Just saw this video for the first time, and can attest to everything you said. I am left handed and left eye dominant. As a child I always shot left handed. When I joined the Army and began M16 qualification (in the days before the integrated brass deflector) I got a couple of shell casings down the front of my shirt. Let me tell you that is not a pleasant experience. There were brass deflectors that could be attached, but they were clumsy and caused intermittent firing issues so I converted to right hand shooting. I can still shoot just as well left handed as right, but prefer right handed. Pistol shooting is quite different I can plink right handed, but for serious targets I go to the left. In reaction shooting I MUST use my left eye. If I try to shoot right handed I end up sighting "cross eye" with predictable results.
Yes - I am jacked up as well with dominate eye issues. I am right handed, but left eye dominate. I have trained myself to shoot and draw left handed. I can shoot right handed, but tend to close my left eye when shooting right handed. My EDC is a Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm - full size with a reversed mag release. Thanks for sharing!
I'm right eye dom, but left handed. But when it comes to shooting and golf and a few other sports, i am right handed because of my dom eye. I have done this for most of my life, but like you said, close one eye, the other eye is dom then. Now for one of my fav quotes: "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king..."
Another quick technique, particularly if you're already in shooting position; close one eye and then the other. If the view doesn't change, that's the dominant eye.
when I started shooting at age ten I struggled with being right handed with a dominant left eye. Took me a while to learn to use the right eye but now I can shoot with either eye. great video, viewing's always a pleasure.
It is far easier to train your eyes than it is to shoot with the weak side. My dominant eye switches also. I close the left eye until I find the target, then shoot with both eyes open. The target stays with the first eye to see it.
Thank you for bringing this up ! I'm 62 years old. Right handed, but left eye dominate. When I was much younger, this gave me BIG problems with a shotgun, until I figured out what my problem was. At my ripe young age, I still tend to shoot handguns left-eyed. Rifles and shotguns right eyed. That's just how I learned to adapt. Thanks, Duane
We learn this in the marines for when we qualify on the range. I am crossed eyed dominant which is kind of a bad thing in the military, because when I’m shooting long range I use my left dominant eye, but when I’m clearing a room or shooting at very close range I’m naturally comfortable with my right eye, which makes it a nuisance constantly changing my sling over my body to adjust for the different distances.
Another way to find eye dominance that is even more natural is to literally "put your finger (tip)" on something in the far distance and then pull the finger up close to your face keeping the finger tip covering the object. Then close one eye and then the other to find out which eye you pulled the finger to. It is faster and more accurate than the triangle method. I have the same mixed eye dominance issue you mentioned. Though I am right handed and right eyed, I had a right eye issue and learned to shoot a pistol left eyed. Now that my right eyes is fixed, I still find it more natural to use my left eye with both eyes open. It is so much more effecient to have both eyes open to see the big picture but concentrate with the dominant eye to use the scope or sights to zero on the target. Especially when you are shooting at a moving object. Having an eye open to see the whole field if view is so much better. Not to mention that squinting for hours is a hassle. But you can get used to anything. Your brain eventually accommodates your will.
I was a right hand right eye dominant and shot very well. I had an eye injury and now have to shoot left hand. What is interesting is I shot bow for years instinctively (no sights) rt hand and now I can shoot both rt and lh with the left eye. Pistols, I shoot rt hand with lh eye dominant and rifles / shotguns are LH with LH dominant. It took time, and I still feel a little weird at times, but that's how I do it. Thanks for the videos. They are great and make me want to go take some special shots now. We used to use a red ryder and do trick shots in the back yard. Thanks again
totally in agree with you! i am left eye dominant and i shoot with the right without problems.. (after a bit of train) switching fron "stright shooting" to shooting claypigeons i had some trubles.. by the way it tooks a litlle of train and i do it as well! shoot 4 fun, shoot safe!
My eyes are like 55% left and 45% right eye dominant. I trained myself to shoot with both equally, with both hands equally too. Sometimes my eyesight don't switch, if i transfer pistol to the other hand - in that case i wink and my dominance is transferred to the other eye. This is very helpful with shooting from behind obstacles and corners, or if you 'piece by piece' (space chopping) spot area behind corners during CQB where you really want to show or expose as little as possible from your body. In those cases, you basically need to use any hand/shoulder/eye that exposes only the smaller part of your head etc..
I just discover your channel. It is great. You are a good communicator. Very energitic ! I like your tips. I knew about the dominant eyes. I teach it to anyone new at shooting. It applys in all aiming sports: Archery, slingshots, billiard, and gun shooting. But sometimes I got insecure about my predominant eye (my right one) because sometimes it is the left one. I play billard both sides... So finally I thouht , what the hek I will shoot anyway aiming with my right eye as my physical position is trained for right eye up to now. So your video answers very well my concern. Both eye can do fine! And to change the position helps to realize all the parameters involved in a specific shooting position. Kind of refreshing. Thank you very much. I am subscribing for sure, and will search your channel to learn more about standing shooting position! I shoot presently a Benjamin trail NP2 hight velocity piston-loaded brake-barrel air rifle, and I take pride at shooting it at its best ability (not a great precision rifle...) I shoot fairly good in seating postion at 45yd and work at improving it up to 100 yards. with 21 grain bullet 0.177, it is like long range shooting! with all the vibration caused by the brake barrel... Thank you again.
I'm so glad you shared your experience and views instead of parroting the usual lines. At the beginning, I experienced what you describe (switching dominance and one eye "fighting" the other). No longer. I shoot left eye with left hand, right eye with right hand - both eyes open. Eye dominance should be used purely as a descriptive term describing which eye one chooses to attend. If you practice switching eyes (and hands) you can easily control it. The idea that we are hard-wired to be dominant with an eye or a hand is nonsense based purely on convention (and laziness). Those dominance tests only work for people who have developed the bad habit of relying on one eye. Obviously you have the ability focus attention as you wish. Just reinforce it from time to time with deliberate exercise.
