dominant eye - important or not?

[guest pondering]

I've only been shooting for 6 months with a IZH-46M.
Just today, I find out that I'm left eye dominant. All this time I've been shooting as if right eye dominant. I've a right hander. I use glasses and a blinder with my left eye open.
Some advice please. Should I now revert to using my dominat eye? This will require my right hand coming accross my body to do this. Just because one is left eye dominant does that mean they should shoot as such?
Is there a greater advantage in shooting with the dominant eye as I don't understand fully what this 'dominant' meaning is, as I believe that both of my eyes work fine together as well as individually.
I'm sure I'm missing something so could the experts on this forum elighten me more and best of all, tell me (and others) why it's important to know (and use) your dominant eye. Thanks.

[David Levene]

It is NOT important to use your dominant eye.

There are many top class shooters who have started off shooting "cross-eyed" but have now changed to using their non-dominant eye if that is their strong hand. If you have been happy shooting right-handed right-eyed then for goodness sake don't change unless there is a better reason than just eye dominance for doing so.

Unless it is an extreme case, the advantages of shooting "cross-eyed" are far outweighed by the extra complications to the stance, grip offset and head-turn.

[Guest pondering]

David, that is what I call a precise, well worded, fully informative, fully reasoned answer. Thanks. I'm joining the forum.
John Hadjichristou

[TB]

It is NOT important to use your dominant eye.

There are many top class shooters who have started off shooting "cross-eyed" but have now changed to using their non-dominant eye if that is their strong hand. If you have been happy shooting right-handed right-eyed then for goodness sake don't change unless there is a better reason than just eye dominance for doing so.

Unless it is an extreme case, the advantages of shooting "cross-eyed" are far outweighed by the extra complications to the stance, grip offset and head-turn.

Could not agree more, very well put!!

[2650 Plus]

David, I must dissagree in part. Unless the non dominate eye is at least equal to the dominate one, or superior in visual accuity, I would stick with the dominate eye and make the necessary modifications to the grip, head position ect to compensate. I am trying to say take you best vision to observe the front sight. It is not unusual for the non dominate eye to be just as good as the dominate one and in that case I might be able to agree. I have had no personnel experience with the problem mentioned so I suspect that I am relying on hearsay from other shooters I have known in the past. Good Shooting Bill Horton

[David Levene]

I am trying to say take you best vision to observe the front sight. It is not unusual for the non dominate eye to be just as good as the dominate one and in that case I might be able to agree.

I did say "If you have been happy shooting right-handed right-eyed then for goodness sake don't change unless there is a better reason than just eye dominance for doing so." I would not consider something that can be simply rectified with a different shooting lens to be a "better reason".

I have had no personnel experience with the problem mentioned so I suspect that I am relying on hearsay from other shooters I have known in the past.

In the past, many of us believed that we had to use the dominant eye. That was the accepted wisdom. In recent years however the increased involvement of biomechanicians and more holistically inclined sports scientists has led to suggestions that master hand, same eye shooting was preferable. Many previously "cross-eyed" high level shooters who have tried seem to agree.

I was discussing this very subject with the UK's top lady pistol shooter last weekend. Her answer (as close as I can remember word-for-word) when asked how difficult she found the change was "No problem. I just got on with it and never looked back".

[angelitaceleste]

I'm left eye dominant/right handed, and shot successfully with my right eye through several years on national team and throughout college.

I have terrible eyes. My prescription is -10.50 in both eyes; I also HAD an astigmatism in my right eye, which I believe was corrected by hours of right-eyed shooting.

[Guest]

I'm left eye dominant/right handed, and shot successfully with my right eye through several years on national team and throughout college.

I have terrible eyes. My prescription is -10.50 in both eyes; I also HAD an astigmatism in my right eye, which I believe was corrected by hours of right-eyed shooting.

May that be anastigmatism?

Anastigmatism improved (cured!) from actual use? That may be good news for crowds of people out there.

Astigmatism does not have to be cured, I recon?

- 10.50 in both eyes? That is the strongest deviation I have ever heard of.
If you by accident drop your glasses, you would have troble recovering them, then?

My eyes are kind of weird too: Left eye - 4.50, due to an accident during childhood, I believe (eye hit by arrow that I shot right up into the air. By return to ground it hit my eye first...). That eye has gone partly "dormant", now.
My right eye is + 1.00. I shoot cross eyed, yes, - I am lefthanded. That impliments some complications to stance and grip, yes.

[angelitaceleste]

I'm pretty sure it's an astigmatism, but maybe that's just what I've been hearing this whole time. :-)

If I drop my glasses I going to hunt for them for a while. That's why I wear contacts. If I have an eye infection, that's a sick day for me! :-D

~Celeste

[deadeyedick]

If you do decide to shoot cross eyed, then Rinke Grips provide a grip for most models that is offset 7 degrees...makes the mechanics much easier.