I hadn't considered a switch in eye dominance. Will have to get that checked out. Recoil is not the problem. The gun, as it came was too light and did kick too hard (and was WAY too muzzle heavy) so I filled the butt stock with BB's. That added 2 pounds and brought that balance point to about the middle of the loading gate (about 1" or so in front of the trigger guard). After that he could shoot all day with no issues, in fact, we went to a shoot at a friends place and in 2 days he shot a flat with no problem. When I said "clays" I meant recreational shooting in the back yard with a champion thrower on a wobble box. The "interest" thing may also be part of the problem as last year, he would shoot any chance he got and would pester me to take him out back and shoot every time they were here. This spring, twice his dad and younger brother and sister came out to shoot and he stayed home to play video games. THAT has me quite concerned but I am just "Papa" so I have no say.