Why do I shoot better with left hand?

[GVMan]

I am right handed and left eye dominant. With my head slightly turned to the right I usually shoot right handed and line up the sights with my left eye. I shoot slightly to the left as in the target on the right. It doesn't matter if I shoot slowly or fast.

Normally when I shoot left handed, I use a single hand because I figure I'd only shoot left handed if the right was incapacitated. However, today I decided to shoot left handed with a two handed grip. It felt like crap but I shot much better (see the left target). Anyone have any advice on what to do?

Should I: Shoot left handed and get used to it?
Shoot right handed and aim a little to the right?
Or can I fix the right handed problem some other way?

 

[CountGlockula]

I am right handed and left eye dominant.

Bingo!

 

[aquapong]

I'm also right handed/left eye dominant. I can't say that I shoot better leftie, but I was recently having issues with shooting to the left. Part of it was trigger control, but most of it was my grip. Make sure both thumbs are pointed towards the target. I had my left hand oriented so my thumb was pointed slightly up. I rotated my hand forward a bit and that fixed the problem.

 

[theken206]

my dad is left eye dom and shoots rifles left, pistols right.

shoot pistols with both eyes open IMO

 

[chupacabrah]

I'm right handed, left eye dominant. and my right eye has some nasty astigmatism.

I shoot better with my left hand. but because it isnt my strong hand, i have trouble keeping my grip and dealing with the recoil. I much prefer using my right hand, although I'm usually off of the target more.

although I plan on strengthening my left hand more so I feel more confidant shooting with it, also.

 

[GVMan]

But but...

I still don't understand why? When I turn my head slightly I am lining up the left eye, rear site, front site and target. I am pulling the trigger ever so slowly while keeping this site picture. It should work! But it doesn't!

 

[jr_roosa]

It might be worth finding a shooting coach to take a look at how you shoot. There's got to be something you're doing differently. I disagree that you're shooting "worse" with your right hand, the groups are about the same size. It looks more like you get a different point of impact with different holds.

One thing I wonder is where does the gun shoot from a rest? That would help sort things out. If the gun doesn't hit the bull from a rest, you should adjust the sights and start over.

Lining up your left eye with your right hand can certainly change how you shoot, even two-handed. Anything that changes how much tension is in your shoulders, neck, and arms can screw things up.

Another thing that comes to mind is that your trigger finger placement might be different left to right. It could be that either you're pushing your group left with your right hand, or you're pushing them right with your left hand (and your sights aren't quite adjusted properly).

Whatever you do, don't adjust your point of aim! Either figure out what you're doing with your right hand to push groups left (assuming the the gun hits the center of the target from a rest), or adjust your sights if it hits left even from a solid rest.

Good luck!

-J.

 

[1KPerDay]

I've been thinking about this very issue. I'm also right handed/left-eye dominant and shoot long guns lefty for that reason. After viewing a video where Todd Jarrett talks about proper pistol grip and wrist alignment, I took a look at how I grip my pistols. I consider myself a pretty good pistol shot, but notice that my "natural" grip right-handed has the gun turned slightly outward relative to the line of my arm and wrist. I typically shoot modified Weaver.

If I intentionally line up the gun with the line of my arm, look at the target and raise the gun up, the sights are perfectly lined up with my right eye (out of which I can't see worth beans). If I do the same left-handed the sights are perfectly lined up with my left eye (of course).

I'm thinking about shooting some groups lefty and see how I do... I might have to change if the results are good. I feel pretty goofy with a pistol in my left hand, though... it just doesn't feel right. (so to speak )

 

[deputy tom]

GVMan,I had exactly the same results back when I first started shooting Glock pistols.Went thru several troubling years and gave up on them.Then tried a model 17 and all that poor shooting went away.Were those groups shot with a newly acquired Glock? tom.

 

[foxmoor]

I'm right handed but left eye dominant and when I started shooting pistols a few years back, I simply started shooting left handed. It took some time, but now it feels completely natural. Look at the upside - your "weak side" hand for shooting isn't really weak at all. I'd say give left-handed a lengthy period of shooting and see how things work out. Good luck.

 

[littlelefty]

My daughter is left handed, right eye dominant. It was noticed early and she has been taught to shoot right handed. Of course, that's loads easier for someone (her) with no shooting skills than probably for you.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Right handed/left eye dominant. When I shoot, my right eye automatically closes. Works best for me. Yes I've tried all the suggestions from the people that know better than me how I'm supposed to shoot. Many times it's from somebody at the range that is doing terribly. If I've had caffeine for the last few days, my scores will be better weak-handed. This is because the shakes manifest themselves with more vigor in the strong hand. It's not usually a significant difference, but noticeable.

 

[GVMan]

Thank you all for the great advice. jr_roosa, I will try to shoot from a good rest next time. Thanks for pointing that out. I suppose that the gun could actually be shooting left and that when I shoot left handed I am pushing it to the right.

Yes this is my first Glock. I hope it isn't a problem for me to shoot Glocks because I really like everything about them, reliability, parts, trigger reset...

 

[nwilliams]

I took a marksmanship class once and the instructor had everyone shoot with their opposite hand. Most people shot better than they did with their normal hand and were all shocked.

The instructor explained that shooting with your opppiste hand slows you down, makes you concentrate harder on your grip and allows you to feel the trigger differently.

Also like others have stated pushing your shots all off to one side is usually an eye dominance issue, I happen to be one of those right handed and left eye dominant creatures. I tend to squint or even close my right eye and focus on the front sight with my left eye, if I forget to focuss with my left then typically my shots get pushed.

 

[CWL]

Perhaps you are ambidextrous without consciously knowing it. Lotsa people are right-handed but bat lefty, or are "goofy footed" on a snowboard/skateboard.

Nothing wrong with using your left eye to sight either, I've been taught to "index" my left eye by placing my jaw on my right shoulder when shooting (I still use right hand).

Do what you need to do to get the shots on-target, doesn't matter what other people do.