Help me with my left-eye dominant son

[WYO]

I received the November 2003 edition of American Hunter magazine yeseterday. The "Ask American Hunter" section has a question for advice by the parent of a 10 year old son who is left eye dominant but wants to shoot right handed. The response was "Cross Dominance forces a problem. Do you shoot right-handed and force the right eye into service, or should you instead learn to shoot left-handed to aim with your dominant eye? Despite the existence of "cross-over" stocks that allow you to aim with your left eye while holding the rifle right handed, I don't like this option. Try both the previous options until one emerges as the most practical. Then shoot only that way. Your son has age on his side--it's harder for adults to adapt.--W.v.Z." (Contributing Editor Wayne van Zwoll)

 

[Smoke]

If he truly cannot close both eyes then shooting left handed is his only option. Do the eye dominance test (you know, with your thumb) then equate that to shooting with both eyes open but the sights lined up with your "off" side. It won't work.

I am left eyed, right handed. For years I found I could shoot long guns equally well with either hand. Preferred left handed, but not enough difference to matter. Then I started trying to shoot shotguns with oth eyes open and absolutley cannot do it right handed. Let me close an eye and I'll shoot either side. Both eyes, has to be left.

Hand guns are easier. Shoot with your strong hand and strong eye.

And the most important thing is what others have already said the most:

"Make sure it is fun"

 

[SteelyDan]

Just a quick update.

My son and I were out at the farm again this weekend, and I had him try shooting left-handed. It didn't work. He really didn't like it, and he seemed to have even more problems trying to sight on the target. So, in the spirit of "keeping it fun," we switched back to right-handed after four shots. I'll keep making him try it left-handed occasionally, though, just to see what happens.

Now, by coincidence, my 12-year old niece was also out this weekend, she shot the old BB gun, and lo and behold, she had exactly the same problem--right-handed and left-eye dominant. She was struggling, so I had her try shooting left-handed, and she became much more comfortable and started shooting great! It was interesting to see how differently the two of them responded.

Thanks again for all the tips.