Eye dominance

[Nimbusgb]

Given that this swap of dominance appears to have happened over the past couple of months sitting focussing on some software development 8 hours a day I'm wondering if I can force it back again by some skullduggery. Perhaps tape over the eye during the work day might switch back things.

Just had a thought, wearing one contact lens in the 'currently' weaker eye while shooting beats having tape but has much the same effect!

 

[Sian]

I definitely have a stronger master left eye and yet seem able to leave control of the shot to the right eye. The last eye test I had I was able to read the letters all the way down to the bottom with the left eye but only just over half way with the right yet I keep both eyes open and have trained the brain to be aware the left barrel in the vision is fake so to speak. 

The only minor problem I have with closing the left eye just before shooting (it clearly works well enough for thousands) is that you have to presumably open and then close the eye in between quick or even slow pairs ! If you keep it closed for pairs then surely that denies you a little bit of vision.

With regard to your last paragraph - quite often there is sufficient time to open and close again and I have become very adept at fast moving targets of doing that.  Think orange low fast on report pairs at Southdown.  If not though I simply get on with it.

 

[chippy]

My whole life I've been right eye dominant ..... very strongly.

Past two months my shooting has deteriorated drastically to the point where I was wondering if there was something seriously wrong health wise.

5 minutes at the local shooting ground and Jeff had immediatelly identified that my eye dominance had switched very definatelty across to the left! To the point that once he pointed it out I realised that I had a clear, foccussed view all the way up the left hand side of my gun from breech to barrel end and very little view up the rib that was dead in line with my right eye. Today I am very definately left dominant. 

Spent a session with a bit of tape on my left eye glasses which made things a lot better but it felt like I was half blind! Going to have to try a few new techniques!

I thought i was in the same situation as you. A big drop of form and totally unexplained missing  of right to left clays at any distance. Every time I test my eye dominance its perfect right eye dominance as it's always been. So not sure but I thought I would have a go with left eye shut. After 15 years of shooting two eyed I could not believe the difference my lead picture changed from the clay to the bead so a crossing clay that needed 6ft suddenly needed a few inches. It really  felt hard work with one eye.

 

[Sian]

Very interesting , the last three replies to my post about using scotch tape .

Trust me, I have researched this problem for over thirty years .

I certainly do not wish to appear rude or beligerant but , just in your wording of your replies indicates to me a lack of focus and determination to overcome the problem.

 I think , although I of course cannot be sure , that both Ed Solomons and Ed Lyons may possibly agree or at least ask you to try to shoot both eyes open , but with hard focus and total commitment to seeing the target with clarity .

What I am trying to say is that 'if your eye looks around the scotch tape' it is because you are focussing upon that issue rather than concentrating on the target.

Obviously good gunfit and stock cast is important , as are all things , but at least with input from all of us we may resolve this far too common a problem.

Finners,

 Yes , this is where Scotch tape becomes useful , you can completely cover the lense , which   'fogs' the view , allowing the none dominant eye  to 'take over'. 

Late response apologies but I want to respond - I do not wish to actually be rather than appear to be rude or belligerent. With respect Salopian you don't know me so from one small sentence you cannot possibly tell how hard I have tried.  I am not going to bore everyone with the variety of things but it was not a 2 minute try it and then reject it decision.  That is all.

 

[westley]

After many years of shooting I have come to realise that I too suffer from eye dominance.  Unfortunately, in my case it is my eyes that DOMINATE my WALLET  !     :???:

 

[Salopian]

Interesting comments from many , just going to show that there is no 'onefix suits all '.

You can take a horse to water , but you cannot make it drink.

For those who insist that you must shoot with both eyes open , how does that apply to people who only have one eye?

I do advocate 'Scotch tape' as a 'blinder' rather than closing the eye completely . But what if it doesn't work ? As in Sian's case.

I met a gentleman last week who has been everywhere , seen many experts who have suggested all the 'fixes' , eye open , eye shut, change shoulder, vaseline , dot, scotch tape . But the only thing that works for him is closing his dominant eye .

Said gentleman continues to find a solution to enable him to shoot both eyes open , because 'experts' have told him that to be any good he must shoot with both eyes open . He has up to this point in time spent over £1600 in his search for a solution.

It may interest you to know that many great shots , squint.

 

[Tim]

I trust it's not a case of there being something wrong with the right eye?  The brain will compensate and use the left eye.  How well can you see with your left eye covered?

 

[Nimbusgb]

I trust it's not a case of there being something wrong with the right eye?  The brain will compensate and use the left eye.  How well can you see with your left eye covered?

That's the scary bit..... your sight doesn't change drastically for no reason. A big change could be the sign of something really seriously wrong elsewhere and being a 50 something Caucasian male puts me squarely in the middle of a demographic of people who would rather muddle on than talk to a quack about the apparent changes!

 

[Sian]

That's the scary bit..... your sight doesn't change drastically for no reason. A big change could be the sign of something really seriously wrong elsewhere and being a 50 something Caucasian male puts me squarely in the middle of a demographic of people who would rather muddle on than talk to a quack about the apparent changes!

As the only female in this thread, it falls on me to nag you - GO TO THE OPTICIANS.  Let them check your eyes and DR if they feel you should.  Apparently our dominance can change so it's probably nothing more than that but get it checked out.

 

[philpot]

I saw this the other week whilst looking for a product for a friend of mine which in turn you might find interesting.

http://www.clay-shooting.com/features/beady-eye/

Phil

 

[chippy]

Is it possible for eye dominance change to only affect certain targets?.  

 

[Jan Powell]

Be careful before you make drastic changes. Fluctuations in eye dominance can be caused by all sorts of things, diet, tiredness and age to name just a few. You also need to be absolutely sure your gun fit is spot on as dominance issues can often be brought about by an ill fitting stock.

If you truly have switched eyes (and it can happen) then you'll probably find tape on glasses or trying to remember to close the non dominant eye only a partial fix. The only real cure is a crossover stock or to learn to shoot from the other shoulder. The latter is the better long term solution but be prepared for a long journey before your scores are anything like they used to be.

If you haven't already, I would suggest you seek out the advice of a specialist that understands eye dominance issues in a shooting context rather than just the casual observations of someone at the ground.

 

[Nimbusgb]

As the only female in this thread, it falls on me to nag you - GO TO THE OPTICIANS.  Let them check your eyes and DR if they feel you should.  Apparently our dominance can change so it's probably nothing more than that but get it checked out.

Don't worry, I'm married to a pharmacist ........... you want nagging, sorry 'reminding' about health, I got plenty. Still it's 'Do as I say not as I do' with her ladyship!

 

If you haven't already, I would suggest you seek out the advice of a specialist that understands eye dominance issues in a shooting context rather than just the casual observations of someone at the ground.

Custom fitted stock ... It fits.

It wasn't a casual observation so much as a proper coach!

 

[Salopian]

It really re-inforces the advice to seek professional help when Jan tells us       'to close the non dominant eye' .

Key board error?.