Shoot With One Eyed Closed

[Dean1818]

I am left eye dominate and right handed

The ONLY way i can shoot a shotgun is closing my left eye


When i pistol shoot i use my dominate eye to look down the sights and my right eye is open

Chin on shoulder


Its fairly common

 

[Skribs]

My right eye sucks, so I use my left eye only for a lot of things.

 

[carbuncle]

Hi Sam. Welcome.

I am in my 40's and I can't keep both open either. Others can. But I'm also cross-eye dominant, so I have a host of other problems.

Ditto onall counts: welcome to the board, first, and I have the same problem. In close I'm fine with both eyes if I turn my head, but for longer range target accuracy I have close one eye or the other.

 

[jmr40]

Dry firing is your friend. It does not matter what type of gun you are using or what type of sights both eyes open is far better. With practice anyone can do it, but if you have done it wrong all your life it is harder to change.

You can sit on your couch while watching TV and get in hundreds of dry fires for free each evening. With a little time you will figure it out.

I am left eye dominate and right handed

The ONLY way i can shoot a shotgun is closing my left eye

Then you should really learn how to shoot left handed. My brother had the same issue and was an average shot at best until he made up his mind to learn how to shoot left handed. It took a while, and at first his shooting was worse, but after he mastered it he became far better shot than before. Once again dry firing is your friend.

 

[ShamboPyro]

Correction: At the range I GO TO, the rangemaster may look at me as if I'm stupid. I find him quite annoying, as he originally told me to keep one eye closed, and he just buts into my business (as well as other people's) kind of alot. ("lower the target, Your case must be zippered shut before stepping away from the booth, not as your stepping away from the booth, I'm almost as bad as the police here, nag, nag, nag.) What really bothers me is his cocky, arrogant tone of voice. Anyway my dad, not being "a gun guy" (such as myself), might laugh at me before I explain to him why my eyes are now "pirate style".

 

[ShamboPyro]

I'm still figuring out this posting system. I can't figure out how to delete this reply.

 

[Ole Coot]

I've shot with both eyes open for 60yrs and it's much easier to judge distance and keep your target aligned. I would recommend it if you're not set in your ways.

 

[tekarra]

A few years back Jim Cirillo wrote an article on both eyes open combat shooting by looking along the sides of the slide or barrel to get an equal sight picture. I practiced the technique for a while and found it surprisingly accurate and quick.

 

[Nushif]

I squint one eye, I know it's not ideal but to call either eye of mine "dominant" is an overstatement, seeing as my eye dominance shifts when I put on glasses or take them off. 8)

At a certain point reality has to be injected into the training and frankly at tis point I think I at least am better off training with a slight squint.

 

[Inebriated]

Just thought I'd pass along a little tip I've found that helped more than the glasses trick...

When you are getting your sight picture, start with one eye closed, then slowly open it. That should keep your dominant eye focused, and combining that with the glasses trick will get you up and running in no time... well, it takes a while, but you will get it. Also, don't worry about the range so much... you can practice all of this at home, which also acts as excellent dry fire practice (also highly recommended).

 

[lloveless]

Both eyes open firing in the dark makes you blind. This whole thing about both eyes open is much ado about nothing. If it works for you great, don't diss those of us who shoot one eyed and like it.
ll

 

[jmr40]

God gave us 2 eyes, 2 legs, 2 ears, and 2 arms for a reason. Everything works better when both are put to use. Fortunately we CAN get buy with one if we have to, but why would you only use 1/2 of the resources given to you unless you have no other option.

 

[kcshooter]

This whole thing about both eyes open is much ado about nothing.

No, it's about something.

There's a reason every defensive handgun instructor will tell you that you should keep both eyes open.

 

[Loosedhorse]

There's a reason every defensive handgun instructor will tell you that you should keep both eyes open.

"If you can." If keeping both eyes open slows down fire or makes it inaccurate, that's no advantage.

Any instructor who doesn't recognize individual needs and differences is not a good instructor. Every one that I've met, has.

 

[kcshooter]

If keeping both eyes open slows down fire or makes it inaccurate, that's no advantage.
Any instructor who doesn't recognize individual needs and differences is not a good instructor.

Any good instructor would try to teach how to do it properly, rather than just saying "Oh, you can't? Then don't."