Kirsten...I am so glad you did this video ...especially the part where you said "just shoot" I have a shotgun clay shooting channel and I say just focus on the clay and let your instincts do the rest... don't worry about eye dominance...and it's great to get confirmation of that from a top shooter like yourself...stay well...Roger
Using an eye patch is a good idea. Closing one eye puts tension on your face. You don't want tension. You can actually get tired eyesight or even head aches squinting with one eye closed all the time. (I learned this with astronomy, where I'm looking through a telescope eyepiece often for hours on end.) But be careful: the bright sun can hurt your eye when you take the patch off. Remove it slowly to let your eye adjust back to daylight.
You have ambidextrous eyesight! ...and your eyes are lovely too which I'm sure improves your vision. I remember the first time I did that little exercise, not in NRA marksmanship class as a kid, but in Marine Corps boot camp. I am undeniably right eye dominant which serves me well since I'm right handed. But I do know people who are right handed and left eye dominant (or vice versa) which presents a challenge to teaching them to shoot. Ever see somebody take a right handed grip on a rifle and put it up to their left eye? The importance of eye dominance cannot be overlooked.
It's easier to point at an object with both eyes open, then close one eye. If the thing you're pointing at seems to "jump" to a different spot, the open eye is the non-dominant eye. If the object DOESN'T jump, the open eye is your dominant eye. I shoot handguns with both eyes open, and use my right hand as the strong side. I'm right-handed, so that makes some sense. But I'm left-eyed, so I shoot LONG guns or bows LEFT handed and use my left eye to sight. I probably should shoot handguns with my left hand and eye -- it'd be more accurate -- but I got used to shooting right-handed with a handgun and it'd be difficult to switch, and all of my holsters have the strong side on the right. I'd have to replace them if I switched hands like that, and it'd be expensive and would confuse my draw reflexes.
I found out at an early age that I was cross dominant (left eye, right handed). I grew up my late teenage years shooting high power competition, and I learned first on an AR and shot lefty. Having to switch between that mode and vintage bolt guns, I picked up the ability to shoot rifle ambidextrously. Handguns are much harder to shoot right handed, so I stick to left. One trick the guys shooting those matches would do to address eye dominance issues is they would put a line of tape over their shooting glasses on the non-focus eye when shooting to force the eye they were using on the iron sight to do the work.
I used to shut my left eye when I sighted with my right. Now I keep both eyes open and I'm more relaxed as I use my right eye to take aim. You shoot extremely well with pistol or rifle.
Thx that makes me very happy as was Right handed and eyed, but now blind in right eye, so still right handed but use left hand and eye to shoot, airguns only there is a reason for this toolong a story .thank you for clearing that up .
I take a short stick at arms length and 'snap aim' down it. Holding it in place, then close each eye in turn to see which one is in line. I've since learned how to switch eye focus and shoot both eyes open with a scope - a skill which came in especially handy as an action photographer. Left eye scans wide-angle and the right telephoto.
I'm just a hunter so eye dominace is no problem here. I have the left eye dominant but shoot with a right rifle. Just take my time and palce a good shot :) Might get a .22lr soon for some target shooting. It's so fun,
i'll be honest... I clicked on one of your vids well.. cuz yoga. (yeh its embarrassing but oh well) I subbed because you have a way of explaining shooting tips that is intelligent/precise but most important.. understandable. It's an important distinction. When I get a new shooter at the range I am a member with questions I've started whipping out my phone and bringing up your youtube vids. Don't know if that was your "aim" when you started doing these vids but I think it's pretty awesome. Thanks from Wisconsin.
it's hard for young kids to do this. I just have them look at a distant object using a empty paper towel tube or something similar. They always put the tube on their dominated eye. Thanks for the videos. Great fun.!
Hey Kirsten, didn't know it could switch! This question reminds me of a movie I saw at Harvard Film Archive, about Roma (Gypsies) and this little boy who is being raised by his grandmother, who makes him wear eyeglasses with no lens in one eye, and the other lens with scotch tape on it. Then after a while they are all separated, and he has a dream, where he's flying over a river, and floating on the water are candles covered with paper bags, hundreds of them, and he's able to see where his little sister is, and so he was able to find her. Kind of a weird, poetic look at vision and adversity. (puns intended).
Kirsten great video I had no idea eye dominance could change. Thanks. My family shoots bench rest together (Ridgway VBR). When my daughter started showing an interest in shooting I did a eye dominance test with her and she has been shooting left ever since. Now we know that things could change we'll keep that in mind as she continues on her shooting journey. Please keep the tips coming.
Good idea for a string of videos. I am left eye and left handed and was forced to do everything right handed growing up so ended up right handed writing, throwing and shooting. Being a retired investigator and body guard it created a minor problem qualifying shotgun and rifle but just did not feel compelled to shoot left handed although all the instructors I had over the years urged me to.
Great info! A lot of folks put so much emphasis on things like eye dominance in such a way that new - particularly young - shooters think they have to stress about it. Nice to get some advice out there that stresses...non stress😂 I'm left eye dominant and somewhat ambidextrous, but i shoot with my right eye and my hands follow suit because it's what feels right to me and that's what i train for. But i can shoot left handed if i feel like it and the trouble with that is in my hands and training them to their new roles. My eyes - as you say, the open one is the dominant one.😊
I am cross dominant(right-handed, left eye dominant) and it has really affected my ability to shoot. I spend so much energy and time trying to get a sight picture, I can't think about all the other processes you need to think about. Like grip, trigger pull, stance, breathing, :) I find that if I block out the left lens somewhat, I can maintain front sight focus. If I don't I lose the front sight as soon as the recoil materializes.
I hear you, I often have to squint one eye a bit to force it, or like I said, shoot instinctually for speed/larger targets. If you're doing precision, just remember you can squint the other eye, close the other eye, or ideally use a blinder over it (blocking the vision but keeping it open) and that should help tremendously
I didn’t forget to spank that like button Appreciate y’all Miss Kirsten Sweet shooting lovely 🥰 Lady all day long. Thank you 🙏 for your beginners Lesson. Please do more I have two novice friends that need your instructions. Yahoo
I am right handed, but left eye dominant. Instead of closing my left eye so that I can shoot right handed, I squint my left eye to force my right eye to be dominant. Works for me.
I got cross eye dominance and even talked to a ophthalmologist about it, not much you can do medically unless you slightly reduce the vision in dominant eye to have the other eye become the dominant eye. I like Kirsten Joy Weiss idea best!
