Eye dominance problems

Hudzi93

New member
Hi, I am right eye dominant, but I'm having a problem where, as I'm drawing the string my left eye seems to take over so it forced me to close my left eye. Although if I close my left eye and then open it again I'm still aiming with my right eye.
 

geoffretired

Supporter
Supporter
Some others who suffer with things like this use a pair of old sunglasses. take out the right hand lens, if that helps, and put a translucent patch on the left lens. The patch just needs to be big enough to stop your left eye seeing the target.
 

Hudzi93

New member
Some others who suffer with things like this use a pair of old sunglasses. take out the right hand lens, if that helps, and put a translucent patch on the left lens. The patch just needs to be big enough to stop your left eye seeing the target.
Is this a normal thing to happen though, considering that I'm right eye dominant? Does anyone else have this problem?
 

lbp121

Member
Eye dominance is a brain thing. if I shoot both eyes open the first few are ok, then the brain realises the right eye is obscured by the sight ring and the left eye starts to wake up and take over since the view is unimpeded.
If you don't want to close one eye, try an eye patch since a relaxed face is better than muscles in tension.
 

Hudzi93

New member
Eye dominance is a brain thing. if I shoot both eyes open the first few are ok, then the brain realises the right eye is obscured by the sight ring and the left eye starts to wake up and take over since the view is unimpeded.
If you don't want to close one eye, try an eye patch since a relaxed face is better than muscles in tension.
Ah I get what you mean. I think in my case my right eye is obscured by my big nose! I think I'd rather not wear a patch, so I might stick to closing an eye or somehow train my brain to stick with using the right eye
 

lbp121

Member
Ah I get what you mean. I think in my case my right eye is obscured by my big nose! I think I'd rather not wear a patch, so I might stick to closing an eye or somehow train my brain to stick with using the right eye
I found every year there was more nose and less target. then I had physio and got my rotations sorted out but accuracy went to pieces for a while. Physio said that my stability was based on a stiff back and not on core strength.
 

geoffretired

Supporter
Supporter
Is this a normal thing to happen though, considering that I'm right eye dominant?
If you look at something in the distance and hold up a finger to point at it, you may see two fingers. If you look at your finger, there can be two things in the distance.
When we draw the bow, sometimes we look at the sight;or look at the gold. Or during the draw our focus may change from one to the other.
Once we get to full draw and on aim, we usually concentrate so hard on the picture in front of us( a gold inside a ring.... one clear, one blurred)that we don't notice anything else. At times like that, we don't notice the picture from the other eye.
 

Hudzi93

New member
I think I know what the problem is. I'm not turning my head enough such that my nose is partially obscuring the vision of my right eye. If i turn my head far enough then my right eye becomes dominant again, but it puts too much strain on my neck. It doesn't help that I have a big nose!!
 

geoffretired

Supporter
Supporter
There are pics around of high level archers, who draw the string towards their left eye, even though they shoot right handed. They don't need to turn their heads so far. It might work for you.
 

Hudzi93

New member
There are pics around of high level archers, who draw the string towards their left eye, even though they shoot right handed. They don't need to turn their heads so far. It might work for you.
I think that would make it difficult for me in terms of getting the correct form and it would make it harder for me to draw the bow. I'd rather stick to something close to what I'm used to.
 

geoffretired

Supporter
Supporter
If you get to full draw as normal, then rotate your head so the left eye comes in front of the string, nothing else really has to change.
 

Hudzi93

New member
I was trying it out the other day, just drawing my bow without an arrow (and not letting go of course). I figured it could actually work, but I'd have to shift my aiming markers a fair bit off to the right. I'm not sure if its for me though but I might as well give it a chance I guess.
 

geoffretired

Supporter
Supporter
I figured it could actually work, but I'd have to shift my aiming markers a fair bit off to the right.
If you imagine getting to full draw in the old way and then turning the head to bring the left eye to the string line, it also brings the nocking point of the arrow to a part of your jaw, but without really moving the arrow. So at full draw in the new way, the arrow direction hasn't moved.
IF for some reason you need to move the string compared to how it was, then the arrow direction would change, and your markers with it. Or, a small change of foot markers to compensate.
 

Artemis

Member
eye dominance

I think I know what the problem is. I'm not turning my head enough such that my nose is partially obscuring the vision of my right eye. If i turn my head far enough then my right eye becomes dominant again, but it puts too much strain on my neck. It doesn't help that I have a big nose!!
you can take the strain off your neck if instead of just turning your head you lift your nose and roll your head around lowering your nose as you go, until you arrive at the right place. Easier to show than describe.
 
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