GC, Delta Duck, skeet shooters, I need some help!

Postby **Greenhead22** » Thu Oct 11, 2001 2:14 pm

After many years of shooting I found out last week that I have an eye dominance problem. I tried shooting with both eyes open and couldn't, I couldn't line up with the barrel. I caught hell trying to shoot Saturday when my bead fell off my gun. But if I were shooting with both eyes open I wouldn't need the bead. I could only see down the left side of the barrel. I have always shot with my left eye close anyway so I never thought of being left eye dominant. I know there is some kind of program or training I can do to switch my dominance over to my right eye. Any advice will help.

Anatidae · Postby **Anatidae** » Thu Oct 11, 2001 2:26 pm

Actually, you don't have a problem. It wasn't until someone pointed-out to you that your left eye was dominant, that you saw it as a 'problem'. It's only a 'problem' when you can't figure-out what to do about it. You've already done that (although unconciously), by closing your left eye. If you've been shooting that way for years (and from all the accounts you've given on your ability to kill ducks), I would continue shooting 'one-eyed'. There are some benefits to shooting two-eyed (better depth perception and quicker target recognition), but at this stage of your game, it wouldn't be worth what you have to suffer thru to change.

I'm not a shooting instructor and I certainly don't want to be known as a 'skeet shooter', but I suggest doing what you've always done and shoot 'dumb' (that's a phenomenon that target shooters coined that describes how they shot before somebody filled'em full of technical garbage that only tends to confuse the issue.

The only way to shoot two-eyed (of any REAL benefit to you), is to shoot off your left shoulder (and shoot 60,000 targets).....save the money and frustration.....close your left eye and be glad you can hit the target.

[ October 11, 2001: Message edited by: Anatidae ]

jbeam17 · Postby **jbeam17** » Thu Oct 11, 2001 2:36 pm

This may no work for you, but i was the same way. i just forced my self to keep both eyes open and also for a while kept the gun held tight to my cheek to keep it inline with my eye. after a while on the skeet range it just clicked and now it feels wierd to close the left eye. funny way but effective [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

HDC · Postby **HDC** » Thu Oct 11, 2001 3:54 pm

When you figure out how to correct the problem, please call and tell Wayne Madkin.

By the way, did you hear that Fant will be starting the rest of the season. President Bush called Jackie and asked him to send Wayne to Afganistan.

He figures he will likely overthrow the Taliban.

mottlet · Postby **mottlet** » Thu Oct 11, 2001 3:55 pm

Anat's right. You got two choices, you can keep closing your left eye or learn to shoot left-handed. Close the eye. The bead still shouldn't matter though. Even if you're not closing one eye, you should still be looking at the bird, not the barrel. Imagine trying to hit a baseball while looking at the bat instead of the ball. Just doesn't work. Beads are for turkey hunting.

mottlet

Postby **GulfCoast** » Thu Oct 11, 2001 6:52 pm

I am not convinced you are really left eye dominant. When I get back home I will call you.

peewee · Postby **peewee** » Thu Oct 11, 2001 8:00 pm

Good one HDC, but on a serious thought I would hate to know I had to rely on Madkin to win a war.

Delta Duck · Postby **Delta Duck** » Thu Oct 11, 2001 8:22 pm

Sorry I can't help. I don't even see my bead when I shoot. I'm looking at the target. When I pull my gun up it is in the same position every time. After about 4 or 5 thousand rounds it is just a feel.
Today I shot for the fist time in about 6 or 8 weeks. I was kind of rusty.

Postby **GulfCoast** » Fri Oct 12, 2001 5:42 am

See what I told ya, kiddo. NO ONE should EVER see the freakin bead when they shoot a shotgun. "Eyes on the 'rock, head on the stock" is the best advice you will ever hear.

dos gris · Postby **dos gris** » Fri Oct 12, 2001 6:35 am

GH22:

Listen to these guys they know what there talkin about. If I am seeing the end of the barrel I won't be bringing down nutin. It makes sense just as mottlet and GC have explained. I may use the bead if I'm shootin a stationary object like a crip or something. For me the most important aspects of good shootin are gettin the gun on my shoulder and cheek correctly and swingin thru.

Anatidae · Postby **Anatidae** » Fri Oct 12, 2001 8:57 am

Call me next week and if you want to, we'll go out to the gun club and see what's going on. I'll try to answer your questions without getting too hung-up on technical stuff. It's too close to duck season to make any changes, but maybe it'll ease yo mind. You shoot just fine, right now.

Postby **Greenhead22** » Fri Oct 12, 2001 10:05 am

I don't know, I've always used my bead. You saw what happened on the station when I realized that the bead was gone. I couldn't hit anything with the gun because I lost my sight plane. If you shoot with both eyes open I can see not using the bead. But if you shoot with one eye closed you are perfectly lined up with the barrel and the bead is right there in your sight plane. Next week I'll shoot the gun at the gun club, one round with no bead, and another with my tru-dot sight on it. And you will see a definite change in my shooting with or w/o the bead.

Postby **GulfCoast** » Fri Oct 12, 2001 5:01 pm

Did you ever hear the term "self fulfilling prophesy"?

Delta Duck · Postby **Delta Duck** » Fri Oct 12, 2001 10:18 pm

You are thinking to much about it, just do it!! I have 2 high vis sights on my shot gun and don't even notice.

Anatidae · Postby **Anatidae** » Mon Oct 15, 2001 9:52 am

Put a bead on your barrel, then......I ain't about to sit here and argue with you over whatever you insist on trying to prove. You want to learn how to shoot, better,.....I'll do what I can to help you.....but the minute you want to debate somethin'...the lesson's over. I ain't about to debate anything. You're gonna have to LISTEN for a change and forget about everthing else you've heard 'cause that ain't workin'.

A bead doesn't give you a 'plane' to look down....yo barrel does that. Yes, it helps to be 'consious' of the position of the 'end' of your barrel in relation to the target (and that's the purpose of the bead....to give you an inconspicuous reference point while you learn 'leads'). You NEVER focus on the bead! If you are looking at your bead, you CAN'T be looking at the target. Your hands are going to move to where your eyes are looking......it's physically IMPOSSIBLE to focus on the bead AND the TARGET, therefore you HAVE to train your eyes to focus on the target so yo BRAIN (if you got one) can send the right signals to yo muscles, telling them what they have to do, to get yo gun in the right position to hit the target.

The most important aspect of good shooting is viual position. Until you understand that, and are able to CONTROL where your central focus is, YOUR SHOOTING CANNOT IMPROVE!

Now, just think about what you just read.....that DOESN'T require ANY discussion or debate. If you got questions, I'll try to answer them at the gun club, Thursday.

Who is online