Shoot right and left. Changing the sights (iron) not necessary as groups are very close to each other out too 500. Holding the weapon correctly will make a huge difference in shot outcome. Great video, Ooh Rah..
I'm a converted right handed, so when I fly fish or use hand tools I could use both hands. My eyes can't decide which is dominant, so in archery I force my right to dominate.
I am going to input something that some will be able to understand but some won't . There is a zone in front of your eyes called "the circle of confusion" were the binocular advantage of having two eyes can be impeeded by having your eyes "crossed". The whole "dominant eye" thing only applies when one of your sights (the rear sight) is inside the circle of confusion. You can determine the circle of confusion for your eyes by placing the tips of your two index fingers pointed toward each other in front of you with a space between them of about a half an inch at a distance where there appears to be a cocktail sausage suspended in the air between them (a false image of your two finger tips created by your eyes being crossed) The boundry of the circle of confusion is the point where your finger tips will appear normal when you move them in tandem forward and away from you. People who shoot a pistol with the back sight inside the circle of confusion always have problems with dominant eye conflict. When s.hooting a rifle the back sight is always inside the circle of confusion. The place to position an eye blinder on the non dominant eye is not on the eye like an eye patch, but instead with both eyes open on the point where if you were moving three fingers back and forth in front of the non dominant eye with both eyes open the fingers seem to become transparent. "Ghost ring" sights are aperture sights which give an optical illusion of a ghost ring when looking at a target with both eyes open and neither eye shaded.
That's good advice. I've never checked to see which eye was dominant but I'm confident it's the right side. I'm one of those both eye open people and when shooting with open sights or extended eye relief scopes I always aim with the sight picture from my right eye or left plane of view. I've never tried a blinder. I did find some snaps. :-)
One thing to add here with regards to eye dominance is rather than make a triangle w/ hands... use hands to make a 'diamond shape' then in the distance (doesn't have to be too far - like even 5-10 feet away) center position a 'vertical line' 12 Oclock to 6 Oclock orientation and superimpose touching index-fingers plus thumbs (trigger fingers @ 12 while thumbs together @ 6)... one at a time (a few times) open and close both eyes (individually. --- one open at a time... never move hands)... the dominant eye will nearly always center the vertical line @ 12 & 6 while the non-dominant will shift in the 'diamonds' field of view.
This also helps in training your eyes for details. I have that thing to where I can use both hands (I can’t spell it) but I have it. What I meant that it helps with being detailed is that it gives your eyes a good work out and helps the focus of the pupils. I do this on a daily. Sometimes both eyes are the same way.
Nice video! I learned some other techniques for determining eye dominance, but your method works fine. I am right handled with left eye dominant. Also, since my cataract surgery, my right eye is more far sighted while my left eye is more near sighted.Not enough to correct with glasses, but enough to make a difference shooting. So I shoot a pistol left eye, right hand (LERH) which helps me focus on the sight instead of the target. I shoot a rifle right eye and right hand (RERH) because shooting LERH with a rifle is kinda hard.
Thank heavens. I knew folks had been fibbin about having to use a dominate eye and having to have one dominant eye. I still can't shoot but it's good to know.
It's GOOD to have a dominant eye and use it... don't get me wrong... but a person can certainly shoot - and shoot well - with cross dominance/ambi, etc. Just a little more to overcome -- but it can be done!
i shoot primarily right handed, but am left eye dominant..... until i get tired then i shoot left handed then switch to right eye dominant .... and to make things more interesting i shoot pistol both eyes open :)
I have a pretty strong right eye dominance and try to do all my shooting two eye open, but a bit ago I got a not-quite-there prescription in my right lens. Until I got that fixed, I found I was occasionally throwing a shot way left. I think I was lining up on my right eye like normal, but then moving the front sight over to adjust for my left eye parallax. It made me wonder if people with weak or no dominance experience that.
I have the same problem with both my eyes feeling dominate. I’m also a lefty but throw with my right. I use my left eye now and I found out that I hit more targets because of this.
I'm left handed and right eye dominant. I can shoot right handed, but it has always felt really awkward, so left handed it is and close the right eye..
I am left eye dominant but shoot long guns right handed. Like all left-eye'd folks who shoot right handed on the rifle, I just look through the scope with my right eye and close or squint my left eye. You can't really lean over a long gun to look through the scope with the left eye as you would then invite a nice kick to the jaw/cheek.
I am cross dominant as well.. I think it was from my first couple years in Catholic school in the 79's where they insist everyone be right handed. Drove my bootcamp instructors batty
I find that eye dominance depends on quality of vision. People who get their eyes "fixed" properly (Lasik/glasses/contacts) tend to lose a lot of eye dominance. It's just your brain picking which of your 2 eyes has the best vision.
leave the triangle out front with the object in the middle with both eyes open and then close one eye at a time which ever eye still sees the object is the dominant eye the way you do it will cause you to change your dominant eye depending on how you pull your hands back if you pull it back to the left then you will think left or if you pull it back to the right eye you will think the right one is best to just close one eye at a time and I bet you will only have one eye that is dominant from now to the end of time
Thanks for this! Even that method produces different results for me (I've tried a few different tests to make sure. Believe me, I don't want to deal with switches/cross dominance). Also, with the method in the video, if you keep the object centered continuously and focused, it will stay on course when you bring your hands back. :)
Love your channel, Kirsten! Ready for a little vocabulary lesson? Your test is basically a manoptoscope. It's more like a "poor man's manoptoscope" but, it's a manoptoscope nevertheless. "Ambiocular" is the term for people who are dominant in both eyes (just like "ambidextrous" is being both right-and-left-handed). I'm just like you - I'm ambiocular too. Apparently, being ambiocular is rare, but it's more common among females and young boys. I have a very difficult time shooting both eyes open, because I always see a ghost-image of the sights or the target, depending upon which I focus upon. Anyway, hope you found the terminology interesting!