 

[buck460XVR]

Think about how good you'll look when you're outshooting the guys who have been shooting as long as you've been alive.

Dude......Claiming that by puttin' a piece of scotch tape over your dominate eye temporarily will automatically make you a Marksman Extraordinaire is foolish. The OP may already be out-shooting many folks that have been shooting longer than he's been alive, but don't give all the credit to 3M. Odds are there are many folks that shoot with one eye closed that will out-shoot him and you both no matter how long you practice.

Dude.....many of us grew up learning to shoot long before the idea of "dominate eye" was around. We were taught to put our cheek to the buttstock close the other offside eye and aim. For me it has worked well for almost 6 decades. For those that have not realized it, those of us that close one eye don't walk around with the eye continuously closed. For me, it is closed for the short time while I'm focused on my sights right before the shot. If others don't like the way I shoot, I don't really care. I like the way I shoot and I shoot accurately, that's all that really matters. Like many claim here on the internet.....I NEVER miss.

Dude, he's 14.
I think by 21 he'll have it figured out.

Dude.....I also grew up in a time when the word "dude" was a derogatory noun and it was an insult to call someone a dude. Since you seem to think it is a term of endearment, I will appropriately use it for you. You can take the context any way you want.

 

[kcshooter]

Unbunch your panties, DUDE.

 

[Nushif]

Dude.....I also grew up in a time when the word "dude" was a derogatory noun and it was an insult to call someone a dude.

Oddly enough I live in a time where "Sir" is used either as a joke or prior to insulting someone. But I hardly think the linguistic changes of the personal address in English is part of this board' mission to figure out.

I do however think someone here has made a very good point that is often conveniently overlooked by the people advocating a zero tolerance policy for open eyes:
It's not like the one eye is consistently shut. It only goes shut during the time of sight alignment and trigger squeeze. When I shoot rapidy that's not exactly a long time. In my case oftentimes it is no more than a "Clint Eastwood" style squint. Not to mention that yes, some people (much like myself) are very, very weakly dominant.

So, let's say I shoot with my glasses on: The height of the target in relation to me would determine whether I am shooting with my left eye mildly dominant or my right eye. Seeing as my dominant eye with glasses and without is different and my glasses sit on my nose. (I know, very improper. My pants also sit on my hips, what can I say?)

There simply isn't an easy answer that can be summed up in one hady dandy little forum paragraph filled with "rightness" and the "proper way" to shoot effectively. Maxims and doctrine have their place. But stuff like EVERYONE EVERYWHERE SHALL ALWAYS ONLY EVER BE TAUGHT TO SHOOT WITH BOTH EYES OPEN IRREGARDLESS OF ANY DISCOMFORT MEDICAL STATE OR LACK OF COMFORT ON PSAID PERSON'S PART is something I wouldn't be surprised to hear in a gun store for advice. Right along the lines of "This little lady needs a nice titanium weight six shooter. Look how light it is!"

 

[Loosedhorse]

Any good instructor would try to teach how to do it properly

There is nothing to "teach" here. If someone shows up without a right hand, you can't "teach" him to shoot with either hand, even though that is something all good defensive handgun instructors will emphasize.

Similarly, if someone can't shoot quickly and accurately with both eyes open, you can at most ask them to try it in the class. If they try it and it works for them, great--well done; it's always possible that the reason they shoot with one eye closed is because they were told to do that, not because they have to.

If instead they try and confirm for you that it slows them down and/or reduces their accuracy, tell them keep closing one eye while firing, and re-open when they are scanning and searching for additional threats.

Training time is short. A good instructor will spend time on things that the student can change, not on things that he can't.

It's not like the one eye is consistently shut. It only goes shut during the time of sight alignment and trigger squeeze. When I shoot rapidy that's not exactly a long time. Not to mention that yes, some people (much like myself) are very, very weakly dominant.

Bingo.

Dude.....I also grew up in a time when the word "dude" was a derogatory noun and it was an insult to call someone a dude

Well, buck460XVR, that is exactly how I took it when he used it on me: uninvited familiarity, like "pal" or "bucko." Then, the way he used it on you confirmed he meant to be derogatory. Some folks are like that.

