Cross dominant shooting

DefaultAnthony

DefaultAnthony

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Hey,

I'm looking to get involved in action shooting competitions but am relatively new to firearms. One of the things I've realized is that I am cross-dominant (right handed but left eyed). Given I'm a beginner I don't think it's a huge deal but I want to get the right habits established now.

Any suggestions on how to deal with this?

Thanks in advance!
 
I have the same affliction. I use a weaver stance for pistols but have shot long guns left handed since I was a little kid. I find with pistols if I don't use a weaver stance my shoulders and neck start hurting.
 
Just go with it...

one of the best IPSC competitors in the country shoots right hand/left eye. You just have to work on the best pistol/eye position/alignment and be consistent. Based on my observations, turning your head slightly to the right will help.
 
I can think of at least three national IPSC champions who were / are cross dominant.
Including the current Classic one.

It's not a determent if you don't let it be.

Try this - Place a piece of scotch tape (not the shiny stuff, the "invisible" stuff) over the lens of your shooting glasses on the non-dominant eye.
This will help keep those eyes from getting confused.

Good luck!
 
I am also "afflicted" with this. I find it doesn't affect pistol (one eye or two eyes open), red dots (one eye or two eyes open) or magnified optics (with one eye open). When using one eye open, I just close my dominant eye. Not difficult and fully effective.

The only time where there is actually an effect is using magnified optics, both eyes open using the BAC. Since I am looking through the scope with the non-dominant eye and the rest of the world with the dominant eye, there is actually a shift of about 3 MOA. At CQB distances, it doesn't really matter. At 100 meters, it could mean a miss at a small target. I've practiced and trained my brain to focus using my non-dominant eye (with both eyes open) just before letting the shot go.
 
Freedom Ventures said:
I can think of at least three national IPSC champions who were / are cross dominant.
Including the current Classic one.

It's not a determent if you don't let it be.

Try this - Place a piece of scotch tape (not the shiny stuff, the "invisible" stuff) over the lens of your shooting glasses on the non-dominant eye.
This will help keep those eyes from getting confused.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

+1 This works well for my partner.. top of tape just about at the middle of the lens seemed best
 
For idpa I was closing my left eye and sighting with my right. I have since gone to both eyes open and canting my head so my left eye and sights line up. This helps me shoot faster and more accurate.
 
in an old timey video i watched years ago brian enos talked about turning your head. that is, not adjusting anything about your stance or the way you hold your pistol, but simply turning your head to align your dominant eye with the front sight.

just as 1riot1ranger says, all he was talking about was a slight twist at the neck to bring your dominant eye in line with the barrel. it is really a very minor adjustment. a buddy of mine does that and he is a great shooter.

good luck to you.
 
animalamidon said:
in an old timey video i watched years ago brian enos talked about turning your head. that is, not adjusting anything about your stance or the way you hold your pistol, but simply turning your head to align your dominant eye with the front sight.

just as 1riot1ranger says, all he was talking about was a slight twist at the neck to bring your dominant eye in line with the barrel. it is really a very minor adjustment. a buddy of mine does that and he is a great shooter.

good luck to you.
Click to expand...

yeah, I tend to just move the gun over instead of moving my head. after a couple hundred draws its second nature to draw on left eye right hand.
 
I'm also cross dominant but also quite ambidextrous, so I decided to just shoot all guns right handed. I'm happy with my choice. If you just shoot pistol, it really doesn't matter if you're cross dominant.
 
Tagged...my wife is a new shooter...just got her license, and she has this issue. Will get her to read the tips!
 
I to am Right handed and left eyed. I spend the first two years shooting with my left eye closed. Then I spent a year in Open. My brain automatically pulled the red dot under my left eye. When I went back to standard I was unable to shoot with my left eye closed and my brain continued to pull the gun under my left eye.
Try the scotch tape trick on your right lens and after a few thousand rounds you probably won't even need to do that any more.

DVC,
Trevor
 
I'm right handed/left eye dominant but didn't really know it until a few years ago when I bought my first pistol. I grew up shooting right handed rifles and strangely enough my dad his left handed but shoots rifles right and I think that trained me to strengthen my right eye,the only time it becomes bothersome is when I'm bench rest shooting for groups I sometimes fatigue my eye. But as far as action shooting is concerned I shoot with my left eye closed and when weak hand stages come around the right eye closes instinctively and any longer 3-gun shots the trigger is pulled long before my brain has time care that the target isn't crystal clear. Outside of shooting though I still favour my left for fine work and looking through survey equipment or telescopes even running an excavator I find myself leaning and turning my head to the right to focus with my left.
 
Got Juice? said:
Left handed/Right Eye Dominant.

I switched hands, and found it easier than cocking my head to align with sights on a standard gun
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Same here, aside from the hand/eye orientation.

I'm right handed, but left eye dominant. I've always shot long guns left handed, but started out as a righty with pistol. I tried turning/cocking my head, but it's really tough to find that perfect spot every time when you're moving around a lot. I tried shooting left handed at an instructor's suggestion, and it was a night and day difference in terms of accuracy.

I now shoot exclusively lefty for pistol, and will never go back.
 
jory said:
Same here, aside from the hand/eye orientation.

I'm right handed, but left eye dominant. I've always shot long guns left handed, but started out as a righty with pistol. I tried turning/cocking my head, but it's really tough to find that perfect spot every time when you're moving around a lot. I tried shooting left handed at an instructor's suggestion, and it was a night and day difference in terms of accuracy.

I now shoot exclusively lefty for pistol, and will never go back.
Click to expand...

I don't #### my head, I bring my gun to my left eye with right hand. I tired lefty, but it's just too awkward and then holsters and such are not as available. I guess I'm doing something right, last idpa style match I shot in USA I was 8/42, last uspsa match 24/44 where they're tons of Masters and GM's. I even placed higher than open shooters.
 
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