"Ambiocular" so it IS a thing!! I'm not alone haha. I know the disadvantages, but are there any advantages to being ambiocular? Thank you for this, it's really helpful
You're welcome! I'm a yuuuuuge fan of your marksmanship, so I'm honored that you replied. Advantages to being ambiocular? Biologically, I have no idea! I'm not an optometrist, so I don't know if there are any physiological advantages. The reason I know these terms is because I'm a geeky writer who is fascinated with the etymology and definitions of odd words, like "ambiocular" and "manoptoscope". As for shooting, I'd say there are benefits and detriments. The obvious advantage to being ambiocular is that we can always shoot with our dominant hand and never suffer from cross-dominance. As you said, you already know the big disadvantage - we see those confusing ghost-images so we have to squint, or tape the lens of our glasses, etc. Not a huge handicap, but a bit of an inconvenience.
I like the idea of covering one eye. Like a pirate. On a side note, an old lady gave me the evil eye when I was playing in her yard as a child. Great video.
The covering an eye actually had a practical reason. It was to cover the eye from light and get unspoiled low light visibility going so that they could see when they went into the lower decks of ships that were dark
I am right eye dominant. However, I noticed when I tried out skeet shooting that my left eye "takes over" once the right can't see the skeet, but the left can. It is very annoying I must say. The trainer said I would have to use a blinder or some such to get around that issue. Then ,once the muscle memory is in place, I can go back to shooting with both eyes unblinded.
First great video as always. I'm legally blind in one eye so I can't use either eye😎! I grew up using rifles and shotguns and always shot left handed even tho' i'm right handed. When I started shooting pistols I naturally just shot right handed, and didn't do bad. It was suggested that I try to shoot handguns lefty and it was very Awkward!!! But I pushed through and became a better shooter. Now when I go to a local shooting course and switch hands. after the range is clear and the timer stops the RO usually makes a comment about me having switched hands, and they don't see that very often. I have tried to show people your method of finding dominant eye and quite often they overthink it and just pull their hands straight back? So I tell them to hold up their index finger and focus on a distant object with both eyes then cover one at a time when the object moves from the point of focus with both eyes that's the non dominant eye. Again great videos!
Hi Kristen, love your videos! Could you make a video showing us your shooting stance with heavy rifles. Tell us the secret of how to get the most stability for our rifle. Thanks for your vdeos...
Seriously I ran into an issue when I tried to do this. When I do what she explained I have an actual problem with focusing on the object passed the hole that i have created, its almost like I'm getting a split between both eyes. As I draw it back to my head, it usually ends up just off center toward my left eye or center in which I have to choose an eye to keep the item in view. I'm guessing I'm a little more left eye dominant but this did not work for me like it did for her.
Funny..I knew this going into the US Army. One private couldn't qualify, immediately I knew he was cross dominate. The drill sgts sent him twice to eye doctors. I suggested he shoot cross..TO THE DRILL SERGEANTS. That was near suicide on my part in basic training. But it WORKED. I had 6+ years of NRA smallbore so I knew.
I thought I had it bad. Right handed left eyed. Unfortunately my right eye is much weaker than my left so I'm stuck, can't coach to my right eye. Changing dominance must be frustrating at times.
i din't know that. i tried it and it looks like im right eyed. i do the eye switching business too. sometimes one eye gets fatigued from shooting for hours, so i switch. i also switch handedness to make sure i can shoot well with both hands. -and since you know about the hand injury, you know sometimes ol lefty gets tired of carrying the barrel around all day, so i switch hands, and switch eyes. i've always been a bit ambidextrous, so i try not to invest everything into one eye or one hand, because you never know what might come up, and you'll get stuck shooting lefties with no previous training.
Well, I'm right hand and eye dominant, but the vision in my right eye isn't what it used to be. And now, the vision is better in my left eye. Go figure.
Hi, new to shooting and the whole process / hobby, so I’m a novice novice… I am left handed but realized I’m R eye dominant, I’ve seen a few suggestions with either placing tape over the glasses to train my left eye to be dominant or just trying to use my right hand etc instead of my left. I’m more interested in long range shooting eventually and using rifles such as the M4A1 so com, or something similar. I tried a hand gun but it just didn’t do it for me like the other one.. haha.. any advice would be appreciated, thanks so much!
Interesting to see an alternate method of checking dominance. I, too, have had my dominance switch due to vision issues with the dominant eye
Glad I found this
The outtake on this one is so cute I cant freaking stand it LMBO! Even Bruce laughed!
It is awesome, I think its the original version of the outtake from the Cold Weather Shooting tips video; the KJW Energy Dance
Just saw this video for the first time, and can attest to everything you said. I am left handed and left eye dominant. As a child I always shot left handed. When I joined the Army and began M16 qualification (in the days before the integrated brass deflector) I got a couple of shell casings down the front of my shirt. Let me tell you that is not a pleasant experience. There were brass deflectors that could be attached, but they were clumsy and caused intermittent firing issues so I converted to right hand shooting. I can still shoot just as well left handed as right, but prefer right handed. Pistol shooting is quite different I can plink right handed, but for serious targets I go to the left. In reaction shooting I MUST use my left eye. If I try to shoot right handed I end up sighting "cross eye" with predictable results.
Yes - I am jacked up as well with dominate eye issues. I am right handed, but left eye dominate. I have trained myself to shoot and draw left handed. I can shoot right handed, but tend to close my left eye when shooting right handed. My EDC is a Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm - full size with a reversed mag release. Thanks for sharing!
I'm right eye dom, but left handed. But when it comes to shooting and golf and a few other sports, i am right handed because of my dom eye. I have done this for most of my life, but like you said, close one eye, the other eye is dom then. Now for one of my fav quotes: "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king..."
Kirsten, Your bloopers at the end of your videos are hilarious!
Another quick technique, particularly if you're already in shooting position; close one eye and then the other. If the view doesn't change, that's the dominant eye.
This is helpful
when I started shooting at age ten I struggled with being right handed with a dominant left eye. Took me a while to learn to use the right eye but now I can shoot with either eye.
great video, viewing's always a pleasure.
We here in Brazil love you, always follow your shots that inspires us a lot, thank you and a big hug.
It is far easier to train your eyes than it is to shoot with the weak side. My dominant eye switches also. I close the left eye until I find the target, then shoot with both eyes open. The target stays with the first eye to see it.
Thank you for bringing this up !
I'm 62 years old. Right handed, but left eye dominate.
When I was much younger, this gave me BIG problems with a shotgun, until I figured out what my problem was.
At my ripe young age, I still tend to shoot handguns left-eyed. Rifles and shotguns right eyed. That's just how I learned to adapt.
