Both Eyes Open?

[Just_Hangin_N_GA]

As a right handed compound shooter I was forced to close my left eye when looking through my peep. One of the first things I noticed when just starting with a traditional bow was I had both eyes open. This is amazing because I always wanted the biggest sight picture possible. Long story short, a few months back I was tickled to hit the target with a trad bow but now as I am trying to bring my groups in even closer, I am wondering if I need to close my left eye for a clearer picture and accuracy.
I ask because I am left eye dominant but right handed. I have tried both ways and me closing my left eye seems to be a little more accurate but at times both eyes opened seems good. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on what is right or wrong. I am still trying instinctive shooting right now and really want to make it work for 20 yards and in.
Any help would be appreciated.

Disclaimer... I am still mainly point blank range shooting with a low poundage bow (25#) working on form and developing a shot sequence that doesn't take 45 seconds ever time. Lol

 

[The_Fit_Ness_Monster]

I started with trad both eyes open and started closing one for peeps on compounds but with trad still I’m both eyes open sometimes I blink 1 closed for a sec just to check but most of the time it’s involuntary. I’m usually both eyes open.

 

[BTaylor]

My dad was right eye dominant but shot a bow left handed because the guy that got him into archery was left handed and gave him a bow. He did quite well shooting NFAA tournaments and hunting. He shot both eyes open and taught me to shoot that way.

 

[Halfstep]

Being cross eye dominant can be a problem as it forces a person to close their dominant eye when shooting. You can try to train your eyes to override the problem. You can start with a larger peep (5/16) and practice with it for a while. You may have to open/close your dominant eye several times during the aiming process until you can train your weaker eye to temporally be dominant. Then you can go down to a (1/4) peep and repeat the process.

You can also spend some time reading with an eye patch to try to get the weaker eye to gain some strength.

You might be able to gain some strength in your weaker eye enough to shoot thru a peep. Some people can and some can't but it is worth a try.

 

[gcr0003]

As a right handed compound shooter I was forced to close my left eye when looking through my peep. One of the first things I noticed when just starting with a traditional bow was I had both eyes open. This is amazing because I always wanted the biggest sight picture possible. Long story short, a few months back I was tickled to hit the target with a trad bow but now as I am trying to bring my groups in even closer, I am wondering if I need to close my left eye for a clearer picture and accuracy.
I ask because I am left eye dominant but right handed. I have tried both ways and me closing my left eye seems to be a little more accurate but at times both eyes opened seems good. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on what is right or wrong. I am still trying instinctive shooting right now and really want to make it work for 20 yards and in.
Any help would be appreciated.

Disclaimer... I am still mainly point blank range shooting with a low poundage bow (25#) working on form and developing a shot sequence that doesn't take 45 seconds ever time. Lol

Dang man maybe you should’ve gotten that custom bow in lefty!

I wouldn’t go about closing one eye. But that’s just me. I can shoot left or right handed and my non dominant eye side is still solid out to 20 yards no problem. That said, I’ve read time and time again of people switching to one’s dominant eye side making a huge difference. When I started I shot both but finally made a decision to get rid of my RH bows and just shoot left (I’m right handed). If you’re just starting out it may be worth switching before you go too deep.

It does sounds like you may be getting ahead of yourself if you aren’t even shooting 20 yards yet. I’d work my way back to 10-15 yards and see where I’m at before making any drastic changes or forming new habitats.

I’d also consider going up to 35-40# limbs or bow. I do think you can over bow yourself; however, I also believe that you can under bow yourself. If it feels like a toy, it’s gonna shoot and you’re gonna treat it like a toy. I don’t think you get a proper feel for the bow string with that low of weight. With such a low weight you can easily compensate with improper muscles to help with your draw, that would be more noticeable with a heavier bow. Unless you have someone telling you what you’re doing wrong with your form, how will you know with such a low poundage and close range? I’d just be careful of forming bad habits with such a low poundage bow.

If it were me I’d be out there shooting that custom bow every day for short stints at a close range. Let my muscles build up. Once you move back and lock in your anchor and draw cycle if you’re groups still aren’t tight it may be time to video yourself in slow mo or at least the arrow and see how well your arrows are flying. It does you no good to practice consistency if your arrows aren’t tuned, you can do everything right and they could fly wonky if not tuned well. At this stage having a point weight set is helpful so as your draw develops you can add or remove weight to match your shot and bow.

