doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Cross-eye dominant

Some guys like a dot of black electrician's tape, some neutral masking tape, some semi transparent scotch type tape. I have evolved to the semi transparent. I have used all three and had good results with all. The grease or vaseline has not been satisfactory because I am a hot weather shooter and continually clean my lenses. The concept just doesn't work as well if I don't place the dot accurately and permanently. If you use the dot for hundreds of rounds of clay target practice, you have to use the same system when you go hunting unless you want to revert to closing one eye. There is nothing wrong with wearing your shooting glasses when you are hunting and the dot is there for you. It all depends on how badly you want to hit them.

We ALWAYS wear shooting glasses while hunting, and deliberately shoot clays low gun. (I'd much rather give up a couple of targets -- if in fact I do -- to maintain a consistent style. But trap never has been my thing.) The permanent magic tape dot makes a lot of sense, we'll try it.

Incidentally, here's something I learned years ago that surprised me and might help someone else: I'm blessed with super eyesight, but in my 40s my right (dominant) eye developed mild astigmatism before / greater than my left eye. I only discovered this because I started missing easy targets when I was tired at the end of the day (and light was poorer). I figured out I was cross-firing and got to an eye doc who fixed me right up. I've learned since that "acquired" cross dominance, due to unequal eye "aging," exascerbated by fatigue is NOT uncommon.

A half inch piece of scotch tape on their shooting glasses! Worked for my eldest son when he was twelve years old, twenty-two years later he still uses it.

wb, I see no reason to give up the system. I have used the dot for about 20 years in competition. When I lost most of the usable sight of my shooting (right) eye several years ago, I switched to the other side and switched the dot to my right lens. Whenever there is a cross dominance problem and you are shooting for money, you must block the muzzle view of the off eye or close it. Not many competitive shooters would choose the one eye shooting alternative. I would be the first to admit that it's not as important to a hunter as it is to a competition shooter. It all depends on how bad you want to hit them.

As virtually every poster has noted, starting a new shooter on the dominant eye side is the preferred solution. While it may take longer initially to feel comfortable, once coordination and muscle memory take over through repetition of motion, it will be the only "natural" way for her to shoot. If she's hesitant to shoot from the opposite side, you should point out that the lead hand is what controls muzzle position and since she's now able to use her dominant right hand as the "pointer" it's actually not a handicap at all.

On the other hand (no pun intended) some people can never get comfortable switching sides. Then follow eightbore's comments about using an opaque dot positioned so that only the muzzle is blocked when the gun is mounted to face. Too large a dot, or one that is any way obtrusive to seeing well enough to even walk around with comfort is too much.

Left is the first best thing you can suggest. A qualified instructor is the second best thing you can get her. And reservations at a good restaurant will keep you both happy until she learns to shoot and you learn to cook.

I agree with sharpsrifle. I posted a lot of information on the dot concept because I know a lot about its application. I agree with all that say that changing sides is the best idea for a new shooter. The dot is choice number two.

Thanks for all the advise. She is open to all methods and remains committed to learning to shoot. In fact she relishes the chance to resolve a problem she never knew she had! It is refreshing to introduce a "blank slate" to our sport- no preconcieved notions or years of macho/ego driven bad shooting techniques to overcome.

I'm currently teaching her as much shotgun technica as she'll absorb. Safe gun handling and body positioning and a proper smooth mount will be second nature before she ever slips a shell in the chamber.

The Miroku 20ga. o/u feels the best to her although she fancies a friend's Beretta 20/28/.410 3-bbl combo more. Just what I need, a woman with expensive tastes in guns!

By the way, I'm an excellent cook. We eat-in more than out.

If an inexperienced shooter is switched to the off-side, the comfort and aggression level is diminished greatly, leading to apprehensive swing starts and slow deliberate movements. To compensate for these deficiencies, especially in skeet, attention to foot position and hold point will help a lot. Make sure the foot position is turned farther toward the break point and the hold point is somewhat exaggerated so lead does not have to be established by an agressive swing. An agressive swing is quite difficult and uncomfortable for a shooter switching sides. A "side switching" shooter should go for a long hold point and a short move to the shot and attention to follow through. Murphy