Cross eye dominance

[shark31]

Why do many people that are cross eye dominant continue to shoot and train wrong handed?

Example:
Left eye dominant, right handed shooter.

The reason that I ask is that I see a lot of civilian shooters that don't take the time to learn to shoot with the complimentary hand in the early stages of shooting. It seems to me that these people would be much better served in the LONG RUN to learn early to shoot left handed if they are left eye dominant or visa-versa. Not attacking anyone for their personal choices, just trying to get a feel for the "why".

[Robb Jensen]

I'm left-eyed and a right handed shooter. I was one those kids who's parents didn't want me to be weird. Somethings I do left handed like bowling throwing a football, baseball etc. All guns I shoot right handed (started shooting at age 5), I can shoot longguns and handguns left handed pretty well too. I did this exclusively for a year about 5yrs ago just to get good at it switching now with 32yrs of shooting experience would just be foolish. I can shoot precision rifles better left handed with more comfort (less eye strain). I write right handed.

Dominance has varying degrees. It only hurts you if you let it.

Some damn good shooters who are also cross dominant are:

IDPA founder and Master class IDPA shooter Larry Vickers left-eyed, right handed (shoots handguns righthanded, longguns left handed)

GrandMaster USPSA/IPSC (2006 Limited Nat'l champion), Master class IDPA shooter Dave Sevigny left-eyed, right handed (shoots everything I know of right handed)

GrandMaster USPSA/IPSC, Master class PPC/IPDA shooter Phil Strader left-eyed, right handed (shoots everything right handed).

[abnk]

I'm left-eye dominant and right-handed as well. In basic training, the DSs had me shoot left-handed, which felt a bit unnatural.

I ended up switching to right hand again--both pistol and rifle-- since most weapons are not southpaw friendly. The only problem I have when shooting rifle with both eyes open is an inch or two left POI. 50 yards and above, I close one eye. Shooting at longer distances, I am noticeably better left-handed.

Shooting pistol with both eyes open is something I yet have to learn.

[Patrick Aherne]

Simple. I didn't know I was cross-dominant until I had been shooting shotguns for 10-12 years and my firearms instructors never caught it in initial training because I could qualify and didn't need extra attention.

[shark31]

Thanks, I didn't know LV was cross dominant.

I was referring to new shooters on long guns more than those who have been doing it for a long time. Shooting a pistol would be much easier to overcome as the sights are further from your face. Just trying to find reasons that people start off shooting that way, is it: No initial training, bad training, bad attitude towards learning, etc.

[UVvis]

I'm left eye dominant and only have partial vision out of my right eye. My right eye vision is pretty lousy.

I'm right handed, I shoot pistol right handed and long guns lefty.

[boyanzhu]

Brits have shotgun schools for hunters and trap/skeet, some of these schools have been around for a very long time, like 100+ years. They keep good records and pay attention to eye dominance. Their statistics show about 30% or men and 90% of women are cross-dominant.

[f.2]

Left eyed and right hand shooter, handgun and long gun. We did shoot our M4 rifle course wrong handed and my score was not only passing but pretty good. On the last prone shot with a mag change I forgot to send the bolt home when the gun shot dry. Wrong handed manipulation is pretty tricky, but a lefty gave everyone some of his tips before and that helped.

eta: I also keep both eyes open with handguns, no problem with sight picture. For long guns I close the left eye. Just the way it is.

[RAM Engineer]

Left eye dominant, right handed person here.

I shoot all guns both eyes open, using my left (dominant) eye for the sights.

I shoot rifles & shotguns left handed, since I can't see the sights with my left eye while shooting righty.

I shoot handguns right handed, since it is easy to cant the pistol slightly to line the sights up with my left eye.

Jason

[Low Drag]

I'm left-eye dominant and right-handed as well. In basic training, the DSs had me shoot left-handed, which felt a bit unnatural.

I ended up switching to right hand again--both pistol and rifle-- since most weapons are not southpaw friendly. The only problem I have when shooting rifle with both eyes open is an inch or two left POI. 50 yards and above, I close one eye. Shooting at longer distances, I am noticeably better left-handed.

Shooting pistol with both eyes open is something I yet have to learn.

I have the same issue with cross dominance.

Take a look at C.A.R. for a "default" handgun platform.

Here's the civi web page: http://www.ipdsystems.com/

It look goofy but it worked wonders for me and it's very fast up close and on the move.

[czydj]

I tried to sight through an aimpoint and eotech the other day at my local shop. Not easy... I just saw a post here about mounting your red dot sight at a 45* angle off the top rail. I'm thinking if I hung the sight off the left side that might be the best way to shoot a carbine with both eyes open. Any merit to that thought? Any suggestions?

[Nathan_Bell]

Thanks, I didn't know LV was cross dominant.

