Eye Dominance in Shooting

Eye Dominance in Shooting

Eye dominance is crucial in shooting sports because it directly affects aiming accuracy, target alignment, and overall shooting performance. Check out this article for a bit more information on it. 

What Is Eye Dominance?

Eye dominance, or ocular dominance, refers to the preference of one eye over the other when focusing on a target. This dominant eye provides more accurate spatial reference information, which the brain prioritizes for tasks requiring precision, such as shooting and photography. In basic terms it is which eye you focus the most with. 

Why Eye Dominance Matters in Shooting

1. Aiming Accuracy: Aligning your firearm with your dominant eye ensures that the sights are properly aligned with the target, leading to more accurate shots.

2. Target Clarity: Using your dominant eye allows for better depth perception and clearer visualization of the target, which is essential for making precise shots. 

3. Safety: Proper eye alignment helps in assessing the target and its surroundings, reducing the risk of accidental misfires and ensuring that shots are fired safely.

4. Consistency: Consistently using your dominant eye helps in developing muscle memory and shooting habits, leading to improved performance over time.

Dealing with Cross-Dominance

I am a cross dominant shooter, so this impacts me every time I shoot. Cross-dominance occurs when your dominant eye does not align with your dominant hand (e.g., left-eye dominant and right-handed). This can complicate aiming and shooting. Solutions include:

Adjusting Shooting Stance: Shooting with your non-dominant hand or shoulder to align with your dominant eye.

Using Eye Protection: Placing tape over the lens of your dominant eye’s side of shooting glasses to force the brain to use the non-dominant eye.

Training: Practicing with your non-dominant hand to improve coordination and comfort.

Close your dominant eye: Close your dominant eye and only leave your non-dominant eye open.

Determining Your Dominant Eye

To identify your dominant eye:

1. Extend your arms and form a small triangle with your hands.

2. Focus on a distant object through the triangle.

3. Bring your hands toward your face while keeping the object centered.

4. The eye that keeps the object centered as your hands approach is your dominant eye.

Understanding and aligning your shooting practices with your eye dominance is essential for safety, accuracy, and consistency in shooting sports. For more information on eye dominance in shooting or additional training reach out to us https://12thGun.com