Ok folks, I am beginning to make the journey into bow hunting. Went to Archery Country in Austin a couple days ago, as I have plans to do a series of podcasts about that store and the owner, and was handed a couple bows to get a feel for what felt best in my hands.

This is where I had a very interesting epiphany. While I am decidedly right handed, I have come to find out I am left eye dominant.

I shoot my rifles right-handed and have done fine with that for 35 years. However, it seems that when using a bow, the eye decides the configuration for the set up....meaning, I am looking at a Left Handed bow, to use my dominate (left) eye.

This will take some getting used to, but I am ok with that pivot. I need glasses when shooting a rifle, as my right eye is fairly weak. But my left eye is very strong still (for now) and I will not require glasses if focusing with my left eye.


Ok, here's the questions....have any of you made this move? shooting opposite hand, to focus with your dominate eye? Anything you can weigh in on that transition?

I was apparently born left handed but then when I was almost 3, I burned my left hand, and then retreated to using my right. So, I'm still sorting out my identity in that sense....but for whatever reason, never really knew officially that my left eye was my dominate eye. we never stop learning, apparently....

Thanks in advance for any feedback or thoughts...

Just a rifle shooter here. 'Couldn't hit the broad side of a barn shooting right-handed when I was a kid. Dad figured it out and I've been shooting left-handed ever since. I'm a tiny bit ambidextrous, but mostly right-handed. My left-handed daughter is right eye dominant, but, she never took an interest in shooting anything besides a pistol, which is more forgiving in that department I think. She was taking some archery lessons. I need to ask her about that.

You will pick it up just fine.

Left handed compound bow with a peep sight and you will be cruising.

I’m left handed and left eye dominant but I can shoot a right handed bow, right handed no issues.


And welcome to archery!

I shoot right handed but I'm left eye dominate. To compound my issues, I physically can't wink or close my left eye with my right eye open. I learned to shoot rifles left-handed. That was easy. Bow hunting not so much. I still shoot bows right handed. I learned to shoot fairly well instinctively out to about 25-yards as a kid with my recurve. When I used sights on my compound bow, I had to slide an eye patch over my left eye. Worked really well. Going back to my recurve bow I had as a kid fifty years ago this fall. Limiting my shots to 20-yards or less. I'm going to start practicing tomorrow to see how well I can do. I'll be shooting into a round 1200 lb bale of hay. Close enough to the side of barn at 20 yards. We'll see how well I do!

I'm right handed and left eye dominant. I shut my left eye when shooting. Never been a problem for me.

They are correct on shooting with the dominate eye. You will generally do better.

I shot right handed left dominate eye for years but could close my left eye for the shot. I have seen and worked with some others that could not shut the dominate eye without shutting both eyes and for them shooting with the dominate eye will definitely be better even it it feels very awkward at first. I have had cross eye dominate people shooting in the left land on the range hit the left wall of the range, switch them to shooting left handed and they were much more successful sending the arrow where they wanted.

I had RK eye Surgery over 40 years ago that has left me with a good left eye and a not so good right eye. Started archery and found out quickly I needed a left-hand bow and I shoot with my readers on as well. I have transitioned to shooting shotguns left-handed but can still see well with a scope so right-handed for rifles. i am a mess!

I'm also left eye dominant but shoot right handed.

I'm also left eye dominant but shoot right handed.

Always been right handed. As a little kid I shot a chinaberry limb bow left handed and never thought about why. I thought right handed people shot that way. Later on I shot a compound for awhile and shot left handed cause seemed normal. Guy tried to teach me to shoot a shotgun decently and I learned I was left eye dominant. Shooting bow left handed with left eye dominant seems normal.
I’ve always shot a rifle righty and just shut left eye cause thought that was way to do it.
Actually letting rifle cool as I type. Rifle won’t hit squat….

I’m right handed. Shoot right handed for my rifles but I shoot left handed bow. Learned about it when I was about 8-10 years old shooting archery in 4H.

Never been an issue

I am right handed and left eye dominant. Was never an issue shooting a rifle right handed with right eye peering through the scope. For shotguns, I would wear glasses with Scotch tape on the left lens to allow my right eye to take over. However, I have done the eye dominance test on myself a few times over the last few years, and I believe my right eye is now dominant. Not 100% sure, but has anyone else had this happen or know of it happening?

All my dad’s long guns were right handed and he shot off the right shoulder. He started teaching me to shoot when I was six. He started me with a cut down .22 with iron sights and a cut down .410 that are both still passed around the family to all the youngsters. He told me to shoot with both eyes open like he had learned. At that age I wanted to be just like my dad. I put the butt on my right shoulder but when I looked down the barrel I kept crawling over the stock to try to get my left eye behind the barrel. He moved me to the left shoulder and my shooting started to come around. I’ve known people that learned to shoot with their non dominant eye. They all had to either really work at it to overcome their eye dominance or accept the disadvantage of shooting with their dominant eye closed. Most shot decent but non were what I consider to be good shots. In my opinion you are on the right track shooting with your dominant eye.

I'm left handed but right eye dominate. I learned to shoot my bow right handed. One thing I still deal with is my left eye will occasionally take over. When this happens I will end up well left of the target. You'd think with a peep sight this wouldn't happen but it can. I have gotten used to closing my non dominate eye until I have the sight picture and then opening it to get depth perception. If the picture jumps I know my left eye is trying to take over. Doesn't happen often but enough to have a system. I bat left handed, throw left handed but I run a calculator and shoot right handed. The first thing my dad did back in the 60s was to check and see which eye was dominate. I think he was hoping he didn't have to buy a left handed shotgun. I got the hang of it pretty quick.

You will be happier with your shooting if you learn to shoot eye dominate. You won't be so happy picking out bows. Whether it's golf, guns, gloves or bows, there just aren't as many options.

Appreciate all the feedback and thoughts. I just teamed up with PSE Archery and will be using a left handed Mach 30 DS to begin my bow hunting journey! Stoked to get the bow tuned up and hit the range. Will be documenting the journey along the way!

Many right handers are. But; in my opinion, always go with what feels natural to you when needing strength. For instance; I always hold a jar with my right hand, and twist the lid off with my left. So I will hold my bow in my left hand to secure it as solid as possible.

I close my left eye. I can shoot left handed and it works but still shoot better left eye closed...

I am much more coordinated shooting right handed but in reality I am just as accurate or more so from the non dominate side shooting.

Same here, and I shoot as good as anyone at the range.

Same here, and I shoot as good as anyone at the range.[/quote

Most can fit into that category, but there are some that cannot shut their dominate eye without shutting both I have worked with several like that. Those are the ones that the only way to work it out that I know of is to shoot from the dominate eye side or something like blocked out glasses or perhaps a patch. I have worked with perhaps 10 like that setting them up with their first bow. It usually takes a little extra time but some of them end up being very good very quickly as far as accuracy goes.

I’m right handed, left eyed dominant.I shoot long guns and bows left handed but shoot pistols right handed reaching across to my left eye. Get whatever feels comfortable and with a little practice you’ll be fine either way. Just as you switched hands when you were young, you’ll get used to switching again if you have to.

I'm left eye dominant and shoot my bow right handed
Pretty much shoot everything right handed and my right eye
Aside from pistols (right handed still but always lines up left eyed)
Never had any issues shooting anything with both eyes open