TargetTalk

In some ISSF videos you see many styles of shooting: one eye covered with blinder, one eye closed, both eyes open; is there a "better" way of doing it based on science or is this a personal choice?

Both eyes open with a blinder on the non sighting eye. As in many other things in shooting there is no wrong or right, it all comes down to what suits you.

Just my opinion but it seems to me that both eyes open has advantages over other systems. Even with a blinder over the non shooting eye there may be a small change in the pupil the shooting eye if a different light value is striking the other eye. But of greater importance to me was that in having both eyes open my body sway was reduced. This seemed to be the result of better perception of the visible horezon. Closing one eye is , again in my opinion, the worst solution It took me less than a month to train the non shooting eye to stop sending an image when I concentrated on alligning the sights. Again, in my opinion this was training time well spent. Good Shooting Bill Horton

I use an iris and a left eye occluder (transparent) and keep both eyes open. Enough crap goes on with clarity, sharpness and accommodation on the front sight while in a state of suspended breathing. I also find that I prefer to lift the occluder slightly to allow more light in on the left eye, as this seems to improve right eye accommodation and allows me a longer period of sharpness and/or clarity. "Doc"

I agree with Bill, keep both eyes open all the time. Blinder over the non shooting eye or not is an other area for discussion, but I've never seen top shooters squint out of one eye.

Rob.

I find Bill's comment very interesting about reducing sway, I returned to air pistol shooting a year ago after a 25 year break, both as a retirement pastime and a therapy for a ballance problem caused by ear nerve damage.
In my original days I shot to a high standard with 20/20 vision, with both eyes open and only a small blinder, now at 62, fighting hard, I'm determined to regain that standard, with reduced vision requiring shooting glasses with a monocle lens for the aiming eye focusing at sight distance and a blinder for the left but no correction lens, and I find it near enough impossible to get a sharp sight picture with out closing the left eye.
I do find that the aiming right eye does tire during a shoot, but I had not considered the effect of binocular vision on ballance or that it may relieve the eye strain? Perhaps I should persevere and practice with both eyes open?
Best regards
Robin

Hi

Squinting makes your eyes tired. If you have trouble with eye dominance, use a blinder.

Mike

I have shot with my left eye shut for 30 years. As with many other everyday tasks, I find it much easier to concentrate on fine definition with one eye shut.

I don't believe it has ever held me back, but admit it might not suit everyone.

Both eyes open too.

RobStubbs wrote:I agree with Bill, keep both eyes open all the time. Blinder over the non shooting eye or not is an other area for discussion, but I've never seen top shooters squint out of one eye.

Rob.

Me, too. I am going to try a white blinder after using black for years.

I always used black when shooting smallbore because I noticed the right pupil {sighting} was closing down too much when my left eye received a lot of light.