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closing one eye

Started by razorsharptokill, March 29, 2010, 11:49:00 PM

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razorsharptokill

I started closing my left eye(RH of course) before the draw and my groups tightened up considerably! Anyone else close an eye?
Jim Richards
Veteran

USMC 84-88
Oklahoma Army National Guard 88-89
USMCR 89-96 Desert Storm
Oklahoma Air National Guard 2002- present. Operation Iraqi Freedom 2005(Qatar) and 2007(Iraq),
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Operation Enduring Freedom 2018 Afghanistan.
NRA Life Member.

Soilarch

Are you keeping it closed? I can see where it would help the mind focus on a point but I've always found that in all shooting (bow, rifle, pistol, shotgun) I do better if both eyes are open...HOWEVER...there've been several times I find squinting lightly and FORCING my dominant eye to be, well, *dominant* helps.

You lose depth-perception when you close one eye...so be mindful to not train yourself to close your eye before your brain can judge the distance.
Micah 6:8

thunder1

Soilarch is right on about the depth-perception. You also lose field of view and may never see that buck following that doe your about to take. Also makes hitting a moving target harder. I to will squint from time to time to better focus on a point.
No man ever stood so tall as when he stooped to help a child

David

razorsharptokill

I wondered about the depth perception/range estimation. I backed off to unknown yardages between 25 and 35 yards and still had good hits. I tried starting the draw with both eyes open and closing my left eye at about 10% draw. I then picked my spot with both eyes open, closed my left eye and drew to anchor and shot. I didn't see any big errors due to range estimation. I'm really liking the improved accuracy!

I'll keep shooting like this as long as it works. I'd like to try it on a 3D target some place other than the comfort of my back yard. That would be a better unit of measure.
Jim Richards
Veteran

USMC 84-88
Oklahoma Army National Guard 88-89
USMCR 89-96 Desert Storm
Oklahoma Air National Guard 2002- present. Operation Iraqi Freedom 2005(Qatar) and 2007(Iraq),
Operation New Dawn Iraq 2011,
Operation Enduring Freedom 2018 Afghanistan.
NRA Life Member.

Big Bird

that's the way I do it.been shooting that way for forty years.I can not shoot with both eyes open.I get double vision.

Paul WA

I started shooting with my left eye closed due to being left eye dominant, groups got tighter and I see the target better...PR
"I'm a trophy hunter till something else comes along"

steadman

Jim I do the same thing. I have a cross dominance issue. I found when I turned my head a bit too much to the right my left eye took over and I would hit 8-12" to the left. Now i start my draw with both eyes open with a spot picked, and somewhere in the middle of my draw, close my left eye. Groups improved and accuracy improved. Good luck with it, and if it works for you, dont stop.
" Just concentrate and don't freak out next time" my son Tyler(age 7) giving advise after watching me miss a big mulie.

Deadbolt

I also have a cross dominance issue and shoot with my left eye closed.

Yes when your eye is close there is depth perception issues but who walks around with their eye always closed?  Before shooting I use both eyes to determin where I need to aim, close my eye and aim accordingly.  I gap shoot though so that doesn't affect me.

As for the not see'ing a trailing buck...if you dont see it with your eye open you were going to see it with both eyes open.

bogeyrider63

i find shoot better groups when i close my left eye.

huntin_sparty

QuoteOriginally posted by bogeyrider63:
i find shoot better groups when i close my left eye.
me too I like the wider range of view but have a issue with accuracy with the left eye open!
More bows than I should have!
Michigan Traditional Bowhunters

Winterhawk1960

I must be different......I tried this today while shooting, and with three different bows I shot about 6 to 8 inches to the left with my left eye closed.

Winterhawk1960
What if you woke up tomorrow, with only what you thanked God for today ???

highelk

I am also cross eye dominant.
before I switched to left handed shooting, I considered closing one eye as well.
My fear though is that in the excitement of the hunt I would forget to close my eye. so it seems to me logical to practice and shoot with both eyes since that's what's natural. with practice my shooting continues to improve.
"Go afield with a good attitude, with respect for the wildlife you hunt and for the forest and fields in which you walk. Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. It will cleanse your soul and make you a better person."~Fred Bear~

longbowguy

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do- Sylvester Stallone.

That said I think it is best to try to work through your problems and try to learn to shoot with both eyes open.

For those of you who are cross eye dominant, consider this: several of the greats of our sport were cross eye dominant. Howard Hill was, Glenn St. Charles was, and I think Fred Bear was.

I suspect once you work through the early problems it may actually be an advantage in dynamic, quick shooting like on movers on flyers. So I suggest you do not give up too easily. This is not an easy sport and thoughtful hard work is often rewarded. - lbg

jcp161

I'm not cross eye dominant but my left eye some times "takes over" due to my right eye now needing a little more correction due to age. Squinting with the left eye seems to correct the problem, improve my groups and still allows me to use both eyes.
"In bow hunting, the goal is not marksmanship but shooting well. And shooting well, after all, is merely a matter of only taking shots you can make."-Hunting from Home-Christopher Camuto

stickbowmaniac

I'm backwards i shoot a bow right handed and a gun left handed.But either one i always shoot with both eyes open.
Dryad Orion 58" 49#@28"
Static limbs
Kodiak Magnum    52" 50#@28"

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Doug Treat

I shoot better with my L. eye closed (I shoot R. handed).  I think that my non-dominant L. eye will sometimes take over with both eyes open and I'll shoot left.  I have not found a disadvantage when shooting at game to close one eye.

Northwest_Bowhunter

Just before I hit "anchor" I squint my left eye if not completely close it.  I have never had my eye dominance successfully tested, it always depends on where I hold my hands during the test (looking through the window you make with your hands), so I just shoot right handed and squint with my left.
Michael

** Poppa can we go out and shoot bows and arrows? **  My boys

kodiakkid

I too squint my left eye just before reaching anchor. Paul<><
Always strive to do the right thing. Don't beat yourself down when you mess up. Ask for forgivness and keep on keeping on.

Naticus

I am left eye dominant but RH in shooting and writing but play pool and snooker LH. I was ambidextrous until I was was 12,

I keep both eyes open until I come to anchor

Benny Nganabbarru

I am shooting best with my left eye closed at ranges out to forty metres (I am right-handed). For longer ranges, I find I need both eyes open to see the target. I gap shoot.
TGMM - Family of the Bow

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