I was referring to new shooters on long guns more than those who have been doing it for a long time. Shooting a pistol would be much easier to overcome as the sights are further from your face. Just trying to find reasons that people start off shooting that way, is it: No initial training, bad training, bad attitude towards learning, etc.

Many shooters are ignorant of cross dominance. SO if you have someone who is unaware of a problem is teaching others to shoot, the CD is not addressed.

Now these folks shoot for 10-20-30 years before they run into a real instructor who looks for this.

[ST911]

Brits have shotgun schools for hunters and trap/skeet, some of these schools have been around for a very long time, like 100+ years. They keep good records and pay attention to eye dominance. Their statistics show about 30% or men and 90% of women are cross-dominant.

Blimey! I think that 90% number is a wee bit high, what-what-what.

[UVvis]

I tried to sight through an aimpoint and eotech the other day at my local shop. Not easy... I just saw a post here about mounting your red dot sight at a 45* angle off the top rail. I'm thinking if I hung the sight off the left side that might be the best way to shoot a carbine with both eyes open. Any merit to that thought? Any suggestions?

If you are left handed, there is some merit to this. Right handed it goes on the right side. 3 gun folk do this so they can have a close range sight and a telescopic sight on the same gun.

For a primary sight, it makes your gun pretty wide. When you are looking through EOtechs or aimpoints make sure you are looking at something that is some distance away so you focus on the target, not the sight. If you are cross eye dominant, and have a hard time picking the sights up with your non dominant eye, it is time to practice until you can, or shooting hands. But whatever works best for you.

[czydj]

Right handed it goes on the right side.

Right handed, left eyed. Right side of carbine is too far away...

[Jerm]

im having this issue really for the first time now(left eyed/right handed).

in the past ive mostly shot rifles with scopes(bolt's etc) and i did so right handed/eyed with the left eye closed.pistols i shoot right handed with both eyes open(squint my right but not closed) and use my left eye for sighting.both have always worked well for me in the past.

now trying to use iron's on my new "M4orgery" i sometimes lose the front sight when looking at a dark colored area and my vision tends to "jump back" to my left eye when this happens.

im hoping with some practice and maybe a lamp on the front(for now,maybe an Aimpoint later) might help keep my right eye focused on the sights.

i really dont want to switch over to left handed shooting.i practice left handed some,but its still very unnatural and with my equiptment all set up for right handed.....:(

i would hate to only shoot left handed with one rifle and everything else with the right hand.

[Jerm]

this is an interesting idea.

anyone have any experience with something like this....

http://www.gamaliel.com/cart/product.php?productid=2166&cat=0&page=1

[KiloSierra]

Right eye dominant, shoot longguns right handed, handguns either hand.

Curious problem though. Over the last few months I now find that I have to shoot longguns with both eyes totally open, instead of squinting with my left eye. Only happens when wearing contacts though.

[Erick Gelhaus]

I know several folks - fellow Mil, L/E co-workers, and decent normal humans - who are cross eye dominant. Generally, though not always, they were corrupted early in their youth and forced into being right-handed by the school system &/or the Mil. Parochial school seems to weigh into this heavily for those close in age to me.

The norm seems to be that they can & do shoot handgun with their "strong side", some from a Weaver variation, others from mod Iso - pushing the sights over to their dominant eye. I was the opposite for a long time. I shot shoulder weapon right handed because of the forceful instruction provided by my drill sergeants and squad leaders. I now shoot everything -with the exception of the M240/M249- left handed. (The M249 is a whole 'nother story. Somewhere there are pictures. Doh!)

The issue comes when they go to shoot a shoulder weapon. They now need to decide which way to go. The best option - from what I've seen - is to get them to shoot the shoulder weapon on the dominant eye side.

Caveat: Sticking to the same side may work just fine. The important part is to get the hits.

What may prove difficult is training the hand on the dominant side to work as the primary / strong hand, rather than being a supporting tool. When i switched over to doing all of my shooting left-handed it took a lot of dry & live evolutions and repetitions to get everything dialed in. Once the shooters' comfortable with it, it seems to work out really well for them.

Again, this is just my limited view.

[Neckbreaker]

I am right handed and left-eye dominant. I have been shooting for years and just found that out this year when I took my first training class. Doh! At least now I know why I was always shooting slightly to the left. What I have done is still shoot right handed but I have covered up my left lens of my shooting glasses with scotch tape. I have been doing this for about two months and my right eye is definitely getting stronger. I used to see two sight pictures and now I still see two but they are much closer together. My instructor at Blackwater recommended the tape thing and I am glad I followed his advice.

[Tuukka]

Left handed and right eye dominant, I shoot pistols and long runs from the left.

It has always worked and been natural for me and I have not seen it as a negative issue, even competing on a national level.