your left eye and if your finger was still pointing at it your right eye was dominant. If it seemed to shift and not pointing at the object you are left eye dominant. I don't believe this because I can make this occur with either eye. I shoot right handed but definitely seem more comfortable aiming with my left eye. This poses a problem when I get into shooting rifles. I know I am not the only one out there that is cross eye dominant, but do you think it would be better to patch the left eye and aim with the right? I guess part of me also doesnt want to get laughed at too much walking around with a patch at the range or a competition when I start doing that.

I am a natural lefty who is cross eye dominant. I learned to shoot rifles righty, and that has been to my advantage since 95% of them are not very ambidextrous. As for shooting pistol, I use a squared up isoceles stance and keep my left eye shut. One of these days I'll learn to shoot with both eyes open.

Ive seen a few with some blinders on. I think for the most part you just gotta practice practice practice to overcome what your body wants to do.

I did not know this, and recently realized while listening to one of the shotgun podscasts... they put the blinders on so they do not look at other people shooting, and to only concentrate on their own game.

I did not know this, and recently realized while listening to one of the shotgun podscasts... they put the blinders on so they do not look at other people shooting, and to only concentrate on their own game.

 

That's pretty interesting. Makes sense to avoid the distraction

I am a natural lefty who is cross eye dominant. I learned to shoot rifles righty, and that has been to my advantage since 95% of them are not very ambidextrous. As for shooting pistol, I use a squared up isoceles stance and keep my left eye shut. One of these days I'll learn to shoot with both eyes open.

 

Chris,

How long did it take you to get comfortable shooting righty?

I remember in high School shooting Smallbore there were a lot of people who used various sorts of eye shades and patches, and I think the Palma, and Wimbledon Cup Large Bore shooters use them as well..it can certianly help in those particular static competitions, imo it'd be more of a hinderence in any action-oriented type shooting where you are relying on point shooting almost as much as your irons.

Actually for USPSA, IDPA etc it's best to shoot with both eyes when you talk about speed and movement while shooting but it's a learned skill. I do try it shooting close in targets in USPSA and Steel but have not even come close to mastering it. I think one of the best way to train for it was written by raz-o last year. I'll see if I can find it, I think I save it someplace but don't have it here at home. He explained the best way to practice and just reading it made you say, wow I can see that working well.

 

Need to did it up when I go back to work and actually practice it..

To me, the shooting sports can be taken two different ways. First, to try and get the best score possible which leads to custom guns, lighter-custom loads, maybe the eye patch thing............ Second, is to train with the "real" guns and ammo you would use in a SD situation and let the scores fall where they may. Those in the second group are there to build muscle memory and work on technique. Who is going to realistically use a .22 Semi Auto handgun for SD? Great for competition though! The first USPSA match I ever observed had a guy shooting .357 Magnums. Who would really want to shoot those for competition if you are trying to get good scores. Much harder to get back on target compared to .38 Specials. Sounds like something Ray Ray would do. He uses guns that would be used for SD. I happen to enter with two guns. One to try and get decent scores with, the other to get more familiar with using factory ammo and using the gun as-is from the manufacturer.

 

I see a lot of shot gun guys (and gals) start from the low-ready position while shooting Sporting Clays because they are practicing for the "real-thing". No one walks around with a loaded shotgun pointed up in the air while trying to flush-out birds/rabbits. They aren't there to get the best possible score, they are there to improve their techniques so when they are out hunting they will be more sucessful.

Chris,

How long did it take you to get comfortable shooting righty?

 

It went pretty quickly, like a few weeks. You have to remember that a lefty will usually pick up righty techniques faster than a righty will lefty techniques, just because we get used to doing things righty all the time in other endeavors. Honestly, shooting a rifle lefty feels weird now.

To me, the shooting sports can be taken two different ways. First, to try and get the best score possible which leads to custom guns, lighter-custom loads, maybe the eye patch thing............ Second, is to train with the "real" guns and ammo you would use in a SD situation and let the scores fall where they may. Those in the second group are there to build muscle memory and work on technique. Who is going to realistically use a .22 Semi Auto handgun for SD? Great for competition though! The first USPSA match I ever observed had a guy shooting .357 Magnums. Who would really want to shoot those for competition if you are trying to get good scores. Much harder to get back on target compared to .38 Specials. Sounds like something Ray Ray would do. He uses guns that would be used for SD. I happen to enter with two guns. One to try and get decent scores with, the other to get more familiar with using factory ammo and using the gun as-is from the manufacturer.