 

[kcshooter]

I was trying to give the OP a boost of confidence, as he is a 14 year old who is the next generation of firearms enthusiast. Since he's about the age of my own son, I want him to not worry about looking goofy with tape on his glasses, but to worry about shooting well, and having fun. Way to show him what the septuagenarian generation thinks, you two. Remember what it was like to be 14? Real credit to the field, you two are.


Guess you can't teach old dogs new tricks.

There is nothing to "teach" here

Actually, there may very well be, if you're willing to learn.


Nobody said anything about right way or wrong way. But there is a better way. A way that is taught at the most highly respected defensive firearm training schools in the country. That's simply a statement of fact.

If your unwilling or uninterested in improvement, that's fine, but for those that are, (and for those that aren't so thin skinned to take a common part of today's vernacular as an insult,) maybe thinking about using a better way to defend yourself might be of interest.

I'm not saying that while standing still at the range and shooting at a static paper target that you aren't able to shoot accurately. I'm sure you are.

I'm saying that shooting while moving, transitioning from one target to another, learning to shoot defensively, will be better served if you don't block out half your vision and all of your depth perception.

If closing one eye works for you, great. If you'd like to improve yourself, both eyes open may be something you want to begin trying to train yourself to do.

Some people are happy with the way they are at the status quo. Great. Myself, I try to improve in all aspects of my life any chance I get. If there is a better way, I'm going to try it. If you don't want to try it, fine.

(If your cross eye dominance precludes you from being able to do this, then that's fine. http://pistol-training.com/archives/433 This may help with that.)




And you can take my use of the word "dude" however you want. I can't do a thing about that. If you think it's commonly considered an insult in today's day and age, well, that's not my problem, it's yours.

 

[GunnerShotz]

Dry firing is your friend.
You can sit on your couch while watching TV and get in hundreds of dry fires for free each evening. With a little time you will figure it out.

I've been doing that myself Working on trigger control and tracking moving targets with both eyes open at the same time. I can easily see the profile of the gun against the 'backlight' of the TV screen and I'm getting a much more complete picture of how it's oriented in realtion to the targets I pick. I'll dry fire a few on the TV, then pick a stationary target somewhere else in the room, dry fire and make sure I'm staying on target, then go back to the TV.

I'm orienting the gun first with both eyes (and both the guns I see in front of me) and placing the target right in between the two. Then my dominant eye takes over and I get a sight picture of the entire rear of the gun with the rear and front sight lined up. Then I focus on the front sight over the target, the rest blurs out... and squeeze the trigger.

It sounds complicated, but I'm getting faster at it and staying on target!

Everyone is going to be a little bit different with regard to eye dominance and the ability to let things go in and out of focus at will.... remember those rediculous dot pictures that were popular for a while? The ones you had to stare at and let both eyes go out of focus just to see? Practice makes better

 

[wow6599]

I'm 35 years old. Been shooting since I was 6 or 7. I have tried shooting with both eyes open for the last 10 years, and can't do it.

I say do what ever works for ya.

 

[Loosedhorse]

But there is a better way

That is an assumption on your part. There may not be.

As I already said, there is no way to teach someone without a right hand to shoot with their right hand. Similarly, there is no way to teach someone who cannot shoot unconfused with both eyes open to do so. We have had several people in this thread, including me, explain to you that we are such people--we do exist.

I have never said (look at my first post; heck, look at all of them) that if you CAN shoot well and fast with both eyes open, you should not. You, however, seem to say that even if you cannot, you should.

That you would insist that a person, if he does what he can instead of what he cannot, is doing it "the wrong way" shows a rigid small-mindedness that is not a credit to anyone (see below), and is belittling of students with different abilities.

Way to show him what the septuagenarian generation thinks, you two. Remember what it was like to be 14? Real credit to the field, you two are.

Interesting that with your disrepectful, ad hominem tone, you apparently feel you ARE a credit to the field? Another internet guru, bravely insulting those he doesn't agree with.

Let me state this clearly: you are wrong. That you can mount no better arguments against my position on this than calling me "dude", a septuagenarian, (I've personally learned a lot from older folks, and would never try to use that term as an insult), and sarcastically "a real credit" shows that you admit that you are wrong, and so must use insult instead of argument to "make your point."

