A move from the far right to the far left-------

Apadaka · February 04, 2010, 02:10:00 PM

After 30 years if swimming I have discovered a bone spur in my AC joint in the shoulder that tears into my rotator cuff after a practice session with my bow.I will not entertain surgery. I ran into a bowyer at the recent TBM here in Montana and he suggested that I consider switching from being a right-handed to left-handed shooter. Does anyone have any experience in swithching? The bowyer had no doubt that I could successfully make the switch (I am left eye dominant), but I could never go back to being a right handed shooter.I have thousands of $' of custom rh bows!

KentuckyTJ · February 04, 2010, 02:34:00 PM

It would be really weird at first I'm sure, but with your left eye being dominant that is a great suggestion. Get a lower poundage southpaw bow and give it a go.

No worries about the big money righties, they will sell if you make the switch.

Jim now in Kentucky · February 04, 2010, 02:40:00 PM

Sure you can do it. I shoot a slingshot left handed and bows right handed.

But how old are you. Bone spurs go away over time about as well as the go with surgery. I had at least one in each knee in my mid 50s. Hurt like a nail being stabbed into them if I put a knee on the ground. I'm 61 now and have no problems with my knees.

In short, don't be in a hurry to sell off your right hand bows.

Jim

Guss · February 04, 2010, 02:53:00 PM

My Dad made the switch due to an old arm injury that started bothering him and wouldn't get better. He's now a converted lefty, he shot all summer and now claims he shoots as good lefty as he ever did righty! It can be done with a lot of practice, and my Dad is not left eye dominant. Good Luck!

Matt Fowler · February 04, 2010, 02:53:00 PM

I'm right handed and switched due to eye problems. You can do it. I shoot guns left handed too. Get a real light bow and get started. You might even shoot better being left eye dominant.

Encino Man · February 04, 2010, 02:54:00 PM

I don't think you will have any issues. I'm right handed with left eye dominance and within just a few arrows I can acclimate to the left side. I find my focus is much keener and focusing on target feels much more natural.

Your big learning curve will be the muscle tone. But within a few months, you should be back up to snuff.

Autumnarcher · February 04, 2010, 03:11:00 PM

Eye dominance really has no impact on which hand you shoot from. The bow string is lined up in the center of your vision at draw, not directly under one eye or the other.

I have been playing around shooting right handed, and other than I feel a little clumsy at first, the trajectory of the arrow is the same, its just a matter of building the same mucscle memory, and building those muscles up to match.

Glenn St. Charles switched to lefty, and I believe Fred Bear did too. My wife started out shooting right, but her right shoulder is weaker from a fracture several years ago, and switched to left with no problems. She has won shoots from either side.

It isnt as hard as it sounds, start out light and build good form, and go from there.

Jeff Strubberg · February 04, 2010, 03:18:00 PM

Switching is a matter of training new muscles, but I will be very, very surprised if archery is the only issue you run into with that bone spur.

Surgically or whatever, you really need to do something about that.

zip · February 04, 2010, 03:44:00 PM

My brother switched from left to right and he didn't have much of a problem. He switched because of an eye problem. I've read that switching hands also eliminates target panic. Don't know if it's true or not.

Bjorn · February 04, 2010, 03:45:00 PM

Sure you can switch people do it every day. Surgery may be easier.

Bonecracker · February 04, 2010, 04:29:00 PM

Best thing I ever did was have arthroscopic surgery on my right shoulder. Yes I was down for 4/5 months and could not shoot but without question it was the best thing I could have done and I do not like surgery!! Why would you not want to have it?? Complaired to the old technique where they would to in an open you shoulder up this is a piece of cake!! Only sucky part is rehab afterward!! Don't change, get your shoulder fixed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

gpa fishin · February 04, 2010, 04:50:00 PM

yes i switched years ago.due to eye injury never had a problem took about a week to feel comfortable but it will come.

Apadaka · February 04, 2010, 04:57:00 PM

Pushing 60 years old, I had this same issue 2years ago and the only option I was give was to have the spur removed surgically,with the possibility that it would grow back again. I opted to take a chinese herb that dissolved the bone spur and it reduced the pain for 1 1/2 years. I'm going to go that way again.It is a slow process. I was intrigued with the notion of switching to a lefty and possibly become a better shot, being left eye dominant. Good input and encouraging. thanks- Randy

TooManyHobbies · February 04, 2010, 05:01:00 PM

I had my left shoulder done in Jan. '07. No problem hunting that fall. Had my right shoulder done 4 weeks ago. Still sore, but moving pretty good now. I'll be ready for summer stumping. It's no fun, but I couldn't deal with the spur pain anymore. (BTW, I'm only 43 yrs, 11 months, 4 days old.)

BWD · February 04, 2010, 07:12:00 PM

Them 1000s of dollars of custom bows ought to come in handy when trading for lefties. You can do it. lol

bullet-slinger · February 04, 2010, 09:59:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by rdcolemanart:
Pushing 60 years old, I had this same issue 2years ago and the only option I was give was to have the spur removed surgically,with the possibility that it would grow back again. I opted to take a chinese herb that dissolved the bone spur and it reduced the pain for 1 1/2 years. I'm going to go that way again.It is a slow process. I was intrigued with the notion of switching to a lefty and possibly become a better shot, being left eye dominant. Good input and encouraging. thanks- Randy

Randy, just like we've talked about going from heavier pulling bows to lighter pulling bows, it's a easier transition going one direction than it is the other if you change your mind later. Just like it is easier to go down in bow weight than it is to go heavier in bow weight after you've switched to a lighter bow, I'm sure if you spend a considerable amount of time trying to shoot left handed it could really mess you up if you decided to go back to a right handed bow.

I would really be careful switching to lighter bows or switching bow hands unless I was pretty much convinced I would not go back.

Take care,

Ken

Everyone has an opinion. The only one that really matters is your own.............

bawana bowman · February 06, 2010, 12:23:00 PM

I also had spurs in both knees. Felt as Jim said like a nail being driven into my Knee.
Having been a Professional Drummer this was particularly devastating to me. All the docs suggested surgery, but I'm against that route.
After 3 years of putting up with the pain it went away. Hasn't returned. Really glad I didn't do the surgery.
I also practice shooting lefty, just to be able to do it. Use to switch hit in baseball, would like to be able to switch shoot also. I'm pretty good but the right eye dominance is hard for me to work with. With time it will come.