I like instinctive archery and shooting to be natural. Meaning I’m out there just shooting and learning how my movements and interaction with the bow, string, arrow, affect the flight. It’s almost like you’re teaching yourself as you go. I realize this may not be the most efficient or most desirable method but it matches the style and happiness I feel shooting traditional archery.

Man I need to shoot my bow lol

 

[Just_Hangin_N_GA]

Being cross eye dominant can be a problem as it forces a person to close their dominant eye when shooting. You can try to train your eyes to override the problem. You can start with a larger peep (5/16) and practice with it for a while. You may have to open/close your dominant eye several times during the aiming process until you can train your weaker eye to temporally be dominant. Then you can go down to a (1/4) peep and repeat the process.

You can also spend some time reading with an eye patch to try to get the weaker eye to gain some strength.

You might be able to gain some strength in your weaker eye enough to shoot thru a peep. Some people can and some can't but it is worth a try.

I am moving over to traditional so there won't be a peep sight in this case. Great advice for my compound bow though.

 

[Just_Hangin_N_GA]

Dang man maybe you should’ve gotten that custom bow in lefty!

I wouldn’t go about closing one eye. But that’s just me. I can shoot left or right handed and my non dominant eye side is still solid out to 20 yards no problem. That said, I’ve read time and time again of people switching to one’s dominant eye side making a huge difference. When I started I shot both but finally made a decision to get rid of my RH bows and just shoot left (I’m right handed). If you’re just starting out it may be worth switching before you go too deep.

It does sounds like you may be getting ahead of yourself if you aren’t even shooting 20 yards yet. I’d work my way back to 10-15 yards and see where I’m at before making any drastic changes or forming new habitats.

I’d also consider going up to 35-40# limbs or bow. I do think you can over bow yourself; however, I also believe that you can under bow yourself. If it feels like a toy, it’s gonna shoot and you’re gonna treat it like a toy. I don’t think you get a proper feel for the bow string with that low of weight. With such a low weight you can easily compensate with improper muscles to help with your draw, that would be more noticeable with a heavier bow. Unless you have someone telling you what you’re doing wrong with your form, how will you know with such a low poundage and close range? I’d just be careful of forming bad habits with such a low poundage bow.

If it were me I’d be out there shooting that custom bow every day for short stints at a close range. Let my muscles build up. Once you move back and lock in your anchor and draw cycle if you’re groups still aren’t tight it may be time to video yourself in slow mo or at least the arrow and see how well your arrows are flying. It does you no good to practice consistency if your arrows aren’t tuned, you can do everything right and they could fly wonky if not tuned well. At this stage having a point weight set is helpful so as your draw develops you can add or remove weight to match your shot and bow.

I like instinctive archery and shooting to be natural. Meaning I’m out there just shooting and learning how my movements and interaction with the bow, string, arrow, affect the flight. It’s almost like you’re teaching yourself as you go. I realize this may not be the most efficient or most desirable method but it matches the style and happiness I feel shooting traditional archery.

Man I need to shoot my bow lol

I actually considered ordering the custom bow in a lefty but chickened out. The thought of me not being able to make that transition scared me right out of that real quick. Sometimes, I wonder if it would have been better to have won that bow a year or two after getting into traditional and not 2 months. Either way I am definitely grateful.
About a month ago I started shooting the custom bow outside at 10 and 15 yards and did shoot it out to 20 and 25 yards just to play around. However, after a couple weeks I felt like the proper form I had been working on was not developed enough to move forward. So, I picked the 25# bow back up to work on my draw, anchor, release and follow through... pretty much everything.
I usually focus on shooting 12 arrows with the low poundage bow and finish up with 3 shots from the hunting bow all from 5 yards. I will move a little further away and try.
You are spot on about developing bad habits and needing to videotape myself because I am definitely not to a point where I can feel what is wrong or even know by watching videotape of myself, well maybe I can recognize plucking.
Now arrow tuning, that is a totally different beast... I have no clue on how you guys watch an arrow in flight and know what is going on. Most of the time I can't track the 25# bow's arrow to the target let alone if it is wobbling, maybe in time.
I definitely am having a blast but my perfectionist mind set is probably hurting me more than anything.
At the end of the day, I want to be confident I can make an ethical shot on a deer or hog.

