How do I migrate from strong right side to strong left side??

[Ironbarr]

Seems I am having a right hand and wrist problem. Lifting, turning - general use - rather difficult. Probably a combination of arthritis, carpal tunnel, and that last month I caught my hand under a heavy object. Anyway, it's aggravating but, at this point, still usable.

I used to bat left and right decently, but I haven't yet tried shooting. I am right eye dominant and have a less efficient left eye - even with glasses.

What I'm wondering is, what is our cumulative experience in changing shooting sides? And, what is the better, if not best, way to make the change should it become necessary? I'd hate to have to give up my firearms and fun.

 

[45R]

TFL isnt coming up on my browser for the moment, but there is a really good tread of gunning the carpal tunnel syndrome and wrist pain. When you get a chance head over there and see if you can find it.

There is lots of good advice on Wrist pain.

Hope that helps

45R

 

[Ironbarr]

Roger that, 45R...

I'll do a search. Thanks.

-Andy

 

[J Miller]

Ironbarr'

I have the same problem you have. I fell down the stairs several years ago and now have nerve damage. This has resulted in a weakness in the right hand and arm, tingling in the hand and fingers, and sometimes a heavy semi numbness.

To combat this I am forcing the muscles to remain strong by lifting 3 and 5 pound weights with right hand, and using one of the squeeze spring hand exersizers.
Forcing the muscles and tendons to work when they don't want to is painfull, but it has helped keep me shooting.

When I do shoot I tend to control my guns with the right hand and use the left as weight support.

Practicing shooing left handed is weird, you have to remember to do the same things, but almost backwards.
I do find that since my left side is "untrained" it is almost easier to teach myself to shoot left handed than it is to correct myself when I do something wrong right handed.

 

[Blackhawk]

Search for pineapple or pomegranate to find the CTS thread on TFL 45R is referring to. Pomegranate will probably take you right to it, and "Carpal tunnel" is in the title.

 

[Blackhawk]

IronBarr,

This is the thread: http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=144525

 

[Ironbarr]

Thanks, Blackhawk...

I was still fishing around in TFL search.

 

[Chugach]

IronBarr, hope all turns out well with your right hand.

Sounds like you are almost ambidextrous. I am too...I'm left-handed, left eye dominant, but I shoot handguns right-handed because of greater strength in my right hand.

What I've found is this: my left hand is really a lot stronger than I thought. I shoot well with it.

Secondly, cross-dominance of hand and eye with a handgun is really no big deal. I cant the pistol/revolver slightly from vertical, but it seems to have no great affect on my shooting ability.

What's slightly clumsy is presentation from a holster and reloads, but that gets lots better with practice.

Galco is a pretty good source of left-handed holsters...

 

[Bruz]

Ironbarr, are you shooting with both eyes open? If so, and that is why you are having problems with your right eye, maybe you can close your right eye while shooting for a while till your brain can adjust? Also, what cal. gun do you shoot? If it is a .45, maybe you can downsize to a 9 mm and still shoot right handed. Good luck to you.

 

[Mike Irwin]

buy a left-handed holster and practice, practice, PRACTICE.

 

[Ironbarr]

Mike - and others...

Well, Doctor got back from vacation today and I was there. He listened to the story, poked, pulled and bent; he leaped out of the room and return with a hand full of pill packs and a metal supported wrist brace. Told me it's a tendon, wear this two-three weeks...

and you have my permission to use that hand any way you want while wearing that brace.[/] Well, Mike - I'm gonna try your suggestion - since I can't get a hand around any type of pistol grip. That metal support doesn't let me get a grip.

Ah, yes - into each life a little (insert favorite descriptive) must fall.

Now what do I do? My 18-hour a day carry just got neutered - for a while, and my AR... left-handed? With a bum left eye?

I need a red dot now!

Maybe I'll crawl in the crib and snooze the weeks away - Nah, that won't work - wife'll be all over me, and I'd miss all the fun here and never get to be a "Member".


-Andy

 

[4v50 Gary]

Good points about ARs and red dots Andy. Guess as age creeps in, ARs lose their handles irons for red dots.

 

[G-Raptor]

There's an advantage in learning to do it both ways, even if you don't have a physical problem. It has to do with how the brain works. The right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, etc. etc. When you perform the same task (in mirror image) with both hands, the information on how to do it is stored in multiple locations - making it easier to access.

Get a left-handed holster, then start with the basics (very slowly). Stop often to compare what you're doing left-handed versus what you do right-handed. It should be exactly the same (allowing for any physical differences), only a mirror image.