Thanks,
Duane
Always like to hear about people who adapt and overcome, thumbs up!
Same issue Hickok has, hence why he leans so far over a rifle stock to get his left eye to the sights. You're in good company. :)
We learn this in the marines for when we qualify on the range. I am crossed eyed dominant which is kind of a bad thing in the military, because when I’m shooting long range I use my left dominant eye, but when I’m clearing a room or shooting at very close range I’m naturally comfortable with my right eye, which makes it a nuisance constantly changing my sling over my body to adjust for the different distances.
this is a topic not talked about enough. thank you.
Another way to find eye dominance that is even more natural is to literally "put your finger (tip)" on something in the far distance and then pull the finger up close to your face keeping the finger tip covering the object. Then close one eye and then the other to find out which eye you pulled the finger to. It is faster and more accurate than the triangle method. I have the same mixed eye dominance issue you mentioned. Though I am right handed and right eyed, I had a right eye issue and learned to shoot a pistol left eyed. Now that my right eyes is fixed, I still find it more natural to use my left eye with both eyes open. It is so much more effecient to have both eyes open to see the big picture but concentrate with the dominant eye to use the scope or sights to zero on the target. Especially when you are shooting at a moving object. Having an eye open to see the whole field if view is so much better. Not to mention that squinting for hours is a hassle. But you can get used to anything. Your brain eventually accommodates your will.
I was a right hand right eye dominant and shot very well. I had an eye injury and now have to shoot left hand. What is interesting is I shot bow for years instinctively (no sights) rt hand and now I can shoot both rt and lh with the left eye. Pistols, I shoot rt hand with lh eye dominant and rifles / shotguns are LH with LH dominant. It took time, and I still feel a little weird at times, but that's how I do it. Thanks for the videos. They are great and make me want to go take some special shots now. We used to use a red ryder and do trick shots in the back yard. Thanks again
totally in agree with you! i am left eye dominant and i shoot with the right without problems.. (after a bit of train) switching fron "stright shooting" to shooting claypigeons i had some trubles.. by the way it tooks a litlle of train and i do it as well! shoot 4 fun, shoot safe!
My eyes are like 55% left and 45% right eye dominant. I trained myself to shoot with both equally, with both hands equally too. Sometimes my eyesight don't switch, if i transfer pistol to the other hand - in that case i wink and my dominance is transferred to the other eye.
This is very helpful with shooting from behind obstacles and corners, or if you 'piece by piece' (space chopping) spot area behind corners during CQB where you really want to show or expose as little as possible from your body. In those cases, you basically need to use any hand/shoulder/eye that exposes only the smaller part of your head etc..
I just discover your channel. It is great. You are a good communicator. Very energitic ! I like your tips.
I knew about the dominant eyes. I teach it to anyone new at shooting. It applys in all aiming sports: Archery, slingshots, billiard, and gun shooting. But sometimes I got insecure about my predominant eye (my right one) because sometimes it is the left one. I play billard both sides... So finally I thouht , what the hek I will shoot anyway aiming with my right eye as my physical position is trained for right eye up to now. So your video answers very well my concern. Both eye can do fine! And to change the position helps to realize all the parameters involved in a specific shooting position. Kind of refreshing. Thank you very much.
I am subscribing for sure, and will search your channel to learn more about standing shooting position! I shoot presently a Benjamin trail NP2 hight velocity piston-loaded brake-barrel air rifle, and I take pride at shooting it at its best ability (not a great precision rifle...) I shoot fairly good in seating postion at 45yd and work at improving it up to 100 yards. with 21 grain bullet 0.177, it is like long range shooting! with all the vibration caused by the brake barrel...
Thank you again.
I'm so glad you shared your experience and views instead of parroting the usual lines. At the beginning, I experienced what you describe (switching dominance and one eye "fighting" the other). No longer. I shoot left eye with left hand, right eye with right hand - both eyes open. Eye dominance should be used purely as a descriptive term describing which eye one chooses to attend. If you practice switching eyes (and hands) you can easily control it. The idea that we are hard-wired to be dominant with an eye or a hand is nonsense based purely on convention (and laziness). Those dominance tests only work for people who have developed the bad habit of relying on one eye. Obviously you have the ability focus attention as you wish. Just reinforce it from time to time with deliberate exercise.
Kirsten...I am so glad you did this video ...especially the part where you said "just shoot" I have a shotgun clay shooting channel and I say just focus on the clay and let your instincts do the rest... don't worry about eye dominance...and it's great to get confirmation of that from a top shooter like yourself...stay well...Roger
Using an eye patch is a good idea. Closing one eye puts tension on your face. You don't want tension. You can actually get tired eyesight or even head aches squinting with one eye closed all the time. (I learned this with astronomy, where I'm looking through a telescope eyepiece often for hours on end.) But be careful: the bright sun can hurt your eye when you take the patch off. Remove it slowly to let your eye adjust back to daylight.
Great explanation and especially to not make it into a huge issue if one happens to be cross-eye-dominant; just shoot and enjoy. Thanks Kirsten
Thank you!!! None of the guys I train with believe me when I tell them my eye dominance flips. Maybe they'll listen to you.
You have ambidextrous eyesight! ...and your eyes are lovely too which I'm sure improves your vision. I remember the first time I did that little exercise, not in NRA marksmanship class as a kid, but in Marine Corps boot camp. I am undeniably right eye dominant which serves me well since I'm right handed. But I do know people who are right handed and left eye dominant (or vice versa) which presents a challenge to teaching them to shoot. Ever see somebody take a right handed grip on a rifle and put it up to their left eye? The importance of eye dominance cannot be overlooked.
Yep, Hickok45 shoots rifle that way.
I’m left eye dominant and right handed, but I see your beauty best with both eyes open. So, I’m just going to keep them both open.
It's easier to point at an object with both eyes open, then close one eye. If the thing you're pointing at seems to "jump" to a different spot, the open eye is the non-dominant eye. If the object DOESN'T jump, the open eye is your dominant eye.