 

[gcr0003]

I actually considered ordering the custom bow in a lefty but chickened out. The thought of me not being able to make that transition scared me right out of that real quick. Sometimes, I wonder if it would have been better to have won that bow a year or two after getting into traditional and not 2 months. Either way I am definitely grateful.
About a month ago I started shooting the custom bow outside at 10 and 15 yards and did shoot it out to 20 and 25 yards just to play around. However, after a couple weeks I felt like the proper form I had been working on was not developed enough to move forward. So, I picked the 25# bow back up to work on my draw, anchor, release and follow through... pretty much everything.
I usually focus on shooting 12 arrows with the low poundage bow and finish up with 3 shots from the hunting bow all from 5 yards. I will move a little further away and try.
You are spot on about developing bad habits and needing to videotape myself because I am definitely not to a point where I can feel what is wrong or even know by watching videotape of myself, well maybe I can recognize plucking.
Now arrow tuning, that is a totally different beast... I have no clue on how you guys watch an arrow in flight and know what is going on. Most of the time I can't track the 25# bow's arrow to the target let alone if it is wobbling, maybe in time.
I definitely am having a blast but my perfectionist mind set is probably hurting me more than anything.
At the end of the day, I want to be confident I can make an ethical shot on a deer or hog.

Another argument against different bows is consistency. Your point of aim will be slightly difference on every bow you shoot. If you’re practicing form on one and going to the other that can be jarring. Even now if I want to shoot another bow of mine it takes a couple shots to get back dialed into that specific bow. I’m a big advocate for good consistency which is built from repetition with the same gear.

I think that develops over time and you will know when your shooting is there.

When you get to a point where you want to focus on your arrow’s flight reach out on here with another thread. There are lot of experienced guys that would be happy to help you get that figured out. Proper arrow tune is as important, maybe more important than proper form. Both can cause issues with arrow flight but you can get to a point with good form where you’re hitting a spot consistently but your arrow is hitting at a 10 deg angle and losing all of its killing power.

What is your 5 shot grouping at 5 yards with a 25lb and your custom bow? What is at 10, 15? I like to tell new people that once you start worrying about busting fletching/nocks shooting a same spot more than once you’re ready to move back.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

I'm also cross dominant. I shoot with both eyes open. Seems extremely awkward to close one eye.

 

[GeoFish]

Now arrow tuning, that is a totally different beast... I have no clue on how you guys watch an arrow in flight and know what is going on. Most of the time I can't track the 25# bow's arrow to the target let alone if it is wobbling, maybe in time.

I take 2 hay bails. I use a white kitchen garbage bag cut and attached to the face of the hay bails, usually pined to the bails with nails at the corners. Shooting a bare shaft starting close to the target you can usually see how the arrow flys. But how the arrow is in the target tells the final story. You will see knock high, left and so on.
Knock left indicates a too stiff arrow. See attached.

 

[Just_Hangin_N_GA]

I'm also cross dominant. I shoot with both eyes open. Seems extremely awkward to close one eye.

That is good to know from someone else who is cross dominant. Thanks

 

[Just_Hangin_N_GA]

Another argument against different bows is consistency. Your point of aim will be slightly difference on every bow you shoot. If you’re practicing form on one and going to the other that can be jarring. Even now if I want to shoot another bow of mine it takes a couple shots to get back dialed into that specific bow. I’m a big advocate for good consistency which is built from repetition with the same gear.

I think that develops over time and you will know when your shooting is there.

When you get to a point where you want to focus on your arrow’s flight reach out on here with another thread. There are lot of experienced guys that would be happy to help you get that figured out. Proper arrow tune is as important, maybe more important than proper form. Both can cause issues with arrow flight but you can get to a point with good form where you’re hitting a spot consistently but your arrow is hitting at a 10 deg angle and losing all of its killing power.

What is your 5 shot grouping at 5 yards with a 25lb and your custom bow? What is at 10, 15? I like to tell new people that once you start worrying about busting fletching/nocks shooting a same spot more than once you’re ready to move back.

This was my most consistent from my morning 5 yard shot with the 25# bow.
These are my 7-9 arrows out of 12. The rest weren't bad just not all 3 in the ring.
I am trying for the bullseye but really focusing on form.
I may give it one more week as I finally feel like my shot sequence is starting to feel more comfortable at the same time doing some self filming.
I will add in the hunting weight bow to compare different yards.... and then put the 25# away.
I must admit it is awful fun to shoot.
Thanks for all the great information and insight!!!

 

[Just_Hangin_N_GA]

I take 2 hay bails. I use a white kitchen garbage bag cut and attached to the face of the hay bails, usually pined to the bails with nails at the corners. Shooting a bare shaft starting close to the target you can usually see how the arrow flys. But how the arrow is in the target tells the final story. You will see knock high, left and so on.
Knock left indicates a too stiff arrow. See attached.