 

I see a lot of shot gun guys (and gals) start from the low-ready position while shooting Sporting Clays because they are practicing for the "real-thing". No one walks around with a loaded shotgun pointed up in the air while trying to flush-out birds/rabbits. They aren't there to get the best possible score, they are there to improve their techniques so when they are out hunting they will be more sucessful.

 

Power Factor. USPSA awards shooting a more powerful load with more points.

When you shoot in competition do you see many that use eye patches to help with aiming? I seem to be having issues with aiming with both eyes open. At first I thought I was cross eye dominant. Then I read how to test for it. It said you should point at something small about 15 ft away then close your left eye and if your finger was still pointing at it your right eye was dominant. If it seemed to shift and not pointing at the object you are left eye dominant. I don't believe this because I can make this occur with either eye. I shoot right handed but definitely seem more comfortable aiming with my left eye. This poses a problem when I get into shooting rifles. I know I am not the only one out there that is cross eye dominant, but do you think it would be better to patch the left eye and aim with the right? I guess part of me also doesnt want to get laughed at too much walking around with a patch at the range or a competition when I start doing that.

 

I feel your pain, but I've learn to overcome it! I'm the same way and have been so for decades! Looking through a camera I use my left eye, for shooting I use my right eye. I'm right handed, but can do a lot of things with either hand, and can shoot weak hand without much of a problem, unless I try to speed-up too fast. I too can make my eyes see either side in the dominance test you describe above. It drives Eye Doctors NUTZ I tell ya!

 

As far as a patch goes: for shotgun shooting with clay birds in the air I wouldn't recommend it. It will actually handicap you since you won't be able to quickly determine angles & speed without stereoscopic vision or quite a lot of practice without it! A right-handed friend of mine tried a patch after suffering a mild stroke that left him unable to squint his left eye shut. So he eventually had to adapt to using both eyes open and does really well now. Trap Shooting is where the shooters use the side blinders like a horse. Sporting Clays would kill you due to too many hard angles.

 

Using an eye patch for Action shooting isn't really safe since you need superior situational awareness to run & gun at the same time. Again, the stereoscopic thing comes to mind.

 

Bench rest, Small-Bore, Bulls-Eye some guys wear patches normally as part of their regular equipment.

 

Do what works best for you, and don't be concerned with what other people think! I shoot weekly with a Vietnam Vet (Silver Star & Purple Heart Recipient) that uses his left thumb as his shotgun sight! He's right-handed and his right eye doesn't work due to incomming mortar fragmentation. So he shoulders his shotgun on the right side and aims with his left eye & left thumb. And he breaks a lot of clays too!

 

If you have some patience, you will overcome this obstacle and be a better shooter for it! Good luck my fellow "sorta-lefty"!

 

Dave

Thanks Dave. I appreciate the info. I swing left, kick lefty but throw and write right handed. It's crazy!

KOOL BEANS! It sure sounds crazy too, but you're living it! Take care!

I've been starting to practice shooting with a small piece of cellophane tape on my glasses over my right eye (I'm lefty) to get me accustomed to shooting with both eyes open, and so I don't develop too much eye strain by closing my right eye all the time. I'm sure I'll look exceptionally silly at USPSA matches when I start, but whatever. The trick is finding the balance between enough tape to be effective and not too much to make it so I can't see when not shooting. Also, folding one end of the tape over to leave a tab to pull it back off afterwards.

Thanks Dave. I appreciate the info. I swing left, kick lefty but throw and write right handed. It's crazy!

 

I write, throw, and kick righty, I swing a bat, golf club, and play hockey lefty.

Power Factor. USPSA awards shooting a more powerful load with more points.

 

You can still game it..but you have to work for it a little more...or at least SPEND more... High-cap (Relatively speaking in NJ at least) .45's, .40's, or .38Sup(major) and the like from STI for example can get preeeety Spendy once you really start playing the game. Me?? i;m not a gamer, While I wouldnt mind doing better score-wise i'm in it more for teh trigger time and the practice in shooting and moving. I Don't game in CAS either, .44-40, .45LC, and 12 Ga full-power..does it slow me down?? yep but im there to SHOOT not to play.