xraymtb Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 I'm new to clay shooting as a sport - done a few corporate type days and had a 100 clay lesson a few weeks ago to see if I really wanted to do more. Loved the session so have joined a local club, applied for a SGC and sorted myself a cabinet. At my lesson, I was found to be completely dominant in my left eye - even leaving it open a touch when shooting caused me to miss to the left. With it tightly closed I would hit almost everything when starting with the gun mounted (23 from 25 - then he made me start with the gun down ). This was shooting RH. The instructor did mention that, as I was starting out, I might want to shoot LH as I would have to go through the learning process either way but as it wasnt my local place he didnt want to sway me too much. I'm having my first local lesson this weekend but want to have a better idea before I go - should I start LH and remove the eye dominance issue or go RH and try to solve it another way? I'm naturally RH by the way for everything I can think of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 If you can do it then shoot from your left shoulder, you will shoot better in the long run by having your dominant eye behind the rib. You can get round shooting with your dominant eye being the left and shooting off your right by using patches / easy hit bead etc but I wouldn't. If it feels completeley alien to you shooting off the left then you will have to look for another solution. As you are only just starting out you have the advantage of not shooting right handed for a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 Been through it (read all about it here: http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/117526-please-help-with-my-eye-issues/page__p__1015676__hl__dominance__fromsearch__1#entry1015676 ) ALot of people suffer with it, some are happy closing one eye. http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/134796-both-eyes-open-or-close-one/page__st__15__p__1154623__hl__dominance__fromsearch__1#entry1154623 I was told i would shoot better left handed and how too. DONT SHOOT LEFT handed! until your used to it, this is done buy dry mounting your gun (not dry HUMPING ) do this 10 times every night for 2 weeks in front of the mirror. if you dont picking up the gun to left shoulder will: A: Feel awful B: leave you all over the place and probably bruised C: mean you probably miss everything and get disheartened I had a few lessons right handed before i was told to shoot left handed and was told by plenty of people to just close one eye (left one) but as my right eye is weaker I found seeing they clay harder and took too long over the shot. I have a mate who has been a couple of times who is central vision (no dominant eye) so he closes one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
100milesaway Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 (edited) I would go down the left shoulder route but do some muscle memory training as HDAV suggests, if it feels really alien to you :wacko: you will have to resort to your right shoulder and either close your left eye or close it just before pulling the trigger. :blink: from Auntie. Good luck and most of all enjoy. Edited March 23, 2011 by 100milesaway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 I have been shooting for 50 years right handed, recently started a coaching course,and was told that I really should be left handed, eye dominance central pulling left. I have started shooting left handed,still practising left handed dry mounting at home at every spare moment, and I have to say it feels really natural. The benefit to me is that I can now shoot off both shoulders, still better with the right, but improving with the left. So I would recommend at this very early stage go the left handed route you will benefit from it. Cheers Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Potter Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 I would go down the left shoulder route but do some muscle memory training as HDAV suggests, if it feels really alien to you :wacko: you will have to resort to your right shoulder and either close your left eye or close it just before pulling the trigger. :blink: from Auntie. Good luck and most of all enjoy. I agree wholeheartedly with Auntie and from experience (no, not of Auntie ). I started shooting too many years ago to remember and as I am left handed I instinctively shot from my left shoulder, instructor picked up immediately that I had a right master eye. Went home and weighed up the options including considering a cross-over stock Decided to try shooting off my right shoulder and although, as a complete newcomer, putting a gun into either shoulder felt strange putting it into my right shoulder felt very odd. Stuck with it and gradually it became the norm and now, admittedly many years later, if I tried to mount into my left shoulder it feels utterly alien and as if I had a plank in my hands. Even with an eye patch over my right eye I don't feel as if I could hit a barn wall from the inside if I tried shooting left handed. For everything else I'm still cack handed. Good luck with whatever you decide. Mr Potter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 If your just starting out and you are really left eye dominant then I would shoot off the left. I was left eye dominant a couple of years ago but chose not to change shoulder and just close one eye, I have tried the patch and the easyhit bead also. My vision has changed to more central dominance now and if I concentrate really hard I can get away with shooting both eyes open without any spot or easyhit bead. Consequently all my sight pictures have changed and after two years I am basically starting again. To say my scores have suffered is an understatement. However I now shoot much quicker [by this I mean I dont ride the target] and I dont try and measure lead as much. Considering all the above If I were you would definately start left shoulder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit the frog Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 Listen to the advice, shoot off the shoulder that matches your master eye Craig Lakey is left handed and right eyed, he switched to shooting right handed, and has won pretty well everything there is to win at skeet kermit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COACH Posted March 24, 2011 Report Share Posted March 24, 2011 (edited) Left with a left handed gun only. Edited March 25, 2011 by COACH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 Let us know how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 I shoot LH as I'm left eyed but right handed. Pretty soon it feels normal IMHO simpler in the long run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xraymtb Posted March 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 Had a lesson today and shot around 70 clays from the left shoulder. Feels less natural than the right but I didn't do badly with it. Shot around 25 from the right to compare - I did hit more by had to keep my left eye shut the whole time which I know I can't do for 100 shots without getting tired. Think I'll persevere with the left and see how I get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickP Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 ******, I just realised I was left eye and a right hander, a newbie aswell Not got a gun yet to try dry mounting, but just doing the motion without feels wrong Oh well I guess if got some learning to do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 It's not too bad, you get used to it pretty quick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickP Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 Can your dominance change? I'm sure I was right eyed when younger, but after checking thus recently I found I was left eye I have also found after a recent eye test I'm short in one eye and long sighted in the other (-0.5 left and +0.25 right) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 Yes often changes in men as they get older 40-60 Interesting article http://www.teambath.com/wp-content/uploads/articleeyedominance.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilR Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 Can your dominance change? I'm sure I was right eyed when younger, but after checking thus recently I found I was left eye I have also found after a recent eye test I'm short in one eye and long sighted in the other (-0.5 left and +0.25 right) Eye dominance is a function of the brain and isn't controlled by visual strength of a particular eye. As it happens I'm left handed, have a left master eye but my right eye has the greater strength and always has done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickP Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 Thanks I ended up at parklodge today and tried mounting left handed, and found it impossible, I have never felt something so alien to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 Thanks I ended up at parklodge today and tried mounting left handed, and found it impossible, I have never felt something so alien to me Thats why you have to practice dry mounting left handed at home for 2 weeks minimum 10 mounts every night to build the muscle memory before firing a shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COACH Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 Nick, go and see a qualified coach, someone that lots of people recommend. There could be an issue or two with you that needs clarifying before you take the plunge mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickP Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 I'ed need a gun for that When I book my lessons I'll see what advice is given and discuss with them on how to proceed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickP Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 That's the plan to get a bit of coaching, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted March 27, 2011 Report Share Posted March 27, 2011 I'ed need a gun for that It helps but any strailt object of approx length and weight will do, I don't know any coaches ooop north bit bound to be some good ones contact a few recommended ones and have a chat, perhaps meet and have a lesson, you'll soon find one you trust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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