View attachment 97965

Silly question but would how close/far you are from the target influence nock up or down?
Be gentle please... lol

 

[GeoFish]

Silly question but would how close/far you are from the target influence nock up or down?
Be gentle please... lol

I typically start at 10 yards. But you may want to start at 5 yards.
I shot aluminum arrows. I started with arrows I thought were too weak, they would fly tail right. Then I would shorten them 1/8" at a time until the arrows flew straight.
The pic I posted does not say you can shorten a arrow to make it stiffer. But as much as 1/8" can change a arrow from tail right to perfect.

 

[Southpawshooter]

Keep practicing with both eyes open. It will get better, just takes time. Binocular vision has the advantage of depth perception giving the brain better data to judge distance.

 

[KYhunter66]

As a right handed compound shooter I was forced to close my left eye when looking through my peep. One of the first things I noticed when just starting with a traditional bow was I had both eyes open. This is amazing because I always wanted the biggest sight picture possible. Long story short, a few months back I was tickled to hit the target with a trad bow but now as I am trying to bring my groups in even closer, I am wondering if I need to close my left eye for a clearer picture and accuracy.
I ask because I am left eye dominant but right handed. I have tried both ways and me closing my left eye seems to be a little more accurate but at times both eyes opened seems good. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on what is right or wrong. I am still trying instinctive shooting right now and really want to make it work for 20 yards and in.
Any help would be appreciated.

Disclaimer... I am still mainly point blank range shooting with a low poundage bow (25#) working on form and developing a shot sequence that doesn't take 45 seconds ever time. Lol

I had the same problem with compound right handed life eye dominant for years!! Best thing I ever did was change to left hand long bow both eyes open! Every one was telling me it's hard to change at my age it wasn't easy but definitely worth it. I really like it better it feels better holding the bow with my strong hand. I did start with a right hand long bow and with both eyes open had problems with my eyes switching back and forth didn't work for me. Now it's natural I hit ware I'm looking.

 

[Just_Hangin_N_GA]

I had the same problem with compound right handed life eye dominant for years!! Best thing I ever did was change to left hand long bow both eyes open! Every one was telling me it's hard to change at my age it wasn't easy but definitely worth it. I really like it better it feels better holding the bow with my strong hand. I did start with a right hand long bow and with both eyes open had problems with my eyes switching back and forth didn't work for me. Now it's natural I hit ware I'm looking.

I'm glad it worked out for you and very cool to hear the transition wasn't too bad. Thanks for the info!

 

[Pic1]

As a right handed compound shooter I was forced to close my left eye when looking through my peep. One of the first things I noticed when just starting with a traditional bow was I had both eyes open. This is amazing because I always wanted the biggest sight picture possible. Long story short, a few months back I was tickled to hit the target with a trad bow but now as I am trying to bring my groups in even closer, I am wondering if I need to close my left eye for a clearer picture and accuracy.
I ask because I am left eye dominant but right handed. I have tried both ways and me closing my left eye seems to be a little more accurate but at times both eyes opened seems good. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on what is right or wrong. I am still trying instinctive shooting right now and really want to make it work for 20 yards and in.
Any help would be appreciated.

Disclaimer... I am still mainly point blank range shooting with a low poundage bow (25#) working on form and developing a shot sequence that doesn't take 45 seconds ever time. Lol

Dan Fitzgerald (I'm sure you heard of him) other than Tim Wells probably one of the best instinctive shooters out there is left eye dominant shoots a right handed bow. Looks to me
like he sights down the arrow with his left eye while closing his right. Looks really awkward but obviously works for him. I've heard him say it would be better to learn to shoot lefty if you are left eye dom. Check some of his videos on YT. You'll see what I mean.

 

[BowhunterXC]

Sitting here and thinking about your left eye dominance...hmm. I can't imagine shooting left handed with my right eye dominance. If I shot left handed, I would try closing my right eye, to force my left eye to aim or have the ability to aim.

Being right eye dominant, during my draw cycle I have both eyes open and I'm looking at the target. However, as I anchor and start aiming, I slightly close my left eye and focus on the tip of the arrow, as it touches the target. I'm a string walker, so using the tip of the arrow as a reference point to the target is very important. I hold the arrow tip at a 6 o'clock position, then release. This has been an extremely accurate shooting method, for me. I would imagine it would work the same for anyone willing to try it.

 

[Petrichor]

I shoot both eyes open whether I’m shooting right or left handed.