I shoot handguns with both eyes open, and use my right hand as the strong side. I'm right-handed, so that makes some sense. But I'm left-eyed, so I shoot LONG guns or bows LEFT handed and use my left eye to sight. I probably should shoot handguns with my left hand and eye -- it'd be more accurate -- but I got used to shooting right-handed with a handgun and it'd be difficult to switch, and all of my holsters have the strong side on the right. I'd have to replace them if I switched hands like that, and it'd be expensive and would confuse my draw reflexes.
yup that's how I teach b students
I found out at an early age that I was cross dominant (left eye, right handed). I grew up my late teenage years shooting high power competition, and I learned first on an AR and shot lefty. Having to switch between that mode and vintage bolt guns, I picked up the ability to shoot rifle ambidextrously. Handguns are much harder to shoot right handed, so I stick to left.
One trick the guys shooting those matches would do to address eye dominance issues is they would put a line of tape over their shooting glasses on the non-focus eye when shooting to force the eye they were using on the iron sight to do the work.
Very cool. Yes! That certainly works (the tape). Being an ambidextrous shooter is such a good skill to have
You said well, mariachis y maracas....and your dominant eyes takes my breath away 😆😍😉
I used to shut my left eye when I sighted with my right. Now I keep both eyes open and I'm more relaxed as I use my right eye to take aim. You shoot extremely well with pistol or rifle.
Thx that makes me very happy as was Right handed and eyed, but now blind in right eye, so still right handed but use left hand and eye to shoot, airguns only there is a reason for this toolong a story .thank you for clearing that up .
I take a short stick at arms length and 'snap aim' down it. Holding it in place, then close each eye in turn to see which one is in line. I've since learned how to switch eye focus and shoot both eyes open with a scope - a skill which came in especially handy as an action photographer. Left eye scans wide-angle and the right telephoto.
Thanks very informative, I was trained to always have both eyes open. 40 years later I can cut a playing card nearly in two with a sub 12lbs air rifle
I shoot right handed with my right eye, but I use my dSLR camera with my left eye. Funky...
I'm just a hunter so eye dominace is no problem here. I have the left eye dominant but shoot with a right rifle. Just take my time and palce a good shot :) Might get a .22lr soon for some target shooting. It's so fun,
i'll be honest... I clicked on one of your vids well.. cuz yoga. (yeh its embarrassing but oh well) I subbed because you have a way of explaining shooting tips that is intelligent/precise but most important.. understandable. It's an important distinction. When I get a new shooter at the range I am a member with questions I've started whipping out my phone and bringing up your youtube vids. Don't know if that was your "aim" when you started doing these vids but I think it's pretty awesome. Thanks from Wisconsin.
Yes! Absolutely! So glad to help - Thanks!
Well good.. mission accomplished... now do it again!
it's hard for young kids to do this. I just have them look at a distant object using a empty paper towel tube or something similar. They always put the tube on their dominated eye. Thanks for the videos. Great fun.!
Hey Kirsten, didn't know it could switch! This question reminds me of a movie I saw at Harvard Film Archive, about Roma (Gypsies) and this little boy who is being raised by his grandmother, who makes him wear eyeglasses with no lens in one eye, and the other lens with scotch tape on it. Then after a while they are all separated, and he has a dream, where he's flying over a river, and floating on the water are candles covered with paper bags, hundreds of them, and he's able to see where his little sister is, and so he was able to find her. Kind of a weird, poetic look at vision and adversity. (puns intended).
Kirsten great video I had no idea eye dominance could change. Thanks. My family shoots bench rest together (Ridgway VBR). When my daughter started showing an interest in shooting I did a eye dominance test with her and she has been shooting left ever since. Now we know that things could change we'll keep that in mind as she continues on her shooting journey. Please keep the tips coming.
Good idea for a string of videos. I am left eye and left handed and was forced to do everything right handed growing up so ended up right handed writing, throwing and shooting. Being a retired investigator and body guard it created a minor problem qualifying shotgun and rifle but just did not feel compelled to shoot left handed although all the instructors I had over the years urged me to.
Great info! A lot of folks put so much emphasis on things like eye dominance in such a way that new - particularly young - shooters think they have to stress about it. Nice to get some advice out there that stresses...non stress😂
I'm left eye dominant and somewhat ambidextrous, but i shoot with my right eye and my hands follow suit because it's what feels right to me and that's what i train for. But i can shoot left handed if i feel like it and the trouble with that is in my hands and training them to their new roles. My eyes - as you say, the open one is the dominant one.😊
I am cross dominant(right-handed, left eye dominant) and it has really affected my ability to shoot. I spend so much energy and time trying to get a sight picture, I can't think about all the other processes you need to think about. Like grip, trigger pull, stance, breathing, :) I find that if I block out the left lens somewhat, I can maintain front sight focus. If I don't I lose the front sight as soon as the recoil materializes.
I hear you, I often have to squint one eye a bit to force it, or like I said, shoot instinctually for speed/larger targets. If you're doing precision, just remember you can squint the other eye, close the other eye, or ideally use a blinder over it (blocking the vision but keeping it open) and that should help tremendously
I didn’t forget to spank that like button Appreciate y’all Miss Kirsten Sweet shooting lovely 🥰 Lady all day long. Thank you 🙏 for your beginners Lesson. Please do more I have two novice friends that need your instructions. Yahoo
I am right handed, but left eye dominant. Instead of closing my left eye so that I can shoot right handed, I squint my left eye to force my right eye to be dominant. Works for me.
That works too!
keep up the good work!!!!
Your vids are very refreshing, it's nice to watch a gun video that's not all about gear and tactical stuff.
I got cross eye dominance and even talked to a ophthalmologist about it, not much you can do medically unless you slightly reduce the vision in dominant eye to have the other eye become the dominant eye. I like Kirsten Joy Weiss idea best!
Yeah, that's probably extreme... haha
Shoot right and left. Changing the sights (iron) not necessary as groups are very close to each other out too 500. Holding the weapon correctly will make a huge difference in shot outcome. Great video, Ooh Rah..
I am obviously LATE to this video but thanks for the tip and the reality on eye dominance.
I really like the simplicity of your answers.
Thanks for sharing this valuable insight ... and for offering up your wisdom on questions that we have about shooting.
Being ambidextrous was fun. Changing master eye was just wearing a eye patch for awhile till the body adapts.
I'm a converted right handed, so when I fly fish or use hand tools I could use both hands. My eyes can't decide which is dominant, so in archery I force my right to dominate.
I have been teaching this for nearly 30years ss a hunter safety instructor incalifornia
I am going to input something that some will be able to understand but some won't . There is a zone in front of your eyes called "the circle of confusion" were the binocular advantage of having two eyes can be impeeded by having your eyes "crossed". The whole "dominant eye" thing only applies when one of your sights (the rear sight) is inside the circle of confusion.
You can determine the circle of confusion for your eyes by placing the tips of your two index fingers pointed toward each other in front of you with a space between them of about a half an inch at a distance where there appears to be a cocktail sausage suspended in the air between them (a false image of your two finger tips created by your eyes being crossed)
The boundry of the circle of confusion is the point where your finger tips will appear normal when you move them in tandem forward and away from you. People who shoot a pistol with the back sight inside the circle of confusion always have problems with dominant eye conflict.
When s.hooting a rifle the back sight is always inside the circle of confusion. The place to position an eye blinder on the non dominant eye is not on the eye like an eye patch, but instead with both eyes open on the point where if you were moving three fingers back and forth in front of the non dominant eye with both eyes open the fingers seem to become transparent.
"Ghost ring" sights are aperture sights which give an optical illusion of a ghost ring when looking at a target with both eyes open and neither eye shaded.
It really comes intoo play when pistol shooting.
That's good advice. I've never checked to see which eye was dominant but I'm confident it's the right side. I'm one of those both eye open people and when shooting with open sights or extended eye relief scopes I always aim with the sight picture from my right eye or left plane of view. I've never tried a blinder.
I did find some snaps. :-)
One thing to add here with regards to eye dominance is rather than make a triangle w/ hands... use hands to make a 'diamond shape' then in the distance (doesn't have to be too far - like even 5-10 feet away) center position a 'vertical line' 12 Oclock to 6 Oclock orientation and superimpose touching index-fingers plus thumbs (trigger fingers @ 12 while thumbs together @ 6)... one at a time (a few times) open and close both eyes (individually. --- one open at a time... never move hands)... the dominant eye will nearly always center the vertical line @ 12 & 6 while the non-dominant will shift in the 'diamonds' field of view.
I can shoot with my right and left eye, because i always try, and hope i can shoot ini every chance i can get
This also helps in training your eyes for details. I have that thing to where I can use both hands (I can’t spell it) but I have it. What I meant that it helps with being detailed is that it gives your eyes a good work out and helps the focus of the pupils. I do this on a daily. Sometimes both eyes are the same way.
I believe the word your looking for is Ambidextrous....3 years later
Has too much time passed to comment back, idk the standards on this.
Nice video! I learned some other techniques for determining eye dominance, but your method works fine.
I am right handled with left eye dominant. Also, since my cataract surgery, my right eye is more far sighted while my left eye is more near sighted.Not enough to correct with glasses, but enough to make a difference shooting. So I shoot a pistol left eye, right hand (LERH) which helps me focus on the sight instead of the target. I shoot a rifle right eye and right hand (RERH) because shooting LERH with a rifle is kinda hard.
Good stuff. I would love to do a photo shoot with you and your favorite gun=)My left eye is my dominant because my right eye sucks.
both eyes are dominated by beauty
Thank heavens. I knew folks had been fibbin about having to use a dominate eye and having to have one dominant eye. I still can't shoot but it's good to know.
It's GOOD to have a dominant eye and use it... don't get me wrong... but a person can certainly shoot - and shoot well - with cross dominance/ambi, etc. Just a little more to overcome -- but it can be done!
i shoot primarily right handed, but am left eye dominant..... until i get tired then i shoot left handed then switch to right eye dominant .... and to make things more interesting i shoot pistol both eyes open :)
That's really flexible! Not many people can do that. Cool!
I know which eye is dominant, because my right eye sucks so bad that I can actually tell the difference in vision between the two when it's dark.
I’m a right handed shooter, left eye dominant
I am a bad person, I always shoot dominant eye open only regardless of if it is scope work, pistol, or shotgun, but hey it works for me. :-)
I have a pretty strong right eye dominance and try to do all my shooting two eye open, but a bit ago I got a not-quite-there prescription in my right lens. Until I got that fixed, I found I was occasionally throwing a shot way left. I think I was lining up on my right eye like normal, but then moving the front sight over to adjust for my left eye parallax. It made me wonder if people with weak or no dominance experience that.
I have the same problem with both my eyes feeling dominate. I’m also a lefty but throw with my right. I use my left eye now and I found out that I hit more targets because of this.
I'm left handed and right eye dominant. I can shoot right handed, but it has always felt really awkward, so left handed it is and close the right eye..
I'm (Faith) left eye dominant but right handed. So, I shoot pistol right handed but rifle left handed. Great video! Subed!
Me too! :)
As left eye dominant, I keep delaying my long-gun transition to left-handed. *sigh
I am left eye dominant but shoot long guns right handed. Like all left-eye'd folks who shoot right handed on the rifle, I just look through the scope with my right eye and close or squint my left eye. You can't really lean over a long gun to look through the scope with the left eye as you would then invite a nice kick to the jaw/cheek.
I am cross dominant as well.. I think it was from my first couple years in Catholic school in the 79's where they insist everyone be right handed. Drove my bootcamp instructors batty
Not awkward at all .. I find it far more comfortable than having to use an eyepatch ...
Another awesome video Kirsten; ); ); )
I shared with my wife she's right handed left eye dominant, but she does good with pistols. have to get her working on long guns soon lol ..
and thanks for the video's they have helped me and my family.
That's awesome, glad to help :) good luck to you all
Thanks again.
I find that eye dominance depends on quality of vision. People who get their eyes "fixed" properly (Lasik/glasses/contacts) tend to lose a lot of eye dominance. It's just your brain picking which of your 2 eyes has the best vision.
leave the triangle out front with the object in the middle with both eyes open and then close one eye at a time which ever eye still sees the object is the dominant eye the way you do it will cause you to change your dominant eye depending on how you pull your hands back if you pull it back to the left then you will think left or if you pull it back to the right eye you will think the right one is best to just close one eye at a time and I bet you will only have one eye that is dominant from now to the end of time
Thanks for this! Even that method produces different results for me (I've tried a few different tests to make sure. Believe me, I don't want to deal with switches/cross dominance). Also, with the method in the video, if you keep the object centered continuously and focused, it will stay on course when you bring your hands back. :)
My Right Eye always dominates my Left Eye so I have to separate the two, that’s why I look like an Ostrich sometimes. 😢
It's Da Roc!
Thanks for an informative video.
right handed left eye. thanks!
Love your channel, Kirsten! Ready for a little vocabulary lesson?
Your test is basically a manoptoscope. It's more like a "poor man's manoptoscope" but, it's a manoptoscope nevertheless.
"Ambiocular" is the term for people who are dominant in both eyes (just like "ambidextrous" is being both right-and-left-handed). I'm just like you - I'm ambiocular too. Apparently, being ambiocular is rare, but it's more common among females and young boys. I have a very difficult time shooting both eyes open, because I always see a ghost-image of the sights or the target, depending upon which I focus upon.
Anyway, hope you found the terminology interesting!
"Ambiocular" so it IS a thing!! I'm not alone haha. I know the disadvantages, but are there any advantages to being ambiocular? Thank you for this, it's really helpful
You're welcome! I'm a yuuuuuge fan of your marksmanship, so I'm honored that you replied.
Advantages to being ambiocular? Biologically, I have no idea! I'm not an optometrist, so I don't know if there are any physiological advantages. The reason I know these terms is because I'm a geeky writer who is fascinated with the etymology and definitions of odd words, like "ambiocular" and "manoptoscope".
As for shooting, I'd say there are benefits and detriments. The obvious advantage to being ambiocular is that we can always shoot with our dominant hand and never suffer from cross-dominance. As you said, you already know the big disadvantage - we see those confusing ghost-images so we have to squint, or tape the lens of our glasses, etc. Not a huge handicap, but a bit of an inconvenience.
I like the idea of covering one eye. Like a pirate. On a side note, an old lady gave me the evil eye when I was playing in her yard as a child. Great video.
The covering an eye actually had a practical reason. It was to cover the eye from light and get unspoiled low light visibility going so that they could see when they went into the lower decks of ships that were dark
I am right eye dominant. However, I noticed when I tried out skeet shooting that my left eye "takes over" once the right can't see the skeet, but the left can. It is very annoying I must say. The trainer said I would have to use a blinder or some such to get around that issue. Then ,once the muscle memory is in place, I can go back to shooting with both eyes unblinded.
Told ya, great vid girl thanks.
Thank you dear
Thanks! That was a good tip.
I will use it for my putting.😊
Cool! Yes. It works for a lot of different sports
+Kirsten Joy Weiss 👍
First great video as always.
I'm legally blind in one eye so I can't use either eye😎!
I grew up using rifles and shotguns and always shot left handed even tho' i'm right handed.
When I started shooting pistols I naturally just shot right handed, and didn't do bad.
It was suggested that I try to shoot handguns lefty and it was very Awkward!!!
But I pushed through and became a better shooter.
Now when I go to a local
shooting course and switch hands. after the range is clear and the timer stops the RO usually makes a comment about me having switched hands, and they don't see that very often.
I have tried to show people your method of finding dominant eye and quite often they overthink it and just pull their hands straight back?
So I tell them to hold up their index finger and focus on a distant object with both eyes then cover one at a time when the object moves from the point of focus with both eyes that's the non dominant eye.
Again great videos!
I have little dot on my shot gun glasses to block my left dominate eye from front sight but not targets so I can keep both eyes open when I shot.
That's interesting
Hi Kristen, love your videos! Could you make a video showing us your shooting stance with heavy rifles. Tell us the secret of how to get the most stability for our rifle. Thanks for your vdeos...
Seriously I ran into an issue when I tried to do this. When I do what she explained I have an actual problem with focusing on the object passed the hole that i have created, its almost like I'm getting a split between both eyes. As I draw it back to my head, it usually ends up just off center toward my left eye or center in which I have to choose an eye to keep the item in view. I'm guessing I'm a little more left eye dominant but this did not work for me like it did for her.
right eye,,,,,, as I'm blind in my left eye,,,,
My 9 year old has this problem when shooting. I have to put a blinder on him to force him to use one eye or the other when shooting.
Aye aye, ma'am
All of my green eyes are dominant , btw , you have beautiful green eyes & red hair .....❤💙❤💚💖👀
Funny..I knew this going into the US Army. One private couldn't qualify, immediately I knew he was cross dominate. The drill sgts sent him twice to eye doctors. I suggested he shoot cross..TO THE DRILL SERGEANTS. That was near suicide on my part in basic training. But it WORKED. I had 6+ years of NRA smallbore so I knew.
I noticed with my eyes that you look stunning :)
I thought I had it bad. Right handed left eyed. Unfortunately my right eye is much weaker than my left so I'm stuck, can't coach to my right eye. Changing dominance must be frustrating at times.
Robert, I have the same problem as you. I shoot pistols with my right hand and rifles and shotguns with left hand dominance.
i din't know that. i tried it and it looks like im right eyed. i do the eye switching business too. sometimes one eye gets fatigued from shooting for hours, so i switch. i also switch handedness to make sure i can shoot well with both hands. -and since you know about the hand injury, you know sometimes ol lefty gets tired of carrying the barrel around all day, so i switch hands, and switch eyes. i've always been a bit ambidextrous, so i try not to invest everything into one eye or one hand, because you never know what might come up, and you'll get stuck shooting lefties with no previous training.
Well, I'm right hand and eye dominant, but the vision in my right eye isn't what it used to be. And now, the vision is better in my left eye. Go figure.
Excellent video as usual weather looks nice it is 8 deg c (about 46 f) as I type this
Hi, new to shooting and the whole process / hobby, so I’m a novice novice… I am left handed but realized I’m R eye dominant, I’ve seen a few suggestions with either placing tape over the glasses to train my left eye to be dominant or just trying to use my right hand etc instead of my left. I’m more interested in long range shooting eventually and using rifles such as the M4A1 so com, or something similar. I tried a hand gun but it just didn’t do it for me like the other one.. haha.. any advice would be appreciated, thanks so much!
How do you get into silhouette shooting? What's a good entry rifle?