Or make your bones.

A way that is taught at the most highly respected defensive firearm training schools in the country. That's simply a statement of fact.

Funny that I've been to several of these "most highly respected" schools--a few twice--and no one has tried to change my shooting with one eye/scanning with both eyes. I guess either they were all asleep that day, or you are not speaking correctly when you tell us how they actually approach this issue in practice.

Color me surprised.

 

[kcshooter]

That is an assumption on your part. There may not be.

I'm sorry, are you saying shooting with a full field of view and having depth perception is not a better way? That, if you can do so, it isn't better to shoot this way rather than having no depth perception and half your vision?

That just seems like a failure of logic.

As I already said, there is no way to teach someone without a right hand to shoot with their right hand.

You can say it as many times as you want, doesn't make it even remotely relevant to the conversation.

That you would insist that a person, if he does what he can instead of what he cannot, is doing it "the wrong way"

You need to pay attention. Your typical way of claiming people said things they didn't won't hold water when I specifically state:

Nobody said anything about right way or wrong way

Let me state this clearly: you are wrong

Well, since I haven't claimed to be right or wrong, but you clearly think you are right, even though this is a highly contested subject with loads of people on both sides, let me tell you, I think you are wrong to call me wrong. Especially when I said:

If closing one eye works for you, great.

and sarcastically "a real credit" shows that you admit that you are wrong, and so must use insult instead of argument to "make your point."

Wow. The failed logic of your ad hominem attack, after calling me out for one, is impressive.

Funny that I've been to several of these "most highly respected" schools--a few twice--and no one has tried to change my shooting with one eye/scanning with both eyes

Odd. So have I. And I've never heard anyone say that it isn't prefered to shoot with both eyes open if you can. Have you?

 

[Loosedhorse]

I'm sorry, are you saying shooting with a full field of view and having depth perception is not a better way?

I'm sorry, are you saying that shooting slowly and inaccurately is a better way?

By closing one eye you (briefly) give up 30 degrees of visual field. Not everyone has "depth perception" with both eyes open (one of my past instructors does not), and depth perception is not important to the process of aligning sights on target.

Guess I'll never win an arguement with someone who fails at logic.

You'll never win an argument when ad hominem insult is your form of "argument."

doesn't make it even remotely relevant to the conversation.

That you refuse to see or admit that it is completely relevant says everything.

You need to pay attention

I don't "need" to do anything. But I am happy to show what you are saying. That you say "better way" instead of "right way"? Immaterial: your way is not the "better way" for some students.

this is a highly contested subject

It is not. Weak ocular dominance and ocular co-dominance are well established entities: no controversy. Training cannot change ocular dominance: no controversy. Some students with weak (or no) ocular dominance can successfully train to "ignore" their double vision, but many cannot: no controversy.

See, if you want, this article by Pete Blakeley, a well known TX competitive shooting instructor:

Acquire the target with both eyes open. By doing this we have retained everything that nature has given us, full peripheral, full stereopsis and full binocular vision. Close the “off” eye a split second before the shot is taken, just as the correct target/barrel relationship is seen. Unfortunately, some shooters abandon objectivity and often display a stubborn reluctance to try this because the myth still exists that we must shoot with both eyes open. But if we can be more consistent in a competitive environment by closing the off eye, why not give it a try?

"Stubborn reluctance"--sounds familiar. Of course, you may decide that his "give it a try" attitude is just what a septuagenarian would say!

You have, I am guessing, never had the experience of dealing with a discouraged student shooter who is ashamed that he or she "can't do it right," and can't get shots on target quickly keeping both eyes open. And then when you tell them that, it's okay--many people have to shoot with one eye closed, and they are "allowed" to do that, it's fine--what a transformation that makes as they start putting shots in the A-Zone quickly.

I have. It makes for a really worthwhile day. I try to give benefit to all of my students, not most.

The failed logic of your ad hominem attack

Pointing out what you do and say? That's neither ad hominem nor illogical.

And I've never heard anyone say that it isn't prefered to shoot with both eyes open if you can.

My bold. So...you are agreeing with me, now, that if the student can't shoot well with both eyes open, he should close one eye?

Great...but then why did you argue the opposite, and spew all the ad hominem?