Cross-dominant Eye

Here is an easy solution for cross-dominant eye shooters.

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[GST1974]

Technically your supposed to shoot with your dominant eye open and the other closed so you can line up the gun to the target properly. If your left eyed and right handed it means you should switch to left handed shooting.  It will take some adjustments but overall its easy. Just go with a lower caliber round to ensure maximum control. I like the .32acp and .380acp rounds!

[shootingcoach]

@GST1974

Actually, you should shoot with both eyes open. It's much easier to adjust the position of your head (and eyes) than to learn how to shoot with your non dominant hand.

[GST1974]

@shootingcoach

I used to shoot with both eyes open and make fine adjustments with my head. Its not as accurate though and the bullet skews left and right slightly but at longer distance, ie 30 yards or more it makes a world of difference. Have you tried shooting weak handed to compensate for being cross wired? I bet its not as difficult as it sounds!

[shootingcoach]

@GST1974

I've been a professional shooter and instructor for more than 25 years now. I shoot both strong hand only and weak hand only on a regular basis. I've shot with the best shooters in the world (Leatham, Enos, Jarrett, et al) and none of them are as good weak hand (or strong hand) only as they are with both hands. You shouldn't make adjustments with your head. If the sights are misaligned, adjust the pistol.

[benner2000]

@shootingcoach Cross dominancy doesn't really effect pistols. As you mentioned, a turn of all that is needed. The real problem comes from shooting rifle and shotgun. With Cross dominancy, unless the sights are elevated, I cannot get my left-eye low enough to see through my optics or sights while maintaining a proper cheek and shoulder weld.

[shootingcoach]

@benner2000

You are correct, cross dominance is no big deal with handguns. A simple turn of the head is the fix. With long guns, it kind of makes more sense to switch to shooting with the side of the dominant eye. But switching to the non-dominant hand always takes a long time to learn and you suffer a degradation in performance. Another option is to occlude the dominant eye and shoot with the non dominant one. That can be a bit easier to learn and just as effective.

[drewsterm7]

fuck being cross eye dominant it sucks

[hmt741]

just train yourself to use the proper eye ... its wayyyy easier than trying to switch hands. this cross dominant eye thing work ok but it will get weird when you switch between handguns and rifles.

[KyleTehDevil]

being cross eye dominant sucks so bad. ive always had problems with my eyes and my neck and they've always been weird. ive learned to shoot left handed but i can still shoot 3x better with my right hand while closing my left eye. but then i can't see as much. now i hav to turn my head and it feels weird and............well...........­.....fuck

[baken101]

i still dont get is it good to be cross dominant or have 1 dominant eye

[LarrysNetTube]

@GST1974 I have to disagree, with a Caveat. If you will never use a handgun in a defensive situation, then fine. Try to learn how to shoot weak handed.

However if you rely on a Handgun for defense, then IMHO you should maintain strong-side shooting and deal with the eye dominance issue in another way.

The reason is very simple. If you are forced into a defensive situation, your brain, body, everything is going to automatically revert to it's natural state. Your strong side.

[kjz28]

Thank you this was very helpful!!!

[094Zlaja]

I really need help.I like shooting but I cross-dominant-I use left hand for writing and right hand for almost everything else.When I shoot with a gun one-handed I can use either hand but I am right eyed.I can't close my right eye and look just with my left eye.When I hold a gun with my both hands I am left-handed but right eyed.I can hold a rifle with both left and right hand but again I'm right eyed I have a lot of problems with aiming. I'm nearsighted too.Does anyone have a recommendation 4me?

[PKM9x19]

@MrGrumpy891 I know this question was directed to shootingcoach, but I do exactly the same thing... in my case I am naturally cross-dominant and have adapted my right eye for rifles, but I find shooting handguns with my left eye gives me an advantage with that cheek weld. I have taken several private shooting classes and they all seem to agree this is not a negative issue as long as i can keep my right eye open too for perphrieal awareness

[05thruxton]

Oh yeah, that's perfectly understandable with the shots in the background! This just keeps getting better and better. Sorry, but that's just ridiculous.

[IRevealTheMagic]

LOL..I'm sorry WTH did you just say? Couldn't hear you over the gunfire ha ha. It's like the bleeping that you hear when they sensor profanity except in this case you hear gunfire hahaha..hilarious

[MrGrumpy891]

@shootingcoach I use my right eye when I shoot rifles. I found that when I shoot pistols I like to use my left eye. My main reason I think I naturally do this is because it gives me a good cheek weld on my arm and keeps my eyes in line with the sights. So I tried my right eye one day, but didn't shoot as good. Maybe I'm used to shooting rifles, but the cheek weld on my arm acually works for me. Have you heard of